Twelve years after her first submersible dive, Dr Verity Nye has returned to Japan to descend once again aboard Shinkai 6500, the iconic submersible operated by JAMSTEC.

In June 2025, the JAMSTEC will collaborate with the Ocean Census, deploying the renowned submersible Shinkai 6500 on a 20-day scientific voyage into some of Japan’s most mysterious deep-sea ecosystems.

An Ocean Census Flagship expedition and GoSouth team of scientists found suspected new species, discovered one of the island chain’s shallowest hydrothermal vents, and explored the deepest trench in the Southern Ocean.

In one of the most isolated regions on Earth, the Antarctic waters of the South Sandwich Islands’ are among the ecosystems that have been least studied globally.

One would think that a volcano was not the most hospitable place for living organisms. However, the Borealis Mud Volcano, at ~ 400 m water depth, acts as a sanctuary for a number of marine species.

In 2024, the Ocean Census achieved exciting milestones in advancing the understanding and discovery of marine biodiversity.

This species discovery workshop will allow us to uncover potential new species from the Nazca Ridge expedition.

Explore deep-sea habitats in the Arctic, showcasing unique ecosystems, mid-ocean ridges, and hydrothermal vent biodiversity.

Deep-sea exploration and the discovery of new species, along with chemosynthetic ecosystems, represent an exciting frontier in marine biology.