Exploring Deep-Sea Habitats off Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands EX-18-11: Puerto Rico and U.S. Virgin Islands (ROV & Mapping) October 30 - November 20, 2018 San Juan, Puerto Rico to San Juan, Puerto Rico

Between October 30 and November 20, 2018, the Office of Ocean Exploration and Research (OER) of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and partners conducted a 22-day telepresence-enabled expedition on NOAA Ship Okeanos Explorer to collect critical baseline information about unknown and poorly understood deep-water areas surrounding Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The goal of the expedition was to use remotely operated vehicle (ROV) dives in combination with mapping operations to increase our understanding of deep-sea ecosystems of this poorly studied region, as well as to provide a foundation of publicly-accessible data to spur further exploration, research, and management activities.