Caribbean SIDS are finally exploring the Deep Sea
Maya Doyle-Fox
What Deep Sea wonders are the Caribbean yet to discover? For the first time, a locally-led team of Trinbagonian scientists delved into uncharted waters to find out what lies within the country's largest ecosystem.
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Deep sea exploration has been an activity mainly carried out by developed countries, to explore depths greater than 200 meters. A little more than a quarter of the ocean has been explored and mapped at high resolution but from June 29th to July 28th 2026, a Caribbean dominant team explored the deep seas surrounding Trinidad and Tobago.
93% of T&T's waters sits below scuba depth, in the mesophotic zone (ocean territory and ecosystems that exist between 30 and 150 meters deep where only low levels of sunlight penetrate) and the deep ocean beyond it. That's the nation's largest ecosystem, and until recently, less than 1% of it had ever been scientifically explored. This presents the question; if we do not know our region’s waters how can we realistically conserve or safeguard the life and potential within it?
A team of mostly Trinbagonian (26) scientists boarded the RV Falkor (too), one of the most advanced research vessels on the planet, for Deep Wonders of Trinidad and Tobago and the High Seas, the first ever T&T-led expedition into the nation's deep waters. Led by the marine NGO SpeSeas, in partnership with UWI St. Augustine and the Institute of Marine Affairs, the mission is using a robotic explorer called ROV SuBastian and sending it down thousands of meters to survey the ecosystems, collect species and samples, and the entire expedition is available on livestream, so that you can follow along for every discovery.
At the helm of it all is Dr. Diva Amon, Trinidadian marine biologist, who has countlessly descended into the deep in submersibles, discovered species new to science ( a lobster and two sponges), and now Dr. Amon is Chief Scientist, leading a mission to discover the wonders of the deep around Trinidad and Tobago.
Why is this a big deal?
To the world, deep sea exploration has been an activity dominated by developed nations due to the resource heavy nature attached to exploration which is simply not inclusive to Caribbean SIDS. This Caribbean SIDS led expedition is a gargantuan achievement, to gain a foothold in an industry which we have been previously excluded from and to understand our waters which we are culturally tied to.
The deep sea of the region is genuinely unfamiliar territory, even to the people who live right above it on islands. Researchers estimate more than 1,600 species may exist in T&T's deep waters and most of them are undiscovered. Every single piece of data collected can be used for evidence based ocean management and conservation, which is key.
Amazing steps are being taken by SpeSeas and partners to build capacity and generate collaboration on ocean stewardship through the region!
