NOAA Ocean Exploration
Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — NOAA Ocean Exploration and its partners will conduct two expeditions in waters around American Samoa this summer and fall to map and characterize the deep seafloor in the nation’s highest-priority region for offshore critical mineral exploration.
The expeditions will...

![The remotely operated vehicle, Deep Discoverer, imaging the seafloor off American Samoa during an expedition in 2017. Two expeditions in waters around American Samoa by NOAA Ocean Exploration and its partners are scheduled for August through October this year to map and characterize the deep seafloor for offshore critical mineral exploration. [Image credit: NOAA OER] Deep Discoverer](https://www.samoanews.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/field/image/d2-american-samoa-2017.jpg?itok=DSCVjqUu)