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ROV MARUM SQUID - 100th dive

Sep 6, 2024
At the beginning of September, the diving robot ROV MARUM-SQUID dived into the depths of the sea for the hundredth time. Photo: MARUM – Center for Marine Environmental Sciences, University of Bremen
At the beginning of September, the diving robot ROV MARUM-SQUID dived into the depths of the sea for the hundredth time. Photo: MARUM – Center for Marine Environmental Sciences, University of Bremen

On New Year's Day 2016, the remotely operated vehicle (ROV) MARUM SQUID undertook its first dive. The destination of the voyage, led by Dierk Hebbeln, was the southwest African coast to study cold-water coral ecosystems with the research vessel METEOR. Eight years and twelve expeditions later, the SQUID dived into the depths of the sea for the hundredth time on September 2nd.

 

Such an anniversary is a reason to celebrate in itself, but one detail made this dive a very special moment. Some of the scientists who were on the first dive are back on board. And just like on the first trip, SQUID is exploring cold-water corals together with Dierk Hebbeln's team - but this time from the research vessel SONNE and off the south-east African coast. With one exception, the four-man crew of the MARUM-SQUID diving robot is back in its original crew and is looking forward to the next 100 dives.

The four-member team of the ROV MARUM-SQUID during expedition SO306: Siefke, Tom, Vincent and Nico. Photo: MARUM – Center for Marine Environmental Sciences, University of Bremen
The four-member team of the ROV MARUM-SQUID during expedition SO306: Siefke, Tom, Vincent and Nico. Photo: MARUM – Center for Marine Environmental Sciences, University of Bremen