Exploring Ashmore Reef for Schmidt Ocean Institute

In 2021 I was commissioned by the Schmidt Ocean Institute’s to join an eighteen day expedition to Ashmore Reef off north-west Australia. During out trip aboard research vessel Falkor, I documented the work of Australian marine researchers which included using the remote-operated vehicle suBastian, they comprehensively mapped for the first the mesophotic coral reef of the pristine marine park.

Another major success of the expedition was the rediscovery of the lost sea snakes of Ashmore Reef which had been thought to be locally extinct. During the expedition there were over 50 sightings, including one as deep as 145m.