Program takes
whale studies to
new depths
Manned submersibles
By Gary T. Kubota
will explore Hawaii's
humpback sanctuary
Star-BulletinWAILUKU -- Scientists in one-person submersibles will chart Maui's underwater frontier as part of the first systematic exploration of Hawaii's humpback whale sanctuary.
"It's going to be very exciting," said Rick Grigg, a submersible operator and University of Hawaii oceanography professor. "I'm going to be seeing places I've dreamed about all my life."
Since April, the Sustainable Seas Expedition headed by oceanographer Sylvia Earle has been taking photographs and recording the topography within the national marine sanctuaries.
The expedition, featured on the TV program "Explorer" and in National Geographic magazine, has explored all 12 of the marine sanctuaries except those for Hawaii, American Samoa and the Civil War ship Monitor off Virginia.
Open houses featuring guest speakers from the expedition are scheduled for Jan 22 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Waikiki Aquarium and for Jan. 23 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at King Kamehameha's Kona Beach Hotel on the Big Island.
The expedition, estimated to cost $20 million, is a five-year program of the National Geographic Society and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. The program is largely funded by a $5 million grant from the Richard & Rhonda Goldman Fund."Congress has recognized the marine sanctuaries are on the map," said Steve Gittings, the science coordinator for the federal sanctuaries program.
"It means big field operations. It's definitely new ground."
The Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary covers 1,400 square miles off Maui and some areas off Oahu, the Big Island and Kauai, plus the Penguin Bank, which is southwest of Molokai.
Two phases planned
The first phase of the expedition, running Monday through Friday, will focus on practicing shipboard procedures and testing the two submersibles and their equipment. The research takes place in the second phase, starting next Saturday and running through Jan. 19.
Scientists are using satellites to help make 3-D maps and models of the sanctuaries.
Gittings said the expedition, taking place as humpbacks return to Hawaii waters from Alaska, will focus on 10 sites mainly in waters between Maui and the islands of Kahoolawe, Molokai and Lanai.
Most of the sites are from 200 to 700 feet below the ocean surface, a place where few divers have gone. The deepest dive by the submersibles is to take place in waters northwest of Kahoolawe at about 780 feet.
Submersibles, each with a cockpit similar to that of a fighter aircraft, are battery-powered and controlled by 1-horsepower thrusters.
Each submersible has two mechanical arms, 6 feet in length, and includes photographic and digital videotape equipment, along with a communications system between the pilot and surface personnel.
Two surface ships will be used in the operation -- the American Islander and NOAA's ship Ka'imimoana.
Each ship is equipped with a tracking and navigation system capable of following its own submersible.
Grigg said he's only been as deep as 225 feet in scuba gear and he's looking forward to exploring deeper habitats of black coral and bottom fish, such as opakapaka and onaga.
He said one of the objectives of this exploration is to eventually determine if whale behavior is influenced by the topo- graphy and habitat at the bottom of the ocean.
Scientists hope to gather information about the presence of underwater life, including the number and species of fish, and the changes in the salinity and temperature of ocean.
The information could be used in the future to determine any adverse environmental changes.
Gittings said eventually scientists may install instruments to determine if there are chemical changes in the water as a result of runoff from land.
He said the marine sanctuary program is gaining support from Congress, with a budget of $27 million this year, compared with $14 million last year.
When initially established, the personnel at the sanctuaries focused mainly on education and protection enforcement. The program has been expanding into research.
Big boost for program
Humpback sanctuary manager Allen Tom said the expedition has given the national marine sanctuary program a considerable amount of publicity and attracted support from marine businesses.
Cruise ships are donating their services to provide educational tours to students, including a group from Honolulu.
"They've never been out on the ocean," Tom said. "For me, every student should be out on the water."
Tom said the expedition will conclude with several public and student educational events Jan. 22-25.
Another beneficiary of this latest endeavor is the Honolulu-based American Marine Corp., which is providing the submersibles along with logistical dive support.
American Marine President Scott Vuillemot said the submersibles also have been used by the Navy and his company has hired 15 employees for the new business.
"We expect it to generate a lot of work," he said.
