Below are video clips highlighting ROV (remotely operated vehicle) and submersible exploration at various banks in the northwestern Gulf of Mexico. Due to their proximity and biological connections to the sanctuary, these banks may be considered for addition to the sanctuary.
To view a video, simply click on play button (>) in the video controller at the bottom of the window. A brief description of each video is provided below the window.
This video shows footage gathered during ROV (remotely operated vehicle) explorations at Alderdice Bank in the northwestern Gulf of Mexico.
0:00 The video begins with a bathymetric map of Alderdice Bank followed by a second map showing the actual tracks the ROV traveled to acquire the following footage in the area around the unique basalt spires of this bank at 160 to 220 feet deep (49-67 meters).
0:27 Nurse shark, various black corals and gorgonians, sea urchins, spotfin hogfish, creolefish, trumpetfish, ocean triggerfish, gray snapper, scamp grouper, various other fishes and black coral.
1:38 A bathymetric map showing a different set of ROV tracks at Alderdice Bank. Footage shows the southeast sponge/algal mound at 160 to 235 feet deep (49-72 meters).
1:47 Close-up view of spiny lobster scratching its eye with its leg.
1:58 Sponges, marbled grouper, gray snapper, rock beauties, angelfish, amberjacks, whitespotted filefish, blue angelfish, algae/sponge area, yellowtail reeffish, cherubfish, crinoid, black corals, damsels, wrasse bass, squirrelfish, southern stingray, and a variety of other fishes and gorgonians. Video ends on a sponge with a yellowtail reeffish and a juvenile bluehead wrasse swimming nearby.
This video shows footage gathered during ROV (remotely operated vehicle) and manned submersible explorations at McGrail Bank in the northwestern Gulf of Mexico.
0:00 The video begins with a bathymetric map of McGrail Bank followed by a second map showing the actual exploration tracks that the ROV and submersible traveled to acquire the following footage in an area about 180-200 feet deep (24-61 meters).
0:18 A small, one-person submersible sitting on bottom at various locations, large groups of creolefish milling about in almost every part of the reef, coral and sponge areas, sponge and algae areas, grouper, snapper, blue chromis, reef butterflyfish, creole wrasse, rock beauty, large school of yellow goatfish, squirrelfish, large coral mounds, rubble and algae area, horseye jacks, submersible above the reef.
2:12 Creolfish swimming over reef and sand/rubble. Closeup views of a large, lacy-looking leafy algae, a small hermit crab feeding alongside the algae, and a variety of fish surroundingthe glass dome of a submersible with a person inside.
2:40 Submersible turning above the reef then continuing with ling, Spanish hogfish and jacks swimming around it.
2:55 Discarded barrel on the reef, encrusted with organisms. Longspine squirrelfish and yellow goatfish swimming nearby. School of creolefish swimming above the reef.
3:10 Algal nodule zone transitioning to a leafy algae area with schools of slender, silvery fish swimming above.
3:24 Large school of creole wrasse and a few creolefish swimming above the reef.
3:32 Sea star on bottom with brown chromis, spotfin hogfish, a dog snapper and creolefish swimming nearby.
3:39 Sandbar shark cruising across the reef with some jacks.
3:45 Close up view of a marbled grouper with creolefish and a pair of reef butterflyfish.
This video shows footage gathered during ROV (remotely operated vehicle) explorations at Sonnier Bank in the northwestern Gulf of Mexico.
0:00 The video begins with a bathymetric map of Sonnier Bank followed by a variety of footage in an area about 100-145 feet deep (30-44 meters):
0:08 Large patch of fire coral surrounding an orange cponge, bicolor damselfish, soldierfish, sergeant major, rocky reef, sponges, spotted drum, brown chromis, longspine squirrelfish, queen angelfish, rock beauty, wrasses, parrotfish.
0:38 Shark cruising over reef.
0:47 Four juvenile African pompano swimming with long trailing fins.