Explore an Extraordinary Ocean Wilderness

Join Mystic Aquarium as we explore the Northeast Canyons and Seamounts Marine National Monument through videos, livestreams, and stories from sea.

Few people will ever visit the Northeast Canyons and Seamounts Marine National Monument. Through this expedition, we're bringing it to you.

This summer, Mystic Aquarium is embarking on a ten-day expedition to one of the Atlantic Ocean's most extraordinary places—and you're invited to come along.

Beginning July 30, our team of scientists, engineers, and storytellers will journey 130 miles offshore aboard the Research Vessel Connecticut to explore a remarkable ocean wilderness that few people have ever experienced firsthand.

Each day will bring new questions, new discoveries, and new opportunities to better understand this incredible ecosystem, as we encounter whales feeding at the surface, sharks patrolling the open ocean, seabirds soaring overhead, and delicate jellyfish drifting beneath the waves. Every observation, every sample, and every photograph helps tell the story of a place that remains one of the Atlantic's greatest natural treasures.

Along the way, we'll bring you aboard through livestreams, videos, photography, and stories directly from sea—sharing not only what we're learning, but what it's like to live and work aboard a research vessel exploring one of America's most remarkable seascapes.

An Ocean Wilderness Unlike Any Other

About 130 miles southeast of Cape Cod lies the Northeast Canyons and Seamounts Marine National Monument. This biodiversity hotspot is protected as the only marine national monument in the U.S. Atlantic.

Here, three massive submarine canyons carve through the continental shelf while four ancient seamounts—underwater mountains formed by extinct volcanoes—rise from the deep ocean floor. Together, these remarkable underwater landscapes shape powerful ocean currents that concentrate nutrients and create habitat for an incredible diversity and abundance of marine life.

These waters are home to whales, dolphins, sharks, tuna, seabirds, sea turtles, squid, and countless other marine species. Far below the surface, ancient deep-sea corals—some hundreds or even thousands of years old—provide shelter for thriving communities of life that scientists are still working to understand.

Although researchers have explored this remarkable place for decades, many of its mysteries remain.

Every expedition reveals something new.

Expedition Video Updates

Join Us Live from Sea

Twice during the expedition, we'll open a direct window into life aboard the R/V Connecticut through interactive, live broadcasts from sea. Watch live on Mystic Aquarium's Research YouTube channel:

Live Broadcast #1: Tuesday, August 4 • 1:00 PM ET

Live Broadcast #2: Thursday, August 6 • 7:00 PM ET

These 20-30 minute live YouTube events will feature members of the expedition team sharing discoveries, introducing research projects, answering audience questions, and offering a behind-the-scenes look at what it's like to explore one of the Atlantic's most extraordinary ocean landscapes.

Whether the team is watching whales surface alongside the ship, recovering underwater cameras, collecting plankton, or simply enjoying another spectacular Atlantic sunrise, you'll have a front-row seat to the journey.

Every Discovery Begins with a Question

Ocean exploration isn't simply about collecting data; it's about curiosity. Every expedition begins with questions:

1. How do sharks and other top predators use this remarkable habitat?

2. Why do whales, dolphins, and seabirds travel hundreds of miles to feed here?

3. How can you collect and study fragile jellies without destroying them?

4. Can traces of DNA suspended in seawater reveal what kinds of animals call this place home?  

To answer these questions, the expedition team will combine innovative technology with careful observation. Underwater cameras, environmental DNA sampling, seabird surveys, and plankton collections will help scientists build a more complete picture of this remarkable ecosystem.