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Expanding Subsea Capacity


Why ROVs Are No Longer Optional

The Reality Beneath the Surface

Much of the ocean cannot be accessed safely, ethically, or consistently by human divers alone.


Depth, cold, currents, visibility, weather windows, and fatigue impose hard limits — not just on how far we can go, but on how responsibly we can operate. As expedition work increasingly moves into remote, high-risk, or sensitive environments, those limits matter.


This is where remotely operated vehicles (ROVs) become essential.


ROVs extend human presence without extending human risk. They allow us to document, monitor, recover, and observe where diving is unsafe, impractical, or simply the wrong tool for the job.


For modern ocean research and environmental response, they are no longer a luxury.


They are infrastructure.

WHERE WE ARE NOW

 Current Subsea Capabilities 

At present, Expedition Audacity operates with one small, donated ROV.

It is useful — but limited.


It currently supports:


  • Hull inspections
  • Anchor and mooring checks
  • Shallow, near-surface observation (100 ft depth rating)
     

It does not support:


  • Deeper or longer-duration surveys
  • Scientific-grade subsea data capture
  • Work in strong current or poor visibility
  • Safe response in complex or hazardous conditions
     

This creates a practical capability gap — not an abstract one, but a real constraint on what we can responsibly take on.



WHY THIS IS PERSONAL — AND OPERATIONAL

Continuity, Not Accommodation 

This limitation is not just technical.

Due to a permanent disability, Expedition Audacity’s founder & Captain is unable to dive safely or consistently. This does not define the mission — but it does shape how the organisation must operate responsibly in the field.


Remotely operated vehicles (ROVs) ensure leadership remains operational during expeditions. They enable real-time oversight, informed decision-making, and accurate documentation without placing crew members at unnecessary risk.


This is not about accommodation.


It is about continuity, safety, and maintaining operational responsibility under real-world conditions.

WHY OWNERSHIP MATTERS

Control, Safety, and Fit-for-Purpose Capability

 Chartering remotely operated vehicles (ROVs) is not a reliable or appropriate solution for Expedition Audacity’s operations.


Availability is inconsistent, costs escalate rapidly, insurance restrictions continue to tighten, and rented systems rarely integrate cleanly into expedition workflows. These challenges alone make chartering an unreliable foundation for long-term research and response work.


More critically, Expedition Audacity operates a sailing research vessel. ROV systems suitable for sail-powered platforms must meet strict requirements for size, weight, power consumption, deployment method, and operational resilience. These constraints are not optional — they are fundamental to safe and effective operation at sea.


Globally, ROVs that meet these criteria are manufactured to order, produced in limited numbers, and not available through rental markets. There are no standing rental fleets of sailing-compatible, expedition-grade ROVs capable of supporting this kind of work.


Owning and operating purpose-fit ROV systems allows Expedition Audacity to plan responsibly around real vessel constraints, train crew on equipment they know and maintain, deploy when conditions demand rather than when rentals are available, and uphold clear ethical, safety, and data standards from deployment through documentation.


Ownership is not an upgrade.
It is a requirement.


For this reason, Expedition Audacity is pursuing the acquisition of two complementary systems — the Boxfish ROV and Boxfish Luna. Together, they provide the capability to conduct high-quality observation, documentation, and environmental monitoring in places where human access is limited, unsafe, or inappropriate — extending reach without extending risk.


Boxfish ROV
A compact, expedition-grade observation and inspection ROV designed for deployment from small crews and constrained platforms. The Boxfish ROV delivers high-resolution video, precise manoeuvrability, and operational redundancy suitable for scientific monitoring, inspection, and response work in challenging conditions. Its lightweight, fault-tolerant design allows reliable deployment from a sailing research vessel.


Boxfish Luna
A cinematography-class ROV built for high-definition visual documentation and extended missions. Boxfish Luna supports professional-grade imaging for scientific, environmental, and evidentiary use, while maintaining the stability, endurance, and control required for complex underwater environments. It complements the Boxfish ROV by enabling detailed visual records where clarity and context matter most.

Boxfish ROVs

WHAT PROPER ROV CAPABILITY ENABLES

 Safer Access. Better Evidence. 

With expedition-grade ROV capability, E.A.R. can:

Conduct non-invasive subsea research and monitoring






Support marine recovery and response efforts 

Document underwater environments with scientific credibility 

Reduce reliance on risky or unnecessary diving 




Expand education and transparency through real evidence  

ROVs don’t replace divers. They ensure divers are used only when appropriate.


That distinction matters.

THIS IS A SCALED EFFORT

 Every Contribution Moves the Needle  

Building proper subsea capability is not about one heroic cheque.

It is about collective responsibility.


  • $25 helps build redundancy and training capacity
  • $100 supports operational readiness and maintenance
  • $1,000+ contributes directly to acquisition and deployment
  • Larger gifts accelerate full scientific capability
     

Every contribution moves the needle.
Every contribution reduces risk.
Every contribution strengthens accountability.


No gift is symbolic.






 




WHY THIS MATTERS BEYOND THE EQUIPMENT

 Ethics, Evidence, and Responsibility  

ROVs don’t just collect data.


They protect people.
They protect ecosystems.
They preserve evidence.


They allow us to work where it matters most — without pretending the ocean is forgiving, predictable, or safe.


This is not about chasing technology.
It’s about respecting reality.

THE ASK

Help Build Responsible Access Beneath the Surface  





Help us move from limited access to responsible capability.


Support the acquisition of expedition-grade ROV systems so Expedition Audacity can continue its work safely, ethically, and without compromise.


Because some work can’t wait for perfect conditions — and some places should never be reached at human cost.

Support Subsea Capability
Learn About Our Subsea Programmes
ROV Overview (PDF)

Building ROV Capability for Ocean Research, Safety, & Access

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