Subsea Programmes

Our scientific diving programme is fully operational and supports shallow-water and nearshore research, inspection, recovery, and documentation work where direct human presence provides meaningful scientific, environmental, or operational benefit.

Diving is employed deliberately — not by default. It is used only when conditions allow work to be conducted safely, within conservative depth and time limits, and in accordance with established protocols and training standards.

Scientific diving activities may include:

• Habitat documentation and visual ecological surveys to assess species presence, behaviour, and environmental conditions
• Shallow-water sample collection supporting biological, chemical, and environmental analysis
• Infrastructure inspection, including anchors, moorings, and hulls, to support vessel safety and environmental protection
• Recovery of derelict fishing gear and marine debris where conditions allow safe intervention
• Support for wildlife response efforts, including cetacean or sea turtle entanglement assistance, when requested and conducted in coordination with qualified authorities and specialists
• Education, training, and skills development activities aligned with expedition objectives
• Visual documentation and responsible storytelling that supports research, accountability, and public understanding
   

Every dive is evaluated against safety, authorisation, and environmental impact considerations. We dive only where intervention reduces harm, contributes to knowledge, or supports mission-critical work — and where it does not introduce unnecessary risk to people, wildlife, or ecosystems.

Expedition Audacity supports targeted marine recovery and response activities when intervention can reduce immediate environmental harm and can be carried out safely, responsibly, and in coordination with relevant authorities and specialists.

These activities are not undertaken casually or independently. They are conducted selectively, within established protocols, and only where our presence and capability add clear value.

Marine recovery and response efforts may include:

• Recovery of derelict fishing gear and marine debris in shallow or accessible environments
• Support for wildlife response efforts, including cetacean and sea turtle entanglement assistance, when requested and undertaken alongside qualified responders
• Documentation of entanglement hazards, ghost gear, and high-risk areas to support prevention and policy action
• Collaboration with local communities, fishers, and conservation partners to identify and mitigate ongoing risks
   

Safety, authorisation, and animal welfare guide every decision. When conditions, expertise, or jurisdictional authority are not appropriate, we document and refer rather than intervene.

Our role is to reduce harm, not introduce risk — and to ensure that recovery efforts support long-term solutions, not short-term optics.

All marine recovery and response activities are conducted only within applicable legal frameworks, permitting requirements, and jurisdictional authority, and in coordination with qualified agencies and specialists where required. 

Remotely operated systems are essential to modern ocean research — extending depth, duration, and safety while reducing risk to human divers.

For Expedition Audacity, this is also a matter of accessibility.

As a founder living with a disability, remote systems are not a convenience — they are a means of continued participation, oversight, and leadership in subsea exploration without compromising safety.

This perspective shapes our subsea programme design:

• Access-first
• Safety-first
• Capability before bravado
   

ROVs expand who can participate in ocean science — not just how deep we can go.

To meet the scientific and operational demands of future missions, Expedition Audacity is actively fundraising to acquire research-grade ROV systems.

These systems would enable:

• Deeper and longer-duration surveys
• Non-invasive observation of sensitive habitats
• Reduced reliance on human diving in higher-risk conditions
• Expanded research partnerships
• Enhanced education and documentation
   

This expansion is planned but funding-dependent.

We do not present these capabilities as current until they are fully operational, tested, and integrated.