Advancing Ocean Science with OceanX x OceanQuest Around Africa Expedition

February 2025 ~ Cape Town, South Africa

Our early career researchers from UCT-MARiS had the chance to witness first-hand the cutting-edge research and media capabilities aboard the world-class ship, RV OceanXplorer — a truly inspiring glimpse into the future of ocean exploration. Experiencing the diverse career opportunities in ocean science and meeting passionate researchers & technicians across disciplines has expanded our understanding of what’s possible in marine science.

Around Africa Expedition

Yameen Badrodien, Marine Microbiology PhD student

"At the end of January 2025, I was afforded an opportunity of a lifetime- a month at sea aboard the OceanXplorer research vessel together with a team of African scientists. At first, I didn’t know how to feel, I was excited, but filled with trepidation as well, as this expedition would mark my first time at sea. For two months leading up to the cruise, we spent countless hours in meetings, planning and strategizing with OceanX crew members and ourselves to achieve our goal- to explore, sample and map a series of seamounts located south of Madagascar. The nerves began to settle, and I finally allowed the excitement to take hold of me. We were blessed to have Dr Lara Atkinson (SAEON) as our chief scientist, and the amazing Mattie Rodrigue (OceanX) as our lead science coordinator, the two of which shouldered the responsibility of planning and coordinating the scientific aspect of the expedition- a monumental task indeed.

Dr Atkinson and Mattie led by example and allowed every scientific team member to come into their own. The scientific team’s range of expertise was broad, boasting dive instructors, geologists, and no shortage of marine biologists. The OceanXplorer is a sight to behold, equipped with 2 submersible vessels, 2 ROVs, a 24-niskin CTD rosette (capable of sampling half a metric ton of water with each cast), two wet labs and 2 dry labs,  both equipped with state-of-the-art-technology, and a multi beam sonar and software systems needed to map the thousands of square kilometres of seabed beneath us. Using the facilities, and the expertise of the vessels supernumeraries we were able to study and sample various aspects of these seamounts -from the microscopic constituents of the water column, a wide range of invertebrates, and eDNA which we hope will reveal the presence of African Coelacanth species within these waters.

My time aboard the vessel allowed me to foster many friendships, expanded my professional network, and exposed me to a variety of skills and techniques - from logging data in a control room packed with people - all attentively observing the actions of the ROV, hundreds of metres beneath us, filtering water for nutrients and eDNA, systematically offloading living samples from the two submersible vessels and carefully ushering them to the lab for classification, and watching the GIS technicians and geologists convert raw data into breathtaking visual representations of the seafloor. The team worked tirelessly to collect and process as many samples as we possibly could. It was an ordered chaos that one soon became accustomed to - a busyness that occupied us from the moment we opened our eyes to the moment we collapsed in our bunks - exhausted from the day’s endeavours. Time moved differently aboard the vessel, it felt like everything stood still, and before we knew it, the adventure had come to an end.

As we returned to Cape Town, I returned to work and my family, I was confronted with an emptiness -a feeling that i had never felt before. The late-night conversations, the sense of camaraderie, the unity we shared was no more - but the experience itself can never be forgotten, forever etched into our memories. We now return to normality, and embrace it, as the upcoming months will be dedicated to analysing the data we have collected, revealing the secrets of these seamounts and everything they have to offer. A special thank you to Larissa Fruehe (eDNA Post Doc), who opened her lab (and heart) to us, Dave Pollock (Submersible Operations Team Leader) for safely taking our team mates to the ocean floor and back, and Andrew Craig for putting up with all of us haphazardly barking requests while trying to safely navigate the ROV across countless transects. I would also like to thank Vincent Pieribone (Co-CEO & Chief Science Officer) for facilitating everything and more, and finally the ship crew and captain for ensuring our safety throughout of journey from the Comoros Islands to Cape Town."

OceanXplorer Vessel Tours and events in Cape Town

While docked in the Port of Cape Town in the last week of February, the OceanXplorer vessel welcomed African scientists, early-career researchers and inland school groups aboard for exclusive tours of their research technologies. Some of MARiS' ECRs and staff got the chance to tour the vessel and are deeply grateful to the entire OceanX team for making this visit possible, answering our endless questions, and sharing their knowledge so generously.

Shortly after the tour, MARiS' Science Communication Officer, Leila Nefdt, was invited to join the Blue Talk event aboard the OceanXplorer which was hosted by OceanX and the French Embassy (France in South Africa, Lesotho and Malawi) in Cape Town, South Africa on Tuesday, 25th February. This talk is one of several that will happen in Southern Africa leading up to the third United Nations Oceans Conference (UNOC III) to be held in Nice, France this June. Policymakers, scientists, NGOs, and industry leaders were brought together to discuss awareness and commitments on ocean protection and sustainable blue economy initiatives in Africa. Leila also got the chance to represent and join her colleagues from her NPO, #SeaTheBiggerPicture Ocean Initiative, to share their organization's viewpoints on what the ocean means to them and what their purpose is as an organization, while also providing suggestions on how to create better access to the ocean and necessary resources that will better educate the general public on the importance of our oceans and why we should conserve these specials spaces. They were the only group at the event that represented and promoted ocean conservation through education and public engagement. The main event was then followed by a tour onboard to witness the incredible state-of-the-art-technology and instrumentation for marine sampling that they have onboard.

OceanX Young Explorer Programme

Thursday, 27 February 2025, the OceanXplorer vessel departed the Port of Cape Town and continued exploring our oceans and training the next generation of ocean leaders while making their way to Windhoek, Namibia. The Young Explorers is a program that gives 14 students (ages 18-24) the opportunity to embark on an immersive 5-day experience onboard the OceanXplorer vessel. Through workshops, hands-on activities, and independent study, Young Explorers acquire knowledge and skills in marine science, vessel operations, and digital media storytelling from world-class experts while using state-of-the-art technology.

One of MARiS ECR's, Daniel Jones (Electrical Engineering MSc student), was selected for the first OceanX Young Explorers cohort of 2025! The Young Explorers is a programme designed to develop emerging talent in ocean-related fields and set sail from Cape Town for their multi-day at-sea educational experience. With Cape Town as a springboard for further exploration, the expedition set sail for its next destination, Windhoek, Namibia, committed to uncovering more of the ocean’s secrets and fostering a new generation of ocean stewards.

Daniel shares feedback from his experience onboard:

"Onboard the OceanXplorer our days were jam-packed with activities, from lectures about oceanography, mapping, ocean justice and storytelling, to hands-on sessions with crew members where we would get to see first-hand the incredible work they are doing onboard the ship. During my free time, I made it my mission to get to know as many crew members (who were incredibly friendly and happy to indulge me) of the ship as possible. Something that stood out to me was how extremely diverse everyone’s background was, and how one cannot draw defined responsibilities on a ship. If a job needs doing that isn't necessarily your area of expertise, and everyone else is busy, then you have to be a team player and get stuck in and start learning."

I truly LOVED my first experience on a research vessel. I enjoyed seeing how onboard the OceanXplorer, vastly different disciplines, such as film, engineering and research all intermingle and work together. I was also surprised how much I loved being out at sea with no land in sight! This whole adventure opened my eyes to a new career path that honestly I feel is my calling and is now what I am setting my sights on.

OceanX's commitment to advancing ocean science and storytelling is invaluable. We look forward to seeing OceanX continue to inspire and drive impact across the globe!