Deep ocean areas, ecosystems thriving under extreme conditions, and the fascinating geology of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge - this is where the international ATLANTIS-2 expedition is heading: the pristine unexplored geo-biosystems of the deep Atlantic Ocean.

Following a seven-day transit from the port of Vigo, the official oceanographic campaign has reached the research area and started activities aboard the multipurpose Spanish research vessel R/V Sarmiento de Gamboa.

The research expedition, titled "Exploration of Deep Geo-biosystems of the North Atlantic, Mid-Atlantic Ridge – ATLANTIS-2" (Leg 3 & Leg 4), is being carried out in cooperation between the Polish and Spanish geological surveys in the Polish contract area on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, under an agreement with the International Seabed Authority (ISA) for the identification and characterization of massive sulphide deposits. The work carried out forms the foundation of environmental monitoring and the study of deep-water ecosystems, as well as an element of marine resource assessment in the context of diversifying sources of critical raw materials.

The Spanish research vessel R/V Sarmiento de Gamboa, from which research is being conducted as part of the ATLANTIS-2 expedition (Port of Vigo)

Science without borders

The expedition is the result of synergy and combined expertise from 31 scientists and technicians representing nine research institutions:

• Polish Geological Institute – National Research Institute (PIG-PIB)
• Instituto Geológico y Minero de España (CSIC-IGME)
• Unidad de Tecnología Marina (UTM-CSIC) • Estrutura de Missão para a Extensão da Plataforma Continental (EMEPC)
• Instituto Volcanológico de Canarias (INVOLCAN)
• University of Lisbon (ULisboa) - Faculty of Sciences
• Instituto Dom Luiz (IDL) • University of Göttingen (GAU)
• University of Sao Paulo (USP)
  
  

The scientific team is led by specialists in marine geology and deep-sea exploration: Dr. Francisco Javier González Sanz (CSIC-IGME) and Dr. Michał Tomczak (PIG-PIB). Captain Pablo Andrade (CSIC-UTM) is responsible for safely navigating the vessel through the Atlantic waves.

Research area

The expedition is divided into two key stages: Leg 3, from August 22 to September 18, and Leg 4, running until October 17, 2026. The expedition route runs between the ports of Vigo (Spain) and Horta in the Azores (Portugal), where the scientific crew will be exchanged.

The current expedition directly continues and deepens research carried out by PIG-PIB in 2022 and 2023 using onboard systems and advanced autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs). Scientists will study the exceptional structures discovered at that time, including oceanic core complexes (OCCs) and active and inactive hydrothermal systems, associated with accumulations of polymetallic massive sulphides.

Beyond verifying and characterizing newly discovered systems, some of the campaign's key objectives include the world-famous hydrothermal systems of Lost City and Broken Spur. Depending on weather and sea conditions, scientists will collect unique data and research samples from approximately 15 research stations in total, along with detailed high-resolution photographic and video documentation of sites whose unique physicochemical conditions are considered a natural analogue for the environments in which the first life on Earth may have originated!

Working deck configuration of the R/V Sarmiento de Gamboa during the ATLANTIS-2 expedition

Technology on board

Scientists will draw on a full arsenal of modern tools and research methods. Sound waves will be used to create three-dimensional maps of the seafloor, "scan" the water column and sediments, and measure ocean currents. A CTD probe, essentially a "sensor box" lowered on a cable, will collect water from hot hydrothermal vents and analyze it for methane, oxygen, pH, and traces of life. Plankton and sediment samples, together with eDNA analysis of genetic traces dispersed in the water, will help detect organisms invisible to the naked eye. Samplers box-core and gravity core will retrieve benthic fauna, fragments of sediment and rock, including material from deep layers of the Earth's crust.

ROV Luso 6000 - the expedition's eyes on the ocean floor

A key role in direct seafloor observation and sample collection will be played by Luso - a remotely operated underwater vehicle (ROV) operated by Portugal's EMEPC, functioning like an underwater drone on a cable, capable of descending 6,000 meters into the ocean depths. Thanks to 4K cameras, scientists will be able to view the seafloor almost as if they were there in person, while two mechanical arms and a specialized vacuum sampler will allow them to gently collect several samples of rock and organisms during a single dive.

The vehicle also carries a mini-laboratory equipped with sensors for temperature, oxygen, turbidity, methane, and CO2, meaning Luso simultaneously performs the roles of geologist, biologist, and chemist during a single dive.

The remotely operated underwater vehicle (ROV), owned by Portugal's EMEPC, is used for observation and the collection of research samples down to depths of 6,000 meters

Explore the deep-sea abysses of the Atlantic with us!

For all deep-sea enthusiasts, we have something special! Throughout the expedition, we will broadcast LIVE directly from the bottom of the Atlantic Ocean! Thanks to the 4K cameras mounted on the ROV Luso, you'll be able to stand shoulder to shoulder with our scientists, observing unique ecosystems, extraordinary geological formations, and live research work in real time. Watch our channels for updates!

Stay up to date with us!

Want to check where our expedition is right now? You can track the position of the R/V Sarmiento de Gamboa and current voyage parameters live at:

data.utm.csic.es/fleet

Follow our ROV dives and expedition activities through live broadcasts at:

https://www.youtube.com/user/igmeWEB

We will be publishing ongoing updates, LIVE broadcast announcements, and photos and videos from on board on our social media channels.

We also encourage you to visit the websites of our expedition partners::

• PIG-PIB: pgi.gov.pl
• IGME-CSIC: igme.es
• UTM-CSIC: utm.csic.es/en/home
• EMEPC: emepc.pt
• INVOLCAN: involcan.org
• University of Lisbon: ciencias.ulisboa.pt
• University of Göttingen: uni-goettingen.de
• USP: https://io.usp.br
  
  

Keep your fingers crossed for our crew and fair winds!

Participants of the first stage of the ATLANTIS-2 campaign (Leg 3) aboard the R/V Sarmiento de Gamboa. Photo: Ágata Alveirinho

Text: Michał Tomczak, Francisco Javier González Sanz (CSIC-IGME), Łukasz Smajdor, Bartosz Kotrys, Weronika Wierny

The research is co-financed under a grant from the National Fund for Environmental Protection and Water Management (Agreement No. 134/2025/Wn07/FG-SM-DN/D of April 1, 2025).