Cook Islands Seabed Minerals Authority
Runanga Takere Moana

Artex 2025

 

artex 2025

Mapping an underwater volcano chain.


​The ARTEX 2025 expedition, led by the Cook Islands Seabed Minerals Authority (SBMA), aimed to enhance understanding of the region's deep-sea geology and biodiversity. Collaborating with partners including the National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research (NIWA), the University of California Santa Barbara, and Kiva Marine, the team conducted seabed mapping and analysis. A significant outcome of this mission was the discovery of a previously unmapped underwater volcano approximately 100 kilometers southeast of Rarotonga. This finding underscores the dynamic geological landscape of the Cook Islands and highlights the importance of ongoing deep-sea exploration and international scientific collaboration.

Read the release here.

Reports

Listen to the radio interview with ABC Pacific Beat.