OceanX combines deep-sea science, technology, education, and storytelling to expand understanding of the ocean and strengthen the foundation for its sustainable management. Its missions bring together scientists, technologists, educators, and media professionals aboard the OceanXplorer, a research and media vessel equipped with laboratories, submersibles, and advanced imaging systems capable of reaching depths of 6,000 meters.
Through collaborations with governments, research institutions, and local partners, OceanX conducts expeditions that document marine biodiversity, map underexplored regions, and generate open data to inform ocean research and management. OceanX Education transforms these discoveries into learning experiences that build ocean literacy, connect young people to science in action, and inspire the next generation of ocean stewards.
By linking exploration, education, and storytelling, OceanX helps translate complex science into knowledge and inspiration that support collective action for a healthy and resilient ocean.
About the Mission
- Mission Name: OceanX Timor-Leste 2025: Exploring the Edge – The Timor Passage
- Dates: 8–22 November 2025
- Location: Northern coast of Timor-Leste and Atauro Island region
- Port: Tibar Port, Dili
- Vessel: OceanXplorer, OceanX’s research and media vessel
- Lead Organization: OceanX
- Government Partner: Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Livestock, and Forestry, Timor-Leste
- Collaborating Institutions: King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), University of Florida, University of Western Australia, Macquarie University, Flinders University, and Ocean Alliance
- Primary Focus: Scientific exploration of the Timor Passage, one of the most biodiverse and least-studied marine corridors in the Coral Triangle
- Key Objectives:
- Document deep-sea and pelagic biodiversity through submersible dives, ROV operations, and SCUBA-based surveys
- Study pygmy blue whale migration, health, and behavior using drone imaging, tagging, and environmental sampling
- Deploy OceanX’s SeaSwipe AI platform for real-time species annotation and image analysis
- Conduct high-resolution seafloor mapping to contribute to regional marine planning and Seabed 2030
- Depth Range: Surface to approximately 4,000 meters
- Team Composition: Scientists, technologists, and media specialists from OceanX and partner institutions
- Scientific Leadership:
- Francesca Benzoni (KAUST)
- Gustav Paulay (University of Florida)
- Mark Meekan (University of Western Australia)
- Vincent Pieribone (Chief Scientist, OceanX)
Research Focus for Timor-Leste Mission
- The Timor-Leste mission will investigate the deep waters north of Dili and Atauro Island, an area where the Pacific and Indian Oceans meet and create exceptional biodiversity and nutrient exchange.
- The team will conduct multidisciplinary research to understand how seamounts, currents, and ecological gradients shape marine life from surface to deep sea.
- Scientific work includes biological sampling, habitat mapping, and the collection of environmental DNA to document species presence and ecosystem structure.
- Pygmy blue whale research will assess whale distribution, feeding patterns, and health through drone observation, tagging, and microbiome sampling.
- The mission will generate high-resolution seafloor maps to fill major gaps in regional bathymetric data and contribute to global mapping efforts.
- Data gathered will help establish baseline knowledge for Timor-Leste’s marine environment and inform the country’s future ocean research, management, and conservation planning.
- Collaboration between OceanX and international research institutions will strengthen regional scientific capacity and connect Timor-Leste to global networks of marine science and exploration.
- The expedition will deliver the first integrated scientific study of the Timor Passage, revealing how oceanographic conditions support life in one of the most dynamic and least-studied marine corridors on Earth
Innovation and AI
- The Timor-Leste mission will advance OceanX’s use of artificial intelligence to accelerate ocean discovery and data processing.
- The expedition will deploy SeaSwipe, OceanX’s AI-driven platform that automatically identifies and tags marine species captured through ROV and submersible imagery.
- SeaSwipe enables faster data analysis, allowing scientists to categorize biodiversity and habitat types in near real time.
- The platform also supports long-term data storage and global research collaboration by creating structured, searchable image libraries from missions.
- By integrating AI into deep-sea exploration, OceanX is developing tools that help scientists understand marine ecosystems more efficiently and share insights more widely.
Boilerplate and Contact
About OceanX
OceanX is a nonprofit working to unlock the ocean’s sustainable potential. Through a dual focus on science and education, we’re building a new paradigm where humanity and the ocean mutually thrive. Our approach is fueled by exploration, leveraging advanced research, multimedia educational programs, cross-sector partnerships, and advanced technology to help transform how people understand and value the ocean. Our work strives to fortify biodiversity and increase the sustainable use of ocean resources to help ensure the ocean remains a foundation for human wellbeing and potential. OceanX is a nonprofit operating program of Dalio Philanthropies. For more information, visit www.oceanx.org and follow OceanX on Facebook, Instagram, X , TikTok, LinkedIn, and YouTube.
For enquiries, please contact:
OceanX
Karuna Tuli
Public Relations and Communications Manager
+65 8418 6101
[email protected]
