National Geographic Pristine Seas

05/23/2026

in 2023, we dove through clear waters in the southern Line Islands, Kiribati, on our third expedition to this Pacific island nation.

Photo by Manu San Félix/National Geographic Pristine Seas

05/21/2026

Take a moment and soar with an immature brown b***y in Ailinginae Atoll, Marshall Islands. 🇲🇭

While on expedition, we conduct seabird surveys to quantify the presence and abundance of these avian species. Seabirds are often called the "sentinels of the sea," as healthy populations can indicate a thriving marine ecosystem.

05/20/2026

POV: BRUV Episode 8 - Marbled stingray in Papua New Guinea

We spotted not one but a few(!) marbled stingray (Taeniurops meyeni) on our remote cameras while conducting scientific surveys in Papua New Guinea.

These striking creatures can measure up to 11 feet long and weigh up to 330 pounds, and their distinctive patterns change as they age. One of their biggest threats worldwide is being caught as bycatch in industrial fishing nets, including during trawling.

Baited remote underwater video systems (BRUVs) are a scientific surveying tool that uses unmanned high-definition cameras to spot and record species on a reef. In this series, we leave the humans behind and watch what happens.

05/20/2026

"The National Geographic Pristine Seas (NGPS) expedition is surveying some of the remote waters in the Marshall Islands (RMI). The mission brings together local navigators, scientists, and the Marshall Islands Marine Resources Authority (MIMRA)," shares PMN News.

"The team is travelling across seven atolls in the Ralik and Ratak chains, including places where little modern scientific research has ever been done. Their final and most remote stop is Ujelang Atoll, more than 200 kilometres south-west of Enewetak."

Photos by Iñigo San Félix/National Geographic Pristine Seas

05/20/2026

"The biggest no-take marine protected area in Melanesia is set to safeguard marine life including sharks, manta rays, turtles, dolphins and seabirds while still supporting the Pacific country’s fisheries," shares DiverNet.

"Papua New Guinea has undertaken to protect an area of ocean about the size of the UK from destructive activities. Its Western Manus MPA will cover 200,000sq km of Coral Triangle within the Bismarck Sea, forming part of the new Melanesian Ocean Corridor of Reserves (MOCOR)."

Photos by Ollie Velasco/National Geographic Pristine Seas

05/20/2026

In 2023, National Geographic Pristine Seas joined forces with Blue Prosperity Micronesia for a groundbreaking science and media expedition across the vibrant...

05/19/2026

What are we looking at here? This is an octopus maternity ward! 🐙

While on expedition in Gabon, our team pulled a shell from the ocean floor and placed it in a tank on our ship for observation. Minutes later, thousands of baby octopuses hatched from eggs laid inside this seemingly empty shell.

The ocean is a wonder...and a delight. 🌊

Photo by Enric Sala/National Geographic Pristine Seas

05/19/2026

Last week, Papua New Guinea announced its intention to create a 200,000-square-kilometer no-take marine protected area in the Western Manus region. The marine protected area will be part of the new Melanesian Ocean Corridor of Reserves (MOCOR), a network of national and joint boundary protected areas across Fiji, Vanuatu, and Papua New Guinea.

“Papua New Guinea is one of the most biodiverse places on the planet,” remarked Jelta Wong, minister of the country’s National Fisheries Authority. “Establishing the Western Manus Marine Protected Area will allow us to preserve and protect our ecological legacy and, at the same time, ensure that our ocean continues to provide people with what we need — food and a source of income.”

05/19/2026

05/19/2026

Here in the Marshall Islands, we are getting our first views of Ailinginae, an uninhabited atoll in the Ralik Chain of islands.

We're pretty enamored (scientifically speaking, of course). 🥰 What do you think?

Photos by Steve Spence/National Geographic Pristine Seas

05/18/2026

Great news! 🥳 A proposed Marine Protected Area in Vanuatu, announced last week, is designed to safeguard waters near Torba, the northernmost and least populated province of Vanuatu.

The nation’s ocean holds some of the most extraordinary marine biodiversity in the Pacific — from volcanic seascapes and vibrant coral reefs to deep sea creatures yet to be documented.

"We are not sacrificing our ocean to save it. We are choosing protection over extraction, and the long memory of our ancestors over the short interests of others," ‌‌said ‌Jotham Napat, Prime Minister of Vanuatu.

"When future generations look back at this moment, let them say that this was the time when Melanesian leaders chose courage over convenience. When we stood united for the protection of our ocean, our culture, and our identity. Let our ocean be not a story of decline, but a story of resilience."