Cruise Report S-203 : Scientific data collected aboard SSV Robert C. Seamans, Papeete, Tahiti – Rangiroa Atoll, Tuamoto Archipelago – Nuku Hiva, Marquesas – Honolulu, Hawaii. 7 February, 2006 - 18 March, 2006

Papeete, Tahiti – Rangiroa Atoll, Tuamoto Archipelago – Nuku Hiva, Marquesas – Honolulu, Hawaii. 7 February, 2006 - 18 March, 2006

This cruise report provides a record of data collected during S203 aboard the SSV Robert C.Seamans from Papeete, Tahiti to Honolulu, Hawaii (Figure 1) with stops at Rangiroa Atoll, and NukuHiva, Marquesas. We collected samples or data with 189 individual deployments from 69 discretestations (Table 2) along our cruise track. In addition we continuously sampled water depth, sub-bottomprofiles and Acoustic Doppler Current Profiles (ADCP) along with flow-through sea surface temperature,salinity and in vivo fluorescence. This report summarizes physical, chemical and biologicalcharacteristics at the sea surface (Table 3, Figure 2) and at depth (Tables 4 and 5, Figure 3a) along ourcruise track and around surveyed seamounts (Figure 3b). Large scale hydrography are summarized bycontour plots of temperature, salinity and sound velocity or fluorescence along our cruise track (Figure4a) and around surveyed seamounts (Figure 4b and c); whereas large scale current patterns aresummarized by contour plots of current direction, magnitude and echo amplitude (Figure 5a - c).The distribution of neuston net stations, meter net stations and corresponding zooplankton densityand numbers of select nekton species are presented (Table 6 and 7). Distribution and depth ofphytoplankton drift nets are also provided (Table 8). Location and relevant station depths forbathyphotometer, secchi disc and shipek grab (atop seamount summits) deployments are shown in tables9-11 respectively. A complete oceanographic survey of two seamounts, west of the Marquesan Islands wascompleted. Additional CTD, CHIRP, ADCP and biological data not reported here are available onrequest through Sea Education Association (SEA) and the Chief Scientist. The information in this reportis not intended to represent final interpretation of the data and should not be excerpted or cited withoutwritten permission from SEA.In addition, diel patterns of myctophids (lantern fish), pteropods and bioluminescence potentialwere studied in relation to the lunar phase. Results, not reported here, are available upon request throughSEA.As part of SEA’s educational program, undergraduates conducted idependent oceanographicresearch during the cruise. Project topics explored physical, chemical, biological and geologicaloceanography (Table 12). Student research efforts culminated in a written report and public presentationto the ship’s company. These papers are available on request from SEA.