Governor Oliver, Senator Alfonso, Dr. Nicole Yamase, and Jeannyleen Andrew Local Marine Science Student Embark on an Extraordinary Deep Sea Dive

Pohnpei, FSM – (October 26, 2023) – Governor Oliver, Senator Merlynn Abello-Alfonso, Dr. Nicole Yamase, and Ms. Jeannyleen Andrew, a student at the College of Micronesia - National Campus, explored the marine wonders of Pohnpei aboard the DeepSee submersible. The descent took them to depths between 100 - 150 meters (328- 492 feet), offering an exceptional opportunity to experience Pohnpei’s ocean from a rare perspective.

Governor Oliver shared his experience, "I experienced what I would consider a once-in-a-lifetime experience. I had the privilege of diving in a state-of-the-art submersible, allowing me to see our ocean from a completely different perspective. We take for granted what we know about the ocean but being in the submersible made me realize that there is still so much to discover."

Senator Alfonso completed the submersible dive along with her niece, Dr. Nicole Yamase, and felt inspired after seeing the underwater life. She said, “I would like to share this experience with my colleagues in Congress so we can work together to push policies to protect our unique marine environments and resources.”

Dr. Nicole Yamase, reflecting on her second submersible dive, expressed her enthusiasm, “Visiting the deep sea changed my life forever. My wish is to have more young people from the FSM have the same opportunity and become the next ocean champions. I’m so proud of Jeannyleen, another young Micronesian female scientist who will carry on the torch to light the way for those to come.”

Jeannyleen Andrew is from Kapingamarangi, an outer island of Pohnpei, and is a Marine Science student at the College of Micronesia. She emphasized the importance of scientific research, “I want to encourage my fellow students to keep studying and working to protect our ocean. It’s up to us to preserve the amazing ocean that we have.”

These submersible dives were an initiative of the Blue Prosperity Micronesia and National Geographic Pristine Seas expedition. The customized research vessel, the M/V Argo, is equipped with a safe and proven submersible named ‘DeepSee.’ The DeepSee is rated to reach depths up to 450 meters (~1,500 feet) and has conducted more than 3,600 dives safely.

Paul Rose, National Geographic Pristine Seas Expedition Leader stated, "It is a tremendous honor to bring Governor Oliver, Senator Alfonso, Dr. Yamase and student Jeannyleen Andrew to see the deep sea with National Geographic Pristine Seas. We are honored to support the Federated States of Micronesia’s vision for managing and protecting their seas and to work with community members on this expedition."

The expedition team hosted a public event on October 25 attended by state leaders, community members and students. Governor Oliver provided welcoming remarks underlining the importance of preserving the ocean, stating, "Our ocean has long been a source of sustenance, providing us with nourishment, economic opportunities, and a sense of belonging. As stewards of our waters, it is our duty to ensure their preservation so that our ocean can continue to sustain our current and future generations. That’s why I am excited to have the Blue Prosperity Micronesia and National Geographic teams here to study our ocean."

Blue Prosperity Micronesia and National Geographic Pristine Seas have partnered to embark on a large-scale scientific expedition to study FSM’s marine environments to benefit the nation’s current and future generations. The results of the expedition will allow us to understand the current health of our ocean and will inform the best way to protect and sustainably manage the nation’s marine resources. The expedition will travel to all four states, it began in Kosrae on October 14 and will conclude in Yap on November 22.

ABOUT

Blue Prosperity Micronesia is a program to support the sustainable growth of marine resources in the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM). This program is government-led, with the goal to optimize ocean uses, protect 30% of FSM’s waters, strengthen fisheries management, and support the development of marine industries.

National Geographic Pristine Seas works with Indigenous and local communities, governments, and other partners to help protect vital places in the ocean using a unique combination of research, community engagement, policy work, and strategic communications and media. Since 2008, our program has conducted 41 expeditions around the world and helped establish 26 marine reserves, spanning more than 6.6 million square kilometers of ocean