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As part of REV Ocean’s Inaugural Voyage Scientific Program, more than 30 scientists will investigate deep-sea ecosystems, migratory species, and marine corridors that are critical to biodiversity and ocean health.

One of the most ambitious ocean research initiatives in recent years will generate new knowledge about some of the most important and least-explored marine ecosystems in the Atlantic and Caribbean.

REV Ocean’s Inaugural Voyage Scientific Program includes ten scientific missions scheduled to take place between 2027 and 2028, spanning the South Atlantic, the Caribbean, the Sargasso Sea, and the Eastern Tropical Pacific. The program will bring together more than 30 scientists, universities, conservation organizations, and government authorities from multiple countries to study poorly understood marine ecosystems and strengthen scientific understanding of how the ocean functions.

Oceanic sharks are key indicators of marine ecosystem health and are among the species that will help scientists better understand the Caribbean’s ecological connectivity. Photo: Andy Mann.

Among the expeditions planned for the region is Heart of the Caribbean, a scientific initiative led by researchers from the Caribbean Biological Corridor (CBC), the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS), Florida International University (FIU), and the Bimini Shark Lab. The mission will focus on a vast marine region connecting the waters of Cuba, Haiti, and Jamaica. It aims to expand knowledge of pelagic and deep-sea ecosystems, marine biodiversity, ecological connectivity, threats such as microplastics, and the movements of highly migratory species, including oceanic sharks, sea turtles, whales, and other megafauna.

The Heart of the Caribbean mission is one of ten expeditions included in REV Ocean’s Inaugural Voyage Scientific Program, an initiative that will investigate some of the most important and least-studied marine regions of the Atlantic Ocean and the Caribbean. Map by REV Ocean.

The information generated will help close critical knowledge gaps about some of the Caribbean’s least-explored ecosystems and strengthen regional scientific cooperation to support marine conservation and sustainable ocean management.

"For us, it is an honor to be part of this first series of REV expeditions. Not only will we explore the depths of our beloved Caribbean Sea, but we will also contribute to generating the knowledge needed to better understand these ecosystems and strengthen their future protection, particularly in deep-water areas that remain largely unprotected across the region, contributing to the global 30x30 target to protect 30% of the ocean by 2030."

Natalia Rossi, from WCS Mesoamerica and mission participant

All data collected during the expeditions will be shared through open-access platforms, allowing researchers, governments, and organizations to use this information to strengthen conservation efforts and the sustainable management of marine ecosystems.

The REV research and expedition vessel will serve as the scientific platform for a series of missions exploring some of the least-studied marine ecosystems in the Atlantic and Caribbean.

REV Ocean is a philanthropic initiative dedicated to protecting and restoring ocean systems through scientific research, innovation, and international collaboration. Its vessel, REV, measuring 195 meters in length, is one of the most advanced ocean research and exploration platforms in the world.

To learn more about the 2027–2028 Inaugural Voyage Scientific Program and its ten missions, please refer to REV Ocean’s full announcement.