If Herman Melville taught us to chase colossal mysteries in the oceans in Moby Dick, and Jules Verne led us into the depths of the Nautilus in 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, then Cape Verde today is writing its own narrative of exploration, with the ink of science and the paper of the deep sea. As in the great epics of human knowledge, our researchers are not sailing in search of glory, but in pursuit of a relentless truth, in search of the answers that only the ocean can hold. Like Ulysses, facing the uncertain seas and mythological creatures of his Underwater Odyssey, they face the unknown with ingenuity, courage and the conviction that, when they return, they will bring knowledge that renews our relationship with the sea. And like Hemingway’s Old Santiagode, they know that every oceanic incursion is a worthy and necessary struggle, where resilience and respect for the environment are as essential as the most advanced technology. In this new chapter of history, science is the sail that drives the journey, international cooperation is the wind that moves us, and the horizon of a sustainable future for Cape Verde is the compass that guides us. In the midst of classic literature, we see history revealed through the power of the new, as if, with each dive, we were rewriting old myths with the language of science, transforming them into reality with data and into possibilities for the future.
In this contemporary chapter of scientific adventure, Cape Verdean scientists and international collaborators dive beyond the unknown, not driven by fiction, but by data, high-precision instruments and an unwavering commitment to the sustainable future of the country and the planet. What was once a legend or a literary plot is now a reality under the waters of Cape Verde.
On board the OceanXplorer, the world’s most advanced oceanographic research vessel, Cape Verdean scientists took part in an unprecedented scientific campaign, funded by the global OceanX and OceanQuest initiatives, dedicated to discovering, documenting and protecting marine life. The “Around Africa Expedition 2025” mission, part of the United Nations Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development, which began in Moroni, Comoros, in January and concluded in Las Palmas, Canary Islands, has already brought important discoveries. Of particular note is the first exploration of an unknown seamount south of Walters Shoal in the Indian Ocean, where new species have been recorded. This work will culminate at the United Nations Conference on the Oceans (UNOC3) in Nice, marking a significant step forward in the promotion of ocean science and international cooperation.
In Cape Verde, the expedition went ahead with the exploration of the Nola/Noroeste seamounts, in Santo Antão, between March 25 and April 1. During this period, the mission had the collaboration of researchers from the Instituto do Mar (IMar) and other national and international partners*. The work in Cape Verde includes mapping deep-sea ecosystems and studying the biodiversity of seamounts, using cutting-edge technologies such as manned submersibles, remotely operated vehicles (ROVs), advanced acoustic systems and floating laboratories, now accessible to national science.
In addition, more than 100 students from secondary schools in São Vicente and Santo Antão had the opportunity to visit the expedition ship, giving them a unique and direct experience with ocean science. This initiative aims to awaken young people’s interest and understanding of the importance of preserving the oceans and the possibilities of a career in science.
The Bottom of the Sea Is Ours Too: Exploring Cape Verde’s Seamounts
Brave and curious, our scientists descended in submersibles to a depth of up to a thousand meters below the ocean surface to explore the seamounts. Like true Captains Nemo of the Tropical Atlantic, they sailed slowly in the absolute silence of the abyss, surrounded by a plethora of deep-sea creatures and landscapes that seem to have come out of the imagination, where life flourishes in shapes and colors that are now real!
This extraordinary experience, as well as being thrilling, highlights Cape Verde’s firm commitment to climate science and marine conservation. The seamounts, sleeping giants under the deep blue, are veritable natural laboratories that hold secrets about biodiversity, ocean circulation and the impacts of climate change. Knowing them is fundamental to better understanding the processes that shape our planet and to planning coastal and fisheries development policies that are truly sustainable.
Imagine submerged mountains rising from the seabed like silent cathedrals, sculpted by time and volcanic force. These structures, hidden beneath deep waters, are geological elevations usually of volcanic origin, which do not reach the surface and therefore remain among the ocean’s greatest enigmas. In Cape Verde, these sleeping giants function as veritable oases of life in the deep blue, concentrating biodiversity and sustaining fragile, exuberant and still largely unexplored ecosystems. More than mere geological formations, they are centers of biogeochemical regulation, nutrient strongholds and strategic points for feeding, reproducing and sheltering countless species, many of them of ecological and commercial importance. While traditional fishing grounds sustain local communities and economies, mountains like the Nola remain shrouded in mystery, waiting for science to reveal the secrets they have kept beneath the waves for millennia.
A Submerged but Urgent Challenge!
Climate change is an ongoing process that is already beginning to reshape marine ecosystems in various parts of the world. In regions like Cape Verde, where seamounts dot the depths of the ocean, it is plausible that these transformations will have significant impacts, although they are still poorly understood. From potential changes in fishing productivity to imbalances in biogeochemical cycles, these deep environments may be particularly sensitive to ongoing changes.
Seamounts, such as the Nola with its twin peaks, represent geological structures of great scientific relevance, capable of generating unique ecological and physico-chemical dynamics. These formations influence ocean currents, promote the resurgence of nutrients and can play an important role in sequestering carbon and storing heat in the deep layers of the ocean, a critical function in the face of climate change. It is known that the oceans absorb around 89% of the excess heat caused by the greenhouse effect, and the cold, deep water abundant around these mountains has a greater capacity to retain carbon dioxide for long periods. However, phenomena such as acidification, deoxygenation and rising water temperatures represent growing threats to these ecosystems, which are still little studied. Exploring these areas was a unique opportunity to deepen our knowledge of poorly documented marine ecosystems, identify unprecedented patterns of biodiversity and better understand the interactions between species, thus contributing to new perspectives on sustainable fishing and marine conservation.
From sandy areas to volcanic walls, their slopes hide recesses and cavities where unique forms of life flourish, often in symbiosis with the rock itself. These reliefs are not just habitats! They are natural fortresses that protect a rare, resilient and still largely unknown biodiversity.
From the cameras of the ROV (Remotely Operated Vehicle) called Chimaera or live from the manned submersibles Nadir and Neptune, the expressions were always similar: amazement, surprise and admiration. It was like watching a spectacle of nature in real time, where every second revealed a new mystery. It wasn’t just science; it was the discovery of a hidden world that had always been there, waiting to be unveiled. Not even eight hours in a single position, immersed in this underwater universe, was enough to absorb everything that surrounded us. Each movement of the cameras, each image captured, seemed like an introduction to something even greater, deeper. The words of fellow IMar scientists accurately capture the magnitude of this experience in submersibles, reinforcing the transformative impact we experienced and the importance of science in preserving this legacy.
“As we reach 500 meters deep, each movement connects us more deeply with the ocean, making us realize that we are at the epicenter of an immense natural laboratory, where the flow of discoveries has the power to rewrite our understanding of marine ecosystems and their interactions with the planetary balance. This unique and transformative experience offers us a rare window into deep biodiversity and its vital impact on the future of our planet.” Elizandro Rodrigues:
“At 900 meters, the magnitude of this ecosystem reveals itself in an indescribable way. The vastness that stretches out before us, the complexity of the creatures that inhabit these depths. This immersion makes us reflect on the urgent importance of preserving these habitats for future generations. And more than ever, Cape Verde’s role in this global scenario becomes central. We are not only unraveling the mysteries of the ocean, but also positioning our country as a guardian of these essential environments. This responsibility, as well as being urgent, is a unique opportunity for science and for Cape Verde’s sustainable future.” Péricles Silva
Therefore, exploring and monitoring these structures, as addressed in the scientific campaign on board the OceanXplorer, represents an opportunity to observe changes in real time and build more informed scenarios about the future of the oceans. For an insular and exposed country like Cape Verde, better understanding these dynamics can be crucial to adapting public policies and marine management strategies to the new climate reality.
International cooperation as a foundation
As in a contemporary scientific odyssey, innovation is born of imagination. In a world where challenges such as climate change require new responses, creativity becomes the key to discovering sustainable solutions. However, no discovery can be made without collaboration. By sharing technologies and experiences, we transform individual potential into collective strength, essential for tackling global issues that cannot be solved alone.
Marine research is expensive and requires systematization. The cutting-edge technologies provided by ships such as the OceanXplorer are fundamental to carrying out consistent, high-impact studies, allowing Cape Verde to access resources and data that would otherwise be difficult to obtain. In addition to the OceanXplorer, other internationally renowned scientific vessels, such as the Meteor and Polarstern (Germany), the Sarmiento de Gamboa (Spain) and the National Geographic Resolution (USA), were in the region operating in Cape Verdean waters during the same period as the expedition. Taking advantage of their simultaneous presence near the coast and the Nola seamount, the scientists on board OceanXplores and Meteor have joined forces and will join forces in data collection activities, working in coordination and constant communication. This rare confluence of research platforms underlines Cape Verde’s growing role as a hotspot for ocean science and as a relevant partner in multilateral efforts for the knowledge and conservation of the Tropical Atlantic.
In a historic and deeply symbolic gesture, President José Maria Neves descended to the depths of the ocean aboard the OceanXplorer submersible, becoming the first Cape Verdean head of state to do so. More than a personal achievement, this experience marked a moment of reflection on Cape Verde’s strategic role in global ocean science. “Science is essential for us to make the right decisions,” said the President, sharing that this journey to the bottom of the sea made him ‘get to know Cape Verde again, with new eyes’, as he glimpsed, in the deep blue shadows of the Atlantic, ‘the immensity of possibilities’ that the ocean offers the country. As patron of the United Nations Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development and “Champion” of the preservation of Africa’s natural and cultural heritage, President Neves reinforces this commitment on behalf of the entire archipelago. Cape Verde is writing a new page in the relationship between small island states and global science, a page made up of political courage, scientific rigor and strategic vision. The Minister of the Sea, Engineer Jorge Santos, was also on board the OceanXplorer and during his mission in Santo Antão, he recognized the value of the scientific mission underway, highlighting the ship’s extraordinary technological and scientific capacity, describing it as “a platform of possibilities for the advancement of marine knowledge” and a unique opportunity to position Cape Verde as a strategic partner in international ocean research.
These institutional visits to scientific vessels in Cape Verdean waters are not mere protocol rituals, they are unequivocal affirmations of a national repositioning, where Cape Verde takes an active role in scientific diplomacy and in building a blue economy based on knowledge. Ships like the OceanXplorer, the Meteor, the Polarstern and others become bridges between knowledge, continents and generations.
Through IMar, Cape Verde already has a consolidated oceanographic science platform, the result of 20 years of cooperation with Germany. The Ocean Sciences Center in Mindelo (OSCM), co-managed with GEOMAR, is a clear example of the positive impact of this long-lasting partnership, which has contributed significantly to the development of the country’s scientific capabilities. Out of this fruitful collaboration came an invitation from Professor Martin Visbeck, a former GEOMAR associate and current CEO of the OceanQuest Foundation, based at the King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) in Saudi Arabia, to involve Cape Verde with his own research questions. This invitation aims to take advantage of the opportunities generated by OceanQuest’s partnership with OceanX, integrating the region’s research capabilities with the latest technologies and global scientific approaches. And it contributes to future campaigns such as the international FUTURO project, scheduled to begin in 2028. The realization of this cooperation was boosted by the support of the Embassy of the United States of America in Cape Verde, which played a central role in articulating partnerships and making the OceanX Expedition to Cape Verde possible.
This synergy reflects not only Cape Verde’s potential to become a regional center of excellence in ocean science, but also the new possibilities for exploring local scientific issues in line with global priorities, such as climate change and the preservation of marine biodiversity. Through this collaboration, Cape Verde will be increasingly able to provide effective responses to the issues generated by climate change, promoting sustainable solutions that can benefit the region and the planet as a whole. This type of partnership opens doors for Cape Verde to use its strategic position in the Tropical Atlantic to be a catalyst in generating knowledge about the ocean, promoting sustainable development based on science and innovation.
*IMar sincerely thanks all those who participated in this scientific mission to Cape Verde, whether on board, on land or in a network, with the fundamental collaboration of various national and international institutions, including the Atlantic Technical University (UTA), the Biosphere Association, the University of Cape Verde (UNICV), the General Inspection of Fisheries (IGP), the Maritime Port Institute (IMP), the National Directorate for the Environment, the University of Lisbon, Cardiff University, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), the University of Vale do Itajaí (UNIVALI), the National Institute for Ocean Research in Brazil (INPO), the South African Biodiversity Institute (SANBI), the Partnership for Global Ocean Observation (POGO) and the partners of the oceanographic vessel METEOR / Kiel Ocean Research Center (GEOMAR), the US Embassy in Cape Verde and the Government of Cape Verde, through the Presidency of the Republic and the Ministry of the Sea. We would also like to thank OceanX and OceanQuest for their financial and technological support, which was essential for the expedition and for including Cape Verde on their scientific route in Africa.
Author
Yara Rodrigues, IMAR