Democratizing deep‑sea research
The Azores Deep-Sea Research group is scientifically documenting the deep ocean floor like never before, thanks to its drifting video platform, the Azor drift-cam. With support from the Rolex Perpetual Planet Initiative, it is revolutionizing research equipment needed to protect the oceans.
When he was 21 years old, Telmo Morato moved to the Azores from his hometown of Porto in Portugal. His plan was to stay for a short-term marine research project, but three decades on, he is still exploring this unique archipelago, which is unlike anywhere else on Earth. Situated in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean, it is among the most remote places in the world. Renowned as a hotspot for biodiversity, the underwater seamounts that form the archipelago’s islands provide a unique habitat for all manner of marine life.
