The better we understand life beneath the surface, the better we can protect it.

For 22 days, scientists aboard OceanXplorer went exploring the waters surrounding Christmas Island and Roo Rise, a deep-sea feature reaching depths of around 3,000 metres in the eastern Indian Ocean.

High Seas: Roo Rise 2026 marked the first joint expedition between OceanX and Minderoo Foundation – supported by scientists from the WA Museum and The University of Western Australia. Using cutting-edge technology, from seafloor mapping, submarines and deep-sea exploration to genomics and environmental DNA (eDNA), scientists worked to build a clearer picture of the region’s unique biodiversity.

The expedition also brought science into the hands of the Christmas Island community, with residents collecting eDNA samples from their blue backyard. Just one litre of water collected from Flying Fish Cove revealed more than 60 species of fish.

Together, these discoveries are helping close critical knowledge gaps and build the scientific evidence needed to better understand and protect this ecologically significant part of the high seas.