Welcome to the Marianas Archipelago Reef Assessment and Monitoring Program (MARAMP) 2005 cruise!

MARAMP is a multi-agency effort that began in 2003 with the first cruise to the Mariana Archipelago. The objective of these cruises is to rapidly evaluate and map the shallow water reef habitats in the Mariana Archipelago. Scientists on board the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) research vessel Oscar Elton Sette will use a variety of techniques to study the coral, fish, algae, and benthic habitats around most of the islands and offshore banks of the archipelago. In addition, they will collect oceanographic data such as sea temperature and water chemistry.

This year you will be able to follow the adventures of the ship, and share in new and exciting discoveries. Visit the Aboard the Oscar Elton Sette page to learn more about the science on board, read daily updates and see photos from the field, check out our special features, and ask questions of the scientists and crew on board. You can see the questions other people have asked on the Ask a Scientist page, and the Resources for Teachers page has lots of links for teachers, including classroom resources to download, lesson plans, helpful web sites, and a list of classroom speakers. If you have any comments about the site, please send an email to our education department (John.Moreno@crm.gov.mp).

View a map of the route taken by the Sette HERE.

Enjoy your visit!