The Nekton Maldives Mission has discovered a 1,500m-high seamount in the Suvadiva Channel in Huvadhoo Atoll.
The Suvadiva Channel or Huvadhu Kandu has long been famous among fishermen as Satho Rahaa. Studies have been done on the area many years ago but they are not publicly available. Although there are no research papers published in the Maldives on the Suvadiva Channel, there are some articles that show that the area is very historical for scientists. The Nekton Maldives Mission has discovered and published information about the mountain in the Suvadiva Channel which shows it is one of the most interesting areas to be explored in the country.
During the mission, the Nekton discovered a seamount at the bottom of the Suvadiva Channel. The seamount is 1,500m high and the top of the seamount is 300m below sea level. The mission spent 12 hours exploring the seamount and gathering data. The submersible used by the Nekton Mission has been unable to be used in the area due to heavy rainfall. Therefore, the Nekton Mission used sonar technology to gather data about the Suvadiva Channel. Sonar is a technology used by scientists to image underwater scenes. The technology allows the sonar signal to be sent to the seabed to depict the shape of the seabed. Scientists send many such signals to draw and identify the most accurate images in locating and charting a particular area.
The Nekton Mission is now most interested in discovering the fact that various species of fish thrive near the seabed. Scientists believe the study will provide answers to many of the questions that have been raised about marine life. The Nekton Mission has decided to collect data on 34 seamounts in the waters of the Maldives.