RemipedeNational Geographic have funded a cave diving research and mapping expedition for investigations of submarine caves along the coast of Christmas Island, a territory of Australia.

The grant will enable the team to search for new species of Remipedia, a class of crustaceans. Submerged caves on Christmas Island are likely to be inhabited by remipedes and possibly other undiscovered, cave-limited species. The caves of Christmas Island have never been completely explored or scientifically examined.

This is a joint expedition of U.S. and Australian researchers and world class cave divers. The cave diving team consists of Americans Thomas Iliffe, Jill Heinerth, Curt Bowen and Brian Kakuk and the Australia contingent is Richard Harris, John Dalla-Zuanna, Craig Challen, Ken Smith and Bill Humphries.

More information.