Cordell Bank is an underwater seamount that lies 50 miles northwest of the San Francisco Golden Gate Bridge. Its shallowest depth is 120 feet. Prior to 1978, the biological makeup of Cordell Bank was unknown to the general public and the scientific community. It was a hidden gem off the California Coast waiting to be explored and described.
In 1977 Dr. Robert Schmieder sent out a call for divers to explore Cordell Bank, and Cordell Expeditions, a nonprofit research organization, was created.
Cordell Expeditions was founded on the premise that the exploration of Cordell Bank would be scientific in nature.
Because I was an advanced SCUBA diver, underwater photographer, had a keen interest in the marine environment and had studied Marine Technology, I immediately volunteered.
After more than one year of preparation, expedition divers made the first dives on Cordell Bank on October 20, 1978.
Divers reported Cordell Bank as amazing, rich, colorful, diverse, and “never seen anything like it.”
Over the ten years of the expedition, depth soundings were taken for mapping and to find potential dive sites. Many dives were made, samples of the biota were collected, samples of the granitic substrate and sediment were collected and numerous photographs taken.
Some live biological samples were sent to various scientific institutions, and the remainder were sorted and preserved for later studies and distribution.
All expedition activities were documented and annual reports written.
As we acquired information, we did several public presentations and slowly the public became aware of Cordell Bank and its extraordinary beauty, productivity and biodiversity.
Local TV station Channel 7 produced and aired a segment on Cordell Bank, and magazines and newspapers ran articles.
All our data, samples and photographs were made available to scientific institutions including California Academy of Sciences, UC Berkeley, Bodega Marine Lab, USGS, and others.
Due to the success of the expedition and the commitment of its members to bring Cordell Bank’s uniqueness to public awareness, it was nominated for National Marine Sanctuary status. It was designated a National Marine Sanctuary by an act of Congress and signed into law by President George H.W. Bush on May 24, 1989.
