Nekton Maldives Mission is a joint endeavour between the Maldivian Government and the UK marine science institute Nekton, which exists to map, sample and protect the world’s ocean. Science teams from the Maldives and across the world will use state of the art technology to undertake the first systematic survey and sampling of uncharted Maldivian waters from the surface to 1000 metre depths. This is one of the most climate change threatened parts of the Indian Ocean, and almost nothing is known about what lies below 30 metres. Data gathered will inform scientists and policy makers worldwide.