Obituary: Sandy Island (1876–2012)

In October 2012, scientists investigating the tectonic evolution of the eastern Coral Sea aboard the R/V Southern Surveyor uncovered a quirky discrepancy in maps of seafloor topography during their 25‐day voyage. While on a transit leg between dredge sites, the ship passed near a purported island between the Chesterfield Islands and Nereus Reef that appeared in numerous scientific data sets and in Google Earth™ with the label “Sandy Island.” However, this 25‐kilometer‐long and 5‐kilometer‐wide feature was absent from the hydrographic charts used by the master onboard the ship for navigation.