A 1,000-tonne ship is exploring the far-flung South Pacific for riches buried beneath the waves, spearheading efforts to dredge the tropical waters for industrial deep-sea mining. For two years it has sailed the Cook Islands gathering data to convince regulators that it's safe to mine for deposits of battery metals, rare earths, and critical minerals. The frontier industry is likened by some to a modern-day gold rush, and decried by others as environmental "madness". "We'd really be the guinea pigs of this industry, going first in. Blinded," environmentalist Alanna Smith tells AFP. "For Pacific Islanders, our ocean is like our food basket. It's our life source." IMAGES AND SOUNDBITES