Our DRYFOB-XLs are keeping good company! We are honored to see our DRYFOB-XL waterproof containers being used in a deep reef research project with the Yang Center at the Cornell Lab and the Smithsonian DROP project and Curaçao Sea Aquarium and Substation.
The goal of the project was to set up an economical way of assessing deep reef coral growth as a function of reef resettlement and biodiversity recruitment. A dozen DRYFOB-XL units were purchased for use in the project to house sensitive measurement equipment to perform monitoring at depth.
Much of the study is done using a manned submersible that descends to deep ocean reefs in the 700ft (213m) range for extended 3-4-hour dives. Equipment is positioned in strategic areas to collect measurements and later collected using the submersible to capture and analyze the results.
Instruments such as hydrophones are used to record various fish sounds, like croaks, grunts, and chirps. Depending on the sounds heard, and identified, adjustments can be made to the program including variations in the rate of replenishment and in the introduction of different coral types.
The DRYFOBs provide a unique and economical way of getting additional custom-made electronics down to depth. While the DRYFOB-XLs are certified and lab-tested to 330ft (100m), these field results going to over twice the rated depth for extended periods should definitely inspire confidence from divers and other researchers considering using the DRYFOB at extended depths.
We were told that some of the XLs will be sent to Catalina Island, California, where they will be deployed for longer term reef monitoring. The remaining 10 will continue in Curaçao for subsequent phases of the ongoing research project where we expect to see exploration taking place on even deeper reefs, potentially for months at a time.
We very much look forward to hearing more about the work when published, and the next phases of the project.
