With crews of R/V Thompson and ROPOS, we have deployed an instrument platform dubbed "Barkley Benthic Pod 1" to a spot in the depths of Barkley Canyon, 984m below the surface. This operation included laying a cable from the instrument platform up-slope to connect with our instrument platform in the Barkley Hydrates study location.

The first task was lowering the Remotely Operated Cable Laying System (ROCLS) with cable spool to the seafloor, using the Thompson's crane and winch. Once positioned, acoustic releases connecting the winch cable to the ROCLS assembly were sent an acoustic signal, commanding them to release ROCLS. Then the winch cable was recovered.

Next, ROPOS was attached to Benthic Pod 1 and deployed. ROPOS carried the instrument platform to the seafloor, placed it, set up measuring poles for the camera, deployed the hydrophone ~10m away from the platform, lifted the rotary sonar into an upright position, and plugged the cable connector into the platform.

After these tasks were finished, ROPOS connected to ROCLS (which was resting on the seafloor), and laid the 1430m-long spool of cable. Finally, they attached the far end of the cable to our Barkley Hydrates platform.

This was indeed a very productive and interesting dive!

Deployment to Barkley Canyon Axis
ROPOS crew member Keith Tamburri watches as Steve Bucklew lowers ROPOS onto the Remotely Operated Cable Laying System (ROCLS).	Barkley Canyon axis pod (benthic pod 1) with video camera.	1430 metre cable that links Barkley Benthic pod 1 to Barkley Hydrates instrument platform.	Port J13 on the sonar side of Barkely Benthic pod 1.
The side of Barkley Benthic pod 1 that is opposite the sonar.	Connecting ROPOS to Barkley Benthic pod 1, on the deck of the R/V Thompson, 26 August 2009.	Platform side opposite from the camera.	Barkley Canyon benthic pod 1 from above. Rotary sonar folded in foreground.
The hydrophone to be deployed ~10m from the instrument platform in Barkley Canyon axis.	ROPOS pilots Keith Tamburri and Ian Murdock discuss strategies during installation of the extension cable, 27 August 2009.	This large crab crawled unperturbed over cables and under ROPOS during installation of Barkley Benthic instrument platform 1, 27 August 2009.	This squid came to investigate ROPOS during its descent to the seafloor, 26 August 2009.
Barkley Canyon axis pod and hydrophone on seafloor.	ROPOS's two arms, named "Yin" and "Yang", work together to release bungy cords and deploy a sonar into upright position.	ROPOS places a measuring stick into sediment near the Barkley Canyon axis instrument pod, 27 August 2009.