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• conductivity-temperature-depth (CTD) gauge (SeaBird SeaCAT SBE 16plus)
• echosounder (Biosonics DT-Xu)
• acoustic Doppler current profiler (RDI Workhorse Monitor 300KHz)
• oxygen sensor (Aanderaa optode)

Two additional instruments, a Naxys hydrophone and a bottom pressure recorder, were positioned close to the instrument platform.

This platform is connected to the Folger Passage node.  We will return later to run a 700m cable from the node to the Folger Pinnacle.

Preparing Folger Deep Instrument Platform
Lovely evening off Folger Island, one of the Deer Group islands. Photo taken from the site of our Folger Deep instrument platform.	ROPOS crew members Keith Shepherd, Kim Wallace, Dan Cormany and NEPTUNE Canada contractor Jason Williams.	Folger Deep platform as seen from above.	Floger Deep platform with bottom pressure recorder prior to deployment.

Welcome to Folger Deep Platform
ROPOS deploys the Folger Passage bottom pressure recorder, 28 August 2009.	Fish swim in murky water near the Folger Deep instrument platform.	ROPOS reaches into the Trawl-Resistant Frame to plug the connector into Folger node. The water was very cloudy, making this a very difficult task.	ROPOS used both arms (dubbed "Yin" and "Yang") to carry the connector from the platform to the node.

Wally's equipment includes:

• conductivity-temperature-pressure gauge
• webcam and lights
• methane sensor
• compass

After transporting Wally to the seafloor, ROPOS set out markers around a hydrate mound and along a pathway to be followed over the coming months and years. Then ROPOS unwound the extension cable and connected it to the instrument platform. This platform also connects, via a 1430m extension cable, to our Barkley Canyon Axis instrument platform.

We have yet to test Wally in operation, but hope to have an opportunity to power him up and go for a test drive sometime soon!

Wally's Ocean Adventure Begins
Wally the benthic crawler dangles over the water beneath ROPOS, 27 August 2009. (Full-resolution version.)	Wally in position, with floating tether, 28 August 2009.	Waypoint marker 10 on Wally's seafloor observation route. Waypoint 1 can also be seen in the distance.	Some unknown prankster added a message to Wally's back end.
Wally on the seafloor, just after arrival. The extension cable is festooned with foam buoyancy blocks, which will prevent Wally from getting entantled. Waypoint markers float at Wally's port side.	Seafloor environment typical of the hydrates fields where Wally the Crawler was positioned.	Wally the benthic crawler rigged and ready for deployment. It's green extension with attached flotation blocks rests on the green frame. Waypoint markers dangle from weighted chains at Wally's side.	NEPTUNE Canada contractors Jason Williams (left) and Jonathan Lee prepare Wally for deployment, 26 August 2009.
ROPOS and R/V Thompson crews work together during deployment of Wally the Crawler to our Barkley Hydrates study zone.	Wally the benthic crawler dangles over the water beneath ROPOS, 27 August 2009.	Wally the benthic crawler hangs in the water, held by a strap on ROPOS, 28 August 2009.