Recorders down

 Acoustic recorder #1 on the reef. It's the size of a coffee can.

Big day. The first set of digital acoustic recorders were deployed today. Very exciting as this is our main goal. We put four of these new recorders, updated and advance by WHOI's Jim Partan (thanks Jim!), on our 'best' reef: Tektite. We're hoping to examine spatial variability of sounds within this healthy reef.

We also had the chance to survey a few new reefs including Booby rock and an area just to the north of Booby rock. Booby rock was filled with a forest of soft corals but not much hard coral. The site to the north was a rubbly reef that will like act as our third comparison site (i.e., limited and dead coral).

Overall it was a great day. Four dives. Two new reefs. Explored Tektite extensively and deployed our new recorders. Pretty awesome. Now to finish prep for tomorrow.

Aran and Max resting between dives.