Capilano University Exploratory Dive
It all begins with an idea. Every year, Ruth Simons, Executive Director of Howe Sound Biosphere Region Initiative Society, connects with Roy Jantzen, Professor at Capilano University, to inspire students to contribute to marine tourism management in Howe Sound Biosphere. This year, underwater sound was the topic of interest and I was asked to present the Howe Sound Hydrophone Project to Roy’s Marine Tourism and Interpretation class.
To my excitement, four eager Capilano undergraduates decided to surround their final project on a cost analysis and potential location for the hydrophone. Ariana, Aimee, and Sophia sourced information from the web while Dani jumped in the deep end and conducted an exploratory dive with Tom and myself along the coast of Lions Bay. To our surprise, there was a plethora of species, including large kelp, fish, and a myriad of invertebrates. We determined if a cabled hydrophone system was deployed, while more robust than a buoy system, it would need HDPE covering to protect from the sharp rocky bottom and highly barnacle covered substrate. We could feel the strong current and observe the steep bathymetry the deeper we explored British Columbias’s most southern fjord. We concluded an anchor back to shore would be necessary along with a foam covering over the hydrophone to mitigate flow noise, especially if the hydrophone was installed at a depth greater than 20 m. The deeper we can deploy the hydrophone, the better acoustic data we will obtain, without disruptive surface noise. As we went deeper, we greatly welcomed the crackling of urchins and knocking sounds of fish and were reminded why we were on this dive. So here is a big thank you to Ruth, Roy, and the Capilano University Marine Tourism and Interpretation students for their interest and enthusiasm surrounding underwater acoustics.
Although we continue to be reminded of how many pieces must come together to make this project a success, I still get excited about the thought of listening to the humpbacks and killer whales who have visited the Sound almost every day this spring!
