URI prepares for deep-sea dive

NARRAGANSETT, R.I. (WLNE) — The University of Rhode Island is getting ready to launch their trip to the deep floor of the ocean.

A fleet of observational systems — benthic landers — are being built at the URI Narragansett Bay Campus in preparation for their deep oceanic journey.

Earlier this week, ABC6’s reporter Yanni Tragellis met up with the team in charge of this grand journey.

Here is a photo of a benthic lander. (WLNE)

Marine Biologist and URI Professor Andrew Davies has been leading the team building the two benthic landers.

The team shared that they are finishing up the final touches before the landers will dive nearly two miles onto the ocean’s floor to study the coral reef.

A coral reef specialist, Andrew Davies and his team. (The University of Rhode Island)

Davies shared with ABC6, “When we get to some of the sights that we’ll deploy these landers at, no human has ever seen them, no instrument has ever recorded the condition.”

After one year of studying the coral, the landers will resurface and the team will evaluate the recorded data, Davies shared.

Another professor on the project, Kristofer Gomes, expresses his gratitude in working with the students on this project, “Watching them develop and build up their own skill sets and set themselves up for success is really a rewarding aspect of this work.”

Here is a photo of Marine Biologist and URI Professor Andrew Davies. (The University of Rhode Island)

Davies said that he has been working towards this moment for 20 years and is now only about a month or two from deploying these deep sea landers.

The URI team is excited observe parts of the ocean never before seen by humankind in just one year from now.