Submersible ROVs (Remote Operated Vehicles) are deployed off the fantail of the Oregon II after the ship is anchored. An operator on the ship communicates with the ROV via an umbilical, which is long enough to allow the ROV to descend to depths of 300 feet. The radius of the bottom area that can be sampled depends on the depth and the specific ROV used, but can extend up to 200 meters. An ROV is utilized during the Oculina / Gag-Grouper Survey to observe and record bottom structure and fish aggregations.
