The Department of Marine Science has certain research facilities that warrant special mention because of the extraordinary research opportunities these items provide:

• Finnigan MAT Element 2 High Resolution Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectrometer (HR-ICP-MS) is a highly sensitive element/isotope detector available at only a few academic institutions.  The HR-ICP-MS is the centerpiece of our Center for Trace Analysis and affords DMS and regional researchers the opportunity to perform ultra-trace analyses of metals in environmental samples.

• Benthos Open Frame ROV (Remotely Operated Vehicle) system, including the vehicle itself, an ORE Trackpoint II acoustic navigation system, control/shipping van and associated equipment. This vehicle is configured for imaging marine snow aggregates using a Benthos digital still camera with Deep Sea Power and Light collimated strobe illumination system and a Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institution 3DLITES laser line scan imaging system. The vehicle framework is configured to allow the addition of other sensors and systems, making this a very capable and flexible system.

• MAGENUM (Marine Aggregate ENUMeration) camera system consists of a modified Logsiger Deepslope 6000 camera system, a Seabird Seacat CTD and a Seatech transmissometer. It is completely self-contained to allow it to be lowered using a non-conducting cable and is capable of imaging marine snow aggregates throughout the water column to a depth of 6,000m.

• Free-Drifting Sediment Trap Array is a rugged and reliable instrument array that includes up to 10 "multitrap" sediment traps, a WHISL current meter, 10 Brancker thermographs and and ORE trackpoint transponder. It is tracked using a Kevlar-reinforced surface buoy with Novatech strobe lights and radio and dual, concealed Argos satellite transmitters.

• Marine Sonic dual frequency side-scan sonar has been specially modified to allow for the collection of quantitative, calibrated digital bottom scattering data for sediment classification.