Sub-spec: the world's first submersible spot spectrophotometer

Sub-spec was the world's first multipurpose underwater spot spectrophotometer. It is capable of irradiance and radiance measurement, polarised light characterisation and reflectance or transmission of objects in the natural environment. It can be used on the lab bench (right) or underwater (below).

Sub-spec has been used to measure the colours of 300 species of reef fish and many tropical birds including parrots and birds of paradise.

Sub-spec is shown here in its underwater housing - it is being used to measure the colours of a Caribbean cleaner goby.

One of the sub-spec's first mission was to measure coral colour on an Aquarius mission in the Florida Keys, in order to assess coral health.

The smallest area of colour (spot) that can be measured has a diameter of approximately 0.3mm.

The new generation of submersible spot spectrophotometers

The new spec, shown here in the underwater housing, can be more easily transported and operated. The spec continues to provide valuable quantification of the underwater environment and its inhabitants.

It is currently being used on a wide range of projects including:

Ground-truthing of remote sensing data

Polarised light around coral reefs

Quantification of coral colours and bleaching

Are corals really colourful?

Quantification of 'cleaner blue'