The only mooring that was not retrieved during the recovery legs in mid-September was the Single Hydrophone Receiving Unit (SHRU) at mooring SW49. It was missing so was left behind. We could live with only losing one mooring when you consider the extent of the fishing activity out there at that time and having a Tropical Storm hit the area when all the gear was in the water as well.

But on October 3, WHOI got a call from Virginia Beach fishing boat captain Mark Hodges. He had found the SHRU and it was intact! A week later we picked up the SHRU in VA and happily gave Mark a token of our appreciation.

The SHRU was full of data! It still had the external temperature sensor on it which showed it had lasted on site until Tropical Storm Ernesto. The acoustic release was flooded, corroded and had pieces missing. It was speculated the the release flooded early and, due to corrosion and stress from the tropical storm, it let go.

We were happy, the insurance company was happy, and the fishing captain was happy. All's well that ends well... And so goes SW06.