Abstract
This Open-source Camera Trap for Organism Presence and Underwater Surveillance (OCTOPUS) was designed to operate as a motion activated camera trap, deployable at depths of up to 800 ft for ∼72 h deployments. The core components of the OCTOPUS are built off a Raspberry Pi 3B+ with a custom PCB hat which operates a strobe lighting system and a high definition Arducam camera. When an appropriate threshold of motion is detected, the OCTOPUS captures a high-definition image of the subject. Field trials for this system demonstrated its use for cryptic benthic organisms, specifically small octopus (Octopus rubescens). The OCTOPUS collected data on several species allowing the observation and quantification of interspecific and conspecific interactions. This system unlocks the potential of autonomous underwater data collection for a wide range of applications, from species specific observations to large scale ecological assessments.