Undersea snapper

A revolutionary 3D holographic camera that gives scientists a greater understanding of marine life will be on display at the Oceans ‘07 conference in Aberdeen which kicks off in the city next week.

The underwater camera can take 3D images of living organisms and particles in their natural environment in a non-intrusive and non-destructive way and will help enhance our awareness of the environment and provide a better understanding of the health of the oceans.

Unlike conventional stills or video, the camera records 3D holograms. These holograms can be recorded underwater to give 3D images of plankton - the tiny subsea organisms on which much marine life depends. These organisms range in size from a few microns to several millimetres.

A study of this life form is essential for marine biologists in their drive to understand the oceans and its influence on our global environment.

The camera, known as eHolocam, has been developed by a research team at the University of Aberdeen, in collaboration with CDL of Aberdeen, which specialises in offshore instrumentation, and Elforlight of Daventry, which develops novel solid state lasers.