Underwater equipment recovery

Abstract

An apparatus and method for recovering equipment from within a body of water. The apparatus comprises a frame supporting a mesh and an engagement element. The engagement element is shaped to co-engage with the mesh and is attached to the equipment to be recovered prior to its deployment. Following deployment of the equipment, its recovery can be effected by lowering the mesh supported by the frame onto the equipment to cause the engagement element and the mesh to co-engage. The frame and mesh may then be lifted to the surface of the water bringing the equipment with them. Recovery may include searching for the equipment by monitoring a load associated with the frame and the mesh as it is lowered and raised at different locations, whereby an appropriate increase in load is taken to indicate that the equipment has become attached to the mesh.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.