Abstract: The present invention includes a buoy floating on a body of water. Positioning devices attached to the buoy are responsive to control signals to control the position of the buoy. A hydrone is suspended from the buoy to a predetermined shallow depth with an electrical cable and converts seismic waves to an electrical signal. A navigational device, on the buoy, provides position signals corresponding to the position of the buoy. A first transceiver with an antenna, receives first transmitted signals from a ship and provides them as control signals to the positioning devices. The first transceiver transmits signals corresponding to the seismic signal and to the position signals. A seismic device, located in the body of water, creates event in the body of water in response to a fire signal. Fire control apparatus located on the ship provides the fire signal to the seismic device.

Abstract: Walkaway vertical seismic profiling is conducted in a body of water. A marine seismic cable is positioned substantially vertically in a body of water. The cable has a number of hydrophones spaced along its length. A seismic source is moved along a line of traverse past the seismic cable and is periodically activated to emit acoustic waves. The response of the hydrophones to reflection of the acoustic waves from subsurface formations is then recorded for processing and analysis.