During spring 2012, COSEE-TEK has taken the plunge into underwater acoustics with two educational institutes focusing on the engineering and application of low-cost hydrophones. This do-it-yourself (DIY) hydrophone kit is based on a highly modified version of the original design developed by Kevin Hardy at Scripps Institute for Oceanography at the University of California, San Diego.
The goal of new design was to use only affordable, store-bought parts, eliminate the need for soldering in the classroom, and prevent leaks associated with oil-filled housings. COSEE-TEK technicians (Kevin Joy and John Hamilton) reviewed the Hardy design and made iterative modifications based upon the teachers’ feedback to simplify the construction of hydrophones in a classroom environment.
