weird buoy in Santa Cruz...

Anybody know what's up with this weird buoy in Santa Cruz? I saw it near Natural Bridges on Saturday...

Maybe the gov’t is bobber fishing

Maybe the gov’t is bobber fishing

hilarious!

nwm, does the buoy seem to be replacing a buoy that was there before? or in addition? any markings on it?

I can't find any info on it.

It's new. In fact, now that I think about it, it might actually be mobile. I saw it in 2 different places about 4 or 5 miles apart, and I doubt there are 2 of them.

maybe 2 temporary buoys?

below is a link to a typical 'traveling' buoy or wave glider.  I saw a company developing these at the Maker faire in SF about 12 years ago.  really interesting stuff, with a lot of even more interesting uses.  Can be programmed to travel, loiter, follow..

The bigger unit in the picture you shared appears to be a power developing unit, the smaller buoy, appears to be the science end of it.

https://lynceans.org/all-posts/wave-glider-autonomous-vehicle-harvests-wave-and-solar-power-to-deliver-unique-operational-capabilities-at-sea/

I'll bet the Coast Guard knows what it is, but I just got lost on their website(s).  "Notice to Mariners" might be a key phrase to use. Also, Long Marine Lab folks might know, or MBARI, the folks in the nice-looking building with marine exhibits near the Wharf/Dream Inn, maybe even SC Harbormaster might.  Or get close enough to read anything on it to give you a clue. 

I'll bet the Coast Guard knows what it is, but I just got lost on their website(s).  "Notice to Mariners" might be a key phrase to use. Also, Long Marine Lab folks might know, or MBARI, the folks in the nice-looking building with marine exhibits near the Wharf/Dream Inn, maybe even SC Harbormaster might.  Or get close enough to read anything on it to give you a clue.

good catch, and UGH! they're as tough to read at NOTAM's (NOTice to AirMen)

https://www.navcen.uscg.gov/sites/default/files/pdf/lnms/lnm11312022.pdf

NWM you've sent me down a deep dark hole in the internet....

so there is a waverider, but off moss landing, also some Navy buoys...no real description at a number of place, I need to convert all the coordinates


NORTHERN CALIFORNIA-MONTEREY-BUOY DEPLOYMENT

The Navy Post Graduate School, Oceanography department and the University of Miami has deployed buoys until 31 October, 2022 at the following
coordinates:
36-56-54N 122-04-44W
36-56-57N 122-04-57W
36-56-40N 122-04-57W
36-56-51N 122-02-36W
36-56-39N 122-02-37W
36-57-22N 122-01-12W
36-57-17N 122-00-54W
36-56-20N 122-00-37W
36-57-02N 122-00-32W
36-57-26N 122-00-36W
36-56-15N 122-04-56W
36-55-55N 122-02-09W
36-55-23N 122-00-23W
36-55-20N 122-00-26W
36-54-37N 121-57-54W
36-49-25N 121-55-03W
36-48-46N 121-49-35W
36-51-21N 122-02-44W
During the deploying and recovery of the buoys a research vessel will be monitoring VHF-FM Chan. 16. Mariners are requested to transit the area
with caution. For more details or comments, contact Jamie MacMahan at 831-588-8727.
Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute (MBARI) is conducting 24 hours per day 7 days a week autonomous, unmanned maritime vehicle
operations of two Liquid Robotics, Inc. Wavegliders until 31 December, 2022. Vehicles will be deployed in the vicinity of Moss Landing that will
operate continuously between latitudes 35-07-14N and 37-12-00N and will extend shoreward as far West as 122-58-35W. Operations consist of
scientific ocean data collection. The Waveglider carries no fuel, lubricants or hydrocarbons. It is wave powered and remotely attended from MBARI,
moving at speeds of 1kt, and designed to give way or part if encountered by a vessel. It is approximately 8' x 2' (surfboard size), yellow in color, with
a contact plaque and mast extending 3' above the water surface, supporting a flag. Mariners are requested to transit the area with caution. For
more details or comments con

I entered in a few of them, all in the general region of Natural bridges....they appear to be your buoys, maybe get up close to one, you might meet some fine Navy Grads

Probably not helpful, but there used to be a buoy like that near MBK last year.  Was decent fishing near it too 

I entered in a few of them, all in the general region of Natural bridges....they appear to be your buoys, maybe get up close to one, you might meet some fine Navy Grads

That's it! Amazing that you found it so quickly. What's the purpose, other than to follow me around?

Yesterday I got too close to one and snagged on one 1/2 way to the mile buoy. Never had trouble breaking my rig before until that.

It's a shark tracking buoy. 

Neat!  https://www.liquid-robotics.com/wave-glider/how-it-works/