South Carolina Waters Expedition 2--Four Holes Swamp, Francis Beidler Forest

South Carolina Waters Expedition 2 took the team into the interior of South Carolina to a place called Four Holes Swamp--a dark tannin-stained slow-flowing river swamp known as a blackwater swamp and a tributary to the Edisto River. Thousand-year-old trees and native wildlife abound in this pristine sanctuary. There are over 70 species of reptiles and amphibians and 140 species of birds have been reported. As a bird watching photographer, you can really spread your wings.

Located in the heart of the Lowcountry between Columbia and Charleston, Four Holes Swamp is a 45,000-acre matrix of sloughs and lakes. It contains 18,000 acres of the largest remaining stand of virgin bald cypress and tupelo gum swamp forest remaining anywhere in the world. These wetlands are also home to the dwarf trillium (Trillium pusillum)--a rare flower found only in South Carolina at Four Holes Swamp.

Within Four Holes Swamp is the 15,000 acre National Audubon Society's Francis Beidler Forest where an educational center and a 1.75 mile self-guided boardwalk trail are located. The expedition team rendezvoused at the visitor center where we linked up with Mark Musselman, the Land Manager in Four Holes Swamp. Mark accompanied us on our trek over the boardwalk to Goodson Lake. Along the way, he shared with us his extensive knowledge of the swamp and with a sharp eye, pointed out the unique features of the swamp and its camouflaged wildlife--mostly the serpentine kind.

The launching point for the team's Trident was a two story observation deck deep within the swamp. Dave Eslinger unpacked the ROV and made the necessary connections. It wasn't long before our unusual activity drew the attention of curious visitors to the swamp, one of them being an inquisitive little girl with a boat load of questions, but Dave, a very personable individual, was willing to accommodate, thus fulfilling a primary objective of the team's explorations--to raise public awareness and appreciation for South Carolina's most cherished assets, its waterways and coastal estuaries, especially with the young.

The midday temperature was in the high 50's with only a slight breeze shuffling the branches of the surrounding ancient trees. With the overhead canopy open at this time of year, the sun shined through the upper branches onto the lower vegetation and the countless fallen trees strewn about in the dark waters. Not to far away, a nine foot alligator passively soaked in what sunshine was being made available to it. The ROV was launched into the black tea colored waters and it wasn't long before we were confronted with the complexity of the underwater world of the swamp.

As the Trident cruised along under the water taking some stunning video, the ROV's tether inevitably became entangled around the numerous submerged fallen logs and branches. Unable to get the ROV to surface, the unavoidable now faced the team--someone was going get "swamped today" and enter the 50-some degree water to retrieve the entrapped ROV, and that person was our pertinacious team leader. Stripped down to his undershorts, Dave entered the stimulating 8-foot deep water and after several attempts, successfully rescued the valuable Trident.


Unlike the clear, aqua blue waters of the tropics and coral reefs of the Caribbean, South Carolina's waters offer a greater challenge to operate an ROV in. Each expedition logistically teaches us something new, preparing us for the challenges to come on future expeditions.

Highlight: If you watch the underwater video very carefully you will see the ancient predator fish called a bowfin.


South Carolina Waters
National Geographic Open Explorer
S.E.E. Initiative

Team member Rick Olson kayaking Four Holes Swamp.

South Carolina Waters Expedition--A Key Piece Of Grant Funded Equipment Has Arrived

Charleston is home to some of the busiest waters on the southern coast from the daily flow of massive ocean-going container ships to the hundreds of considerably smaller paddleboarders leisurely gliding in and around its estuaries and beaches. Add to this, a cruise ship will periodically slip into port with its load of vacationers hungry to soak in the city's harbor views and peninsula history. For sure, there is a lot to be experienced above water level, but silently overlooked is the abundance to be discovered and shared below its murky coastal waters, historically and ecologically.

Compared to clear water, murky water is characteristically home to an abundance of living organisms, including phytoplankton (a flora of freely floating minute organisms and a key part of oceans, seas and freshwater basin ecosystems) and zooplankton (jellyfish, crustaceans, and other ocean-wandering animals). Sediments also play a role. Along certain coasts, easily agitated finer particles like sand and silt will stay afloat for longer periods adding to the water's murkiness. On the other hand, the sediments off clearer coasts may be heavier and coarser. Instead of fine sand, these sediments are often made up of things like pieces of shells and chunks of dead coral, which are often tougher to stir up. Murky Bulls Bay of the Cape Romain National Wildlife Refuge contains the cleanest, richest waters in the world. Notably, Charleston's waters are also rich with the oozy, gooey, viscous substance locals fondly know as pluff mud.

This is the kind of environment the exploration team of the South Carolina Waters Expedition will be performing in as they explore Charleston's waters from salty coastal marshes up brackish tidal rivers for a glimpse of its sunken ships, flooded ghost towns, submerged relics, and unique marine inhabitants. To see in this type of ecosystem, the team will need some specialized equipment. This key piece of equipment to augment the team's visual capabilities has finally arrived--the OpenROV Trident.

Outfitted with a 1080p camera protected by a hardened sapphire lens, the Trident will provide the essential instrumentation for acquiring the fascinating videography the exploration team plans on sharing with its interested parties and followers. Specifically optimized for underwater filming, its great low-light performance and a wide viewing angle supported by advanced color correction algorithms will further allow the exploration team to observe Charleston's diverse aquatic life and collection of hidden underwater treasures in all its murky colors--ideal for exploring its nutrient rich estuaries and tidal rivers.

The Trident can be extended to include custom sensors or modules as add-ons which can be bolted to the payload area and interface with the main vehicle via WiFi. A phone or tablet can be used to control the drone and stream live HD video.

It will take some practice sessions to master Trident's highly tuned electronic speed controller with its rugged brushless motors capable of reaching speeds of up to 2 m/s for a quick descent as far as 300 feet or glide silently at slow speeds to carefully observe the murky and mysterious underwater environment it will be traversing.

Enjoy the expedition team's first video of team leader Dave Eslinger unboxing and showcasing some of the Trident's features, and stay tuned for upcoming videos of practice sessions as the team familiarizes themselves with its advanced autopilot features and fine tunes their operating skills.


The Expedition Team: Dave Eslinger, Rick Olson, Adam Stover, Paul Zoeller, Brad Mallett, and myself.