A method of performing seismic exploration in an aqueous medium via an ocean bottom seismometer, OBS, unit and an underwater vehicle, the method comprising: receiving, by the OBS unit disposed in the aqueous medium, sub-aqueous environmental data; converting, by a data conversion module (110; 270) of the OBS unit, the sub-aqueous environmental data into an optical signal having a first format configured for optical transmission in the aqueous medium; establishing, via the OBS unit and the underwater vehicle, an optical link through the aqueous medium; determining, by at least one of the OBS unit and the underwater vehicle, a characteristic of the aqueous medium based on the optical link established via the OBS unit and the underwater vehicle, the characteristic comprising a water current; adjusting, a parameter associated with the optical signal based on the characteristic of the aqueous medium, the parameter comprising at least one of a data rate of the optical signal, an output intensity of the optical signal, a wavelength of the optical signal, and a gain of the receiver; transmitting, by an optical transmitter of the OBS unit via the optical link through the aqueous medium established by the OBS unit and the underwater vehicle, the optical signal in the first format, the parameter of the optical signal transmitted through the aqueous medium adjusted based on the characteristic of the aqueous medium; receiving, by an optical receiver of the underwater vehicle, the optical signal transmitted via the optical link through the aqueous medium; converting, by the underwater vehicle, the optical signal transmitted through the aqueous medium into a non-optical signal having a second format; and transmitting the non-optical signal in the second format from the underwater vehicle to a marine vessel. receiving, by the OBS unit disposed in the aqueous medium, sub-aqueous environmental data; converting, by a data conversion module (110; 270) of the OBS unit, the sub-aqueous environmental data into an optical signal having a first format configured for optical transmission in the aqueous medium; establishing, via the OBS unit and the underwater vehicle, an optical link through the aqueous medium; determining, by at least one of the OBS unit and the underwater vehicle, a characteristic of the aqueous medium based on the optical link established via the OBS unit and the underwater vehicle, the characteristic comprising a water current; adjusting, a parameter associated with the optical signal based on the characteristic of the aqueous medium, the parameter comprising at least one of a data rate of the optical signal, an output intensity of the optical signal, a wavelength of the optical signal, and a gain of the receiver; transmitting, by an optical transmitter of the OBS unit via the optical link through the aqueous medium established by the OBS unit and the underwater vehicle, the optical signal in the first format, the parameter of the optical signal transmitted through the aqueous medium adjusted based on the characteristic of the aqueous medium; receiving, by an optical receiver of the underwater vehicle, the optical signal transmitted via the optical link through the aqueous medium; converting, by the underwater vehicle, the optical signal transmitted through the aqueous medium into a non-optical signal having a second format; and transmitting the non-optical signal in the second format from the underwater vehicle to a marine vessel.