A method of retrieving seismic data acquisition units from an underwater seismic survey, comprising: providing, in an aqueous medium, an underwater vehicle (35A, 890) comprising a base and an underwater vehicle interlocking mechanism (805, 810) coupled with the base; providing a storage container (40, 235) suitable for receiving one or more seismic data acquisition units; receiving, by the underwater vehicle (35A, 890) located in the aqueous medium, environmental information; identifying, by the underwater vehicle (35A, 890), a seismic data acquisition unit located on an ocean bottom, the seismic data acquisition unit having a seismic data acquisition unit interlocking mechanism, the seismic data acquisition unit interlocking mechanism being complementary to the underwater vehicle interlocking mechanism (805, 810); obtaining, by the underwater vehicle (35A, 890) based on the environmental information and a policy, an indication to perform a non-landing retrieval operation comprising moving, without landing the underwater vehicle (35A, 890) on the ocean bottom, seismic data acquisition units from the ocean bottom to the storage container (40, 835), the seismic data acquisition units storing seismic data indicative of subsurface lithological formations or hydrocarbons; setting, responsive to the indication to perform the non-landing retrieval operation and based on the environmental information and a location of the identified seismic data acquisition unit, a position of the underwater vehicle interlocking mechanism (805, 810) to extend away from the base of the underwater vehicle (35A, 890); retrieving, by the underwater vehicle (35A, 890) in performance of the non-landing retrieval operation, the seismic data acquisition unit by extending the underwater vehicle interlocking mechanism (805, 810) away from the base towards the position of the seismic data acquisition unit and coupling the underwater vehicle interlocking mechanism (805, 810) with the seismic data acquisition unit interlocking mechanism; storing, by the underwater vehicle (35A, 890), the seismic data acquisition unit in the storage container (40, 235); and setting, by the underwater vehicle (35A, 890), the underwater vehicle interlocking mechanism (805, 810) in a second position to perform the non-landing retrieval operation for a second seismic data acquisition unit. providing, in an aqueous medium, an underwater vehicle (35A, 890) comprising a base and an underwater vehicle interlocking mechanism (805, 810) coupled with the base; providing a storage container (40, 235) suitable for receiving one or more seismic data acquisition units; receiving, by the underwater vehicle (35A, 890) located in the aqueous medium, environmental information; identifying, by the underwater vehicle (35A, 890), a seismic data acquisition unit located on an ocean bottom, the seismic data acquisition unit having a seismic data acquisition unit interlocking mechanism, the seismic data acquisition unit interlocking mechanism being complementary to the underwater vehicle interlocking mechanism (805, 810); obtaining, by the underwater vehicle (35A, 890) based on the environmental information and a policy, an indication to perform a non-landing retrieval operation comprising moving, without landing the underwater vehicle (35A, 890) on the ocean bottom, seismic data acquisition units from the ocean bottom to the storage container (40, 835), the seismic data acquisition units storing seismic data indicative of subsurface lithological formations or hydrocarbons; setting, responsive to the indication to perform the non-landing retrieval operation and based on the environmental information and a location of the identified seismic data acquisition unit, a position of the underwater vehicle interlocking mechanism (805, 810) to extend away from the base of the underwater vehicle (35A, 890); retrieving, by the underwater vehicle (35A, 890) in performance of the non-landing retrieval operation, the seismic data acquisition unit by extending the underwater vehicle interlocking mechanism (805, 810) away from the base towards the position of the seismic data acquisition unit and coupling the underwater vehicle interlocking mechanism (805, 810) with the seismic data acquisition unit interlocking mechanism; storing, by the underwater vehicle (35A, 890), the seismic data acquisition unit in the storage container (40, 235); and setting, by the underwater vehicle (35A, 890), the underwater vehicle interlocking mechanism (805, 810) in a second position to perform the non-landing retrieval operation for a second seismic data acquisition unit.