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 . <EOS>