A winch has been developed which can be free-dropped to the ocean bottom in full ocean depths. The winch is powered by self-contained batteries and can be programmed to cycle self-recording instruments from close to the bottom to 100 meters above the bottom continuously or in steps. A typical scenario is envisioned as one complete cycle per day for one year with the instruments pausing each five meters for two minutes while measurements of current, temperature and conductivity are made. The upper section of the tripod contains the winch and instrumentation and is recovered by sending an acoustic command to a release mechanism allowing it to come to the surface.