A system for acquiring samples in a body of fluid, the system comprising:a containment unit that is negatively buoyant relative to the body of fluid； anda sampling array tethered to the containment unit, the sampling array including a plurality of sampling devices positioned along the array, for sampling the body of fluid at varying depths,wherein the sampling array is buoyant relative to the body of fluid, the system further including a latching mechanism for releasably holding the tethered sampling array in an initial position relative to the containment unit and a trigger mechanism that controls the latching mechanism to release the sampling array, wherein the sampling array, still tethered to the containment unit at a first end, ascends in the body of fluid.
