Apparatus for collecting particulate samples

Multi-chamber devices of collecting particles in aquatic environments including an upper chamber serving as a particle interceptor chamber, a lower chamber serving as a particle accumulator chamber, and a valve assembly interposed between the upper and lower chambers are disclosed. Upon rotation of an indented valve body, particles in the upper chamber are transferred to the lower chamber and preserved for analysis. The valve assembly substantially reduces the presence of living organisms in particle samples and enhances the accuracy of passive vertical particle flux sampling techniques. A plurality of sample collection chambers may be provided to facilitate temporal resolution of vertical particle flux measurements during a single deployment period.