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Abstract We present the development and laboratory evaluation of RPiPIV, an underwater particle image velocimetry (PIV) system controlled by a Raspberry Pi. Designed specifically to measure bubble characteristics and bubble‐induced flow in natural hydrocarbon seeps, RPiPIV comprises three primary pressure enclosures, housing a consumer‐grade laser for particle illumination, a Gig‐E camera for image capture, a Raspberry Pi for system control, and essential supporting electronics for voltage conversion, battery management, and remote connection. Operating on 24–36 V DC power, the RPiPIV system can be deployed tethered onto a remotely operated vehicle or self‐contained for extended duration measurements. Comparing the RPiPIV and a laboratory high‐speed camera system, we conducted assessments of bubble imaging in a bubble stream and PIV measurements in a water jet, bubble‐chain flow, and single‐orifice bubble plume. Laboratory assessments revealed that bubble diameter estimates differed by approximately 5%. In PIV measurements, mean axial velocities exhibited differences of approximately 5%, while turbulent normal and shear stresses showed variances within 10–30%. Dissipation rates of turbulence kinetic energy differed by approximately 60%. These findings underscore the system's potential for reliably quantifying complex multiphase flow characteristics in deep‐sea environments.