NAUI Advanced Scuba Diver
62 Conservation and Aquatic Life Studies
LEARNING GOALS
In this chapter you will:
1. Be introduced to conservation and aquatic life
studies.
2. Learn about biological study techniques.
3. Be introduced to the equipment used in aquatic
life studies.
4. Learn the procedures for conducting biological
studies.
5. Explore a typical Advanced Scuba Diver course
aquatic life study dive.
AQUATIC LIFE STUDIES
This chapter provides an introduction to conservation
and aquatic life studies. The study of fresh water
animals and plants is known as limnology. The study of
marine plants and animals is known as marine biology.
You will learn some of the techniques used by scientists
in the fields of limnology and marine biology.
There are millions of species in the waters of our
earth. Some people are more interested in studying
these life forms than others, but all divers should at least
be able to recognize certain types of animals for safety
reasons. There are benefits from studies of aquatic life.
You will learn how to see things you would otherwise
overlook, you will be able to satisfy some of your curiosity
about some plants and animals, and you will be able to
explain some of the aspects of aquatic life to others.
This type of diving is also a very interesting way to
develop other valuable diving skills such as navigation.
Perhaps the most interesting part of all, however, is
the interest you will develop when learning about relationships
between animals, their traits, their uses, and
their role in the environment. You will develop a greater
appreciation for nature, learn to identify animals, and
view hunting, collecting, and preserving of plants and
animals from an entirely different perspective.
After your introduction to aquatic life studies, you
won’t be qualified to participate in scientific expeditions,
but you will have an idea of how much interest you
have in this area. There are plenty of books, classes, and
opportunities for you to learn more and to further develop
your ability to do research as a diver.
Activities
Biological study techniques vary. Typical activities
include quantitative counts, comparison studies, surveys,
controlled observations, tagging, collecting, and preserving.
You might study all life forms in an area or focus
on only one. It can be fun to learn the habitats, special
relationships, distinctive characteristics, roles, behaviors,
dangers, and names of various creatures. Techniques
include timed or controlled searches and counts, general
and transect surveys, use of special scientific equipment,
and more. Generally, though, studies involve an organized
approach to learning about a particular life form in
a designated area.
Equipment
The equipment for underwater studies of aquatic
life ranges from an underwater slate to sophisticated
electronic measuring devices. You are not likely to be
exposed to elaborate equipment during your dives, but
there are some simple items of gear that you may use and
with which you should be familiar. The activity usually
involves the recording of a lot of data, so a good underwater
slate and pencil or a clipboard with waterproof
paper is a must (figure 6-1). Professional research divers
even use waterproof recorders with special mouthpieces
that enable them to speak underwater. Slates for aquatic
studies are usually larger than the general use ones
available for recreational diving. Rulers and measuring
devices may also be useful for determining sizes when
collecting data.
Standard techniques involve the studying of a specific
area, so equipment such as marker buoys, lines,
anchors, bottom markers, counting grids, measured lines
or poles, etc. are frequently required. The idea is to mark
off an area on the bottom and to limit the study to the
area that has been defined.
Diving instruments are important. A compass is
needed for navigation, establishing transects, and position
fixing. A depth gauge is necessary to record data