Jane Maddocks has some savvy suggestions for project divers working to a budget
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ENVIRONMENT
Taking it further
Helpful hacks for survey success
Jane Maddocks has some savvy suggestions for project divers working to a budget
It ’ s all too easy to talk glibly about survey methods underwater . It might be worth sharing some of my hacks to help make your diving project even more successful . These methods work for marine critter surveys , and wreck surveys , so are worth thinking about . So , let ’ s talk tapes . Tapes are expendable . For a few pounds you can get accurate measurements . A surveyor ’ s tape about 30m long will do for most surveys .
I always attach a short piece of line on the end , so I can secure it to the shot . I would tie it on – but underwater knots can be difficult to undo , so use a clip of karabiner . At the handle end , I may have a weight attached . On a soft bottom , I use tent pegs from the local camping store . Once the tape is locked off , I can start my survey .
Over time the handle drops off . This is okay for reeling out , but hopeless for reeling in or even locking off . But it ’ s cheap to buy , so no problem . However , if you have friends who are upgrading their larger DSMB reels , you can transfer the tape to the DSMB reel and have something that reels out nicely , is lockable , and easy to reel back in .
Tools of the trade : Jane ’ s improvised survey kit
“ Water-soluble intelligence can be an issue for all of us !”
Measurements need to be recorded . I use an A4 board , with a clip to attach it to me and TWO pencils – B is the best hardness for underwater use . Seasearch produces a really nice A4 board , and dive companies have boards or slates on offer .
So , board , clip , two pencils . Once you surface , take a photo on your phone . For a permanent record , use drafting film ( also known as Permatrace ). It is a sturdier , waterproof alternative to tracing paper and ideally suited to layout drawings . Pencils draw onto it easily and the results do not fade fast : I still have underwater survey notes from 2009 in perfect condition in my archive .
The hack here is to use A4 drawing film on your A4 slate / board , using electrical tape to secure all four sides .
Jane measuring a gun using calipers and a proforma taped to her board
If your project has a proforma , for example the outline of the reef , you can print the outline onto to your film using a LaserJet printer . It won ’ t rub off , and you can work on your film as you dive . This is really useful for data collection forms , when you are all observing the same thing in different places .
Water-soluble intelligence is an issue for all of us ; sometimes it ’ s hard to concentrate underwater ! To stop yourself forgetting just what you ’ re meant to be doing down there , write it on your slate ! Some of your brain function diverts to the part that wants to keep you alive . Writing your task on the board keeps you on track .
A survey often involves quadrats . These are fun to use , expensive to buy , and great to make . If you know anyone who can bend steel rod , then a threesided ‘ not quite ’ quadrat is really useful , because you can set it against the tape .
Plastic piping , pipe corners , a power drill and some robust string can create a 1m gridded quadrat . Be sure to raid the drawer where you have the remnants of your old shot weight belt to put some lead into the piping to keep the thing down .
If you are putting your frame over a piece of wreck structure or doing a maerl count , then no gridding strings are necessary . If distribution within the frame is important you will need to put 10cm strings in . You may want to out a scale into you images . 1m of plastic pipe and a roll of black or red electrical tape will work .
Put 10cm of the black or red tape at each xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
end , and in the middle to create a 1m scale showing 10cm divisions . Block off both ends after sliding some shot in . Drill a hole at the top for a shackle . You now have a 1m scale .
If DIY isn ’ t your thing , and there is no-one in the branch who wants to do it , look up the archaeology supplies businesses to buy drawing film , special pegs for holding tapes , and other useful tools . Then go out , experiment with how to use it all and enjoy getting good data for your projects .
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