Jane Maddocks highlights the work of two marine organisations that involve normal club divers and achieve important results
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ENVIRONMENT
Taking it further
A gold standard in citizen science
Jane Maddocks highlights the work of two marine organisations that involve normal club divers and achieve important results
Last month I talked about a suite of BSAC courses that could enhance your diving , and get your branch involved in projects . It might even give you the chance to get any local BSAC Direct members coming along to get involved with a fun way of doing things . So , if you have done the Marine Life Appreciation , Wreck Appreciation ( and the Wreck Diving Course ) as well as the new Underwater Surveyor , you are pretty well set up for some great ‘ diving with a purpose ’ moments .
Our BSAC courses rock … but I am going to suggest that , by getting involved with some specialist organisations , your own diving is going to find further horizons . And when you bring your new understanding and skills back to the branch , your fellow members will also find their skills expanding . It ’ s win-win .
I want to look at two organisations , just as examples .
Citizen archaeology
The Nautical Archaeology Society ( NAS ) has some excellent training courses , taught by approved tutors . NAS have International Training Partners as well , so for all overseas members that could be a real advantage .
It all starts with the basic theory of maritime archaeology by eLearning . Once
the eLearning is competed , then Skills Days beckon . This is where the fun really begins .
Archaeological Recorder Days take place on land or underwater . You learn to record a site through sketching , photography , and video . Then on Archaeological Surveyor Day you learn how to complete a detailed 2D survey and use a planning frame to produce a scale drawing .
Progressing to Discover Underwater Archaeology leads you through the process of running an archaeological project , from planning to publishing . What is learnt here can be applied to all your branch or group projects , and will benefit you and the others you dive with . From there , the sky is the limit .
Find out more at nauticalarchaeologysociety . org / elearning
“ You learn to record a site through sketching , photography , and video ”
PHOTO : SIMON ROGERSON
Tracking marine life
If you want to take your understanding of marine life further , why not sign up for Seasearch courses that really enhance what you see and can enjoy underwater ?
Seasearch is a training programme to teach you how to record specific information about what the seabed was like , and what marine life you saw on that seabed , using a standardized welldocumented protocol . Seasearch is not marine life identification on its own .
Once you have completed the Seasearch Observer classroom learning you then do two dives and your completed recording forms are quality controlled by your tutor . You record the information from your survey ( dive , snorkel , intertidal walk ) on the Seasearch Observation form . There are then five more qualifying forms to submit , during which time you will receive feedback and close mentoring from the highly experienced coordinator and tutor network to ensure the accuracy of your sightings .
All the forms are subjected to a published QC process , but during your qualification period the Seasearch tutors make sure that you feel supported and confident in your recording .
Once you ’ ve received your Seasearch approval , you can submit forms from any dive you do as a Seasearch Observer . These forms will generate still feedback from the senior Seasearch team . There is absolutely no requirement to be a marine biologist , just someone with an interest in the marine environment .
There is a continuing , rigorous , quality control process before your records go on to Seasearch ’ s highly regarded database . All the data goes onto the industrystandard Marine Recorder database and is published onto the National Biodiversity Network Atlas ( and then on to other , international xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
databases ) under an open licence – you need to acknowledge that it is Seasearch data .
Seasearch has been collecting validated data for more than 35 years . This is highly competent science – in my opinion the Gold Standard for Citizen Science – because it is competent science capable of being done by non-scientists and quality assured by professionals .
By the way – did I mention how much fun it is ? Ultimately , it adds to the quality of your diving . seasearch . org . uk
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