Scientific Diving

GMI has a team of marine scientists who are trained as advanced scientific divers. This team conducts projects requiring underwater observations and data collection. Dive operations are performed within rigorous safety and training standards.

Scientific diving operations include:

  • Visual, photographic and videographic belt transect surveys of live seafloor cover [coral reefs and submerged aquatic vegetation]
  • Reef fish censuses
  • Essential fish habitat assessments
  • Seagrass transplantation and restoration 
  • Underwater deployments of water quality instrumentation
  • Photomosaic documentation and surveys of artificial substrates 
  • DGPS positioning
  • Mapping of unexploded ordinance
  • Installation of permanent study sites and survey markers 

Our scientific divers are certified by nationally recognized organizations (NAUI, PADI) and receive additional training (including annual Rescue Diver training). Although our divers are NITROX-certified, the majority of operations are conducted in shallow waters requiring solely the use of compressed air (tanks, surface supplied air). Diving can be scheduled to originate from the shore or from a research vessel. 

GMI employs the most stringent of safety procedures prior to conducting any operation. Principal investigators and dive masters are required to define a project dive plan and test the emergency medical response (EMR) procedures in place prior to conducting any dive operations.  

Related Projects

East and West Flower Garden Banks Long-Term Monitoring, Northwest Gulf of Mexico

GMI scientific divers are taking part in a multidisciplinary project to assess the condition of the changes in the coral and fish populations located within the Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary. State-of-the-art coral reef science techniques were applied to conduct the fieldwork including extensive underwater photography; direct observation of corals, benthic organisms, and fish; water quality; and sub-meter accuracy geographical position system data acquisition. In addition, the GMI scientific divers participated in the rehabilitation of the long-term monitoring sites at the East and West Flower Garden Banks. Underwater construction techniques were used to install monitoring stations; tasks included underwater fieldwork, field data management, and reporting. The work includes assessing water quality (temperature, salinity, dissolved oxygen, pH, turbidity, PAR, and nutrients) and the analyses are being examined to determine the environmental context within the Flower Garden Banks ecosystem. Technical reports and multiple peer-reviewed papers are being prepared based on the findings of this continuing project.

Ex-USS Killen Site Investigation and Biological Characterization, Vieques Island, Naval Station Roosevelt Roads, Puerto Rico

GMI scientific divers conducted a site investigation and biological characterization of the Ex-USS Killen. The Ex-USS Killen and barge were assumed to be separate vessels. Emerging physical evidence at the barge site (including an ammo lift/elevator, a drive shaft, and physical dimensions) suggest that the “barge” was the aft section of the stern of Fletcher Class destroyers. This project assessed the identity of the “barge” wreck and found that the Ex-USS Killen and the barge was a single split-up vessel formerly used as a floating target. Additionally, we assessed the health of corals and reef fish on and around the vessel. We performed underwater scientific survey work and mapped the wreck, photographed benthic biota, and conducted fish counts.

Characterization of Fish and Benthic Communities, Pearl Harbor and Pearl Harbor Entrance Channel

GMI scientific divers conducted a combination of visual, trap, and net surveys to evaluate the abundance and size of selected bony fish in up to 10 sites of Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, where data on fish populations were collected during the 1960s and in 2001. We assessed the status of the sessile benthic communities on hard substrates within Pearl Harbor where fish populations are surveyed and the fish and sessile benthic communities (with an emphasis on corals) within the Pearl Harbor Entrance Channel and particularly in the vicinity of a recently installed outfall pipe. We also assessed coral communities near the Entrance Channel. The primary survey methods were boat-based fishing techniques and open circuit compressed air SCUBA for direct underwater observations and data collection. All dives and data collection sites were recorded using GPS. We performed a rigorous analysis of the data obtained and results include relevant and available peer-reviewed publications and reports on fish populations and sessile benthic communities of Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, and the Pearl Harbor Entrance Channel.