gov.noaa.nmfs.inport:25298 eng UTF8 dataset Mixed: GIS shapefiles and CSV Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center 808-725-5300 1845 Wasp Blvd. Honolulu HI 96818 USA https://www.pifsc.noaa.gov WWW:LINK-1.0-http--link Website Website for this organization information 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. resourceProvider DesRochers, Annette M (808)725-5461 1845 Wasp Blvd. Honolulu HI 96818 USA annette.desrochers@noaa.gov 8 am - 5 pm pointOfContact Akridge, Michael W (808)725-5483 1845 Wasp Blvd. Honolulu HI 96818 USA michael.akridge@noaa.gov pointOfContact 2026-03-04T19:17:27 ISO 19115-2 Geographic Information - Metadata Part 2 Extensions for imagery and gridded data ISO 19115-2:2009(E) Pacific Reef Assessment and Monitoring Program: Geospatial, Temperature, and Depth Data Collected during Towed-diver Surveys of the U.S. Pacific Reefs from 2000 to 2017 RAMP: Spatial TDS 2019-05 creation 2019 publication NOAA/NMFS/EDM 25298 https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/inport/item/25298 WWW:LINK-1.0-http--link Full Metadata Record View the complete metadata record on InPort for more information about this dataset. information Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center 808-725-5360 1845 Wasp Blvd. Honolulu HI 96818 USA pifsc.info@noaa.gov https://www.pifsc.noaa.gov WWW:LINK-1.0-http--link Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center Website Pacific Island Fisheries Science Center homepage information 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. originator https://www.coris.noaa.gov/monitoring/ WWW:LINK-1.0-http--link NOAA National Coral Reef Monitoring Program (NCRMP) Information about the NOAA National Coral Reef Monitoring Program (NCRMP) on the NOAA Coral Reef Information System website. download https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/pacific-islands/ecosystems/surveying-vast-ocean WWW:LINK-1.0-http--link Ecosystem Sciences Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center download tableDigital Lino K, Asher J, Ferguson M, Gray A, McCoy K, Timmers M, Vargas-Ãngel B (2018) Ecosystem Sciences Division standard operating procedures: data collection for towed-diver benthic and fish surveys. Pacific Islands Fish. Sci. Cent., Natl. Mar. Fish. Serv., NOAA, Honolulu, HI 96818-5007. Pacific Islands Fish. Sci. Cent. Admin. Rep. H-18-02, 76 p. https://doi.org/10.25923/59sb-sy51 The geospatial, temperature and depth data included in this dataset are from towed-diver surveys (also referred to as towboard surveys) of coral reef ecosystems conducted during Pacific Reef Assessment and Monitoring Program (RAMP) cruises to the Hawaiian and Mariana Archipelagos, American Samoa, and the Pacific Remote Island Areas from 2000 to 2017 by the Ecosystem Sciences Division (formerly known as the Coral Reef Ecosystem Division) at the NOAA Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center (PIFSC). Generally, the towed-diver survey method involved towing a pair of SCUBA divers—one benthic and one fish—behind a small boat for 50 minutes, approximately following the ~15-m depth contour and covering a linear distance of about 2-3 kilometers per survey. A complete 50-minute towed-diver survey is divided into ten 5-minute segments, and up to 6 towed-diver surveys are conducted per day. Each diver was equipped with a towboard outfitted with instrumentation and used to record observations, and the divers attempted to maintain position ~1 meter above the surface of the reef for the duration of the survey. Both towboards were equipped with a SeaBird™ SBE39 temperature/depth sensor that recorded water temperature and depth every 5 seconds. The survey tracks were also recorded every 5 seconds using a GPS receiver located on the small boat. The survey tracks were georeferenced and a script was applied to adjust the GPS waypoints from the boat's position to the estimated positions of the divers while conducting the surveys, correlate the associated temperature and depth data, and lace the waypoints together into 5-min segments and tow tracks. The dataset includes the adjusted dive points, and the segments and tow tracks are provided as shapefiles. The geospatial data are collected to georeference the visual observations from towed-diver surveys of large-bodied fishes and benthic habitats/key benthic species and to provide ancillary temperature and depth data so that biotic observations could be linked to salient physical parameters. Towed-diver surveys are a good method for obtaining a general description of large reef areas, assessing large-scale disturbances (e.g., bleaching), and assessing general distribution and abundance patterns of large-bodied (>50 cm) fishes and macro-invertebrates (e.g., crown of thorns, giant clams). Towed-diver surveys were conducted during Pacific Reef Assessment and Monitoring Program (Pacific RAMP) to support a long-term NOAA Coral Reef Conservation Program (CRCP) for sustainable management and conservation of coral reef ecosystems. PIFSC Ecosystem Sciences Division and funded by the NOAA Coral Reef Conservation Program completed Williams, Ivor D (808)725-5427 1845 Wasp Blvd. Honolulu HI 96818 USA ivor.williams@noaa.gov pointOfContact Acoba, Tomoko S (808)725-5448 1845 Wasp Blvd. Honolulu HI 96818 USA tomoko.acoba@noaa.gov 8:00 am - 4:00 pm HST custodian notPlanned 1221 587 743 C204 Pacific Reef Assessment and Monitoring Program (Pacific RAMP): Biennial monitoring for the US Pacific Islands and Atolls National Coral Reef Monitoring Program Pacific Reef Assessment and Monitoring Program: Monitoring coral reef ecosystems of the US Pacific Islands and Atolls theme CRCP Project Geographic Information > Ecological Characterization theme CoRIS Discovery Thesaurus EARTH SCIENCE > Biosphere > Aquatic Habitat > Reef Habitat EARTH SCIENCE > Biosphere > Zoology > Corals > Reef Monitoring and Assessment > Benthos Analysis > Transect Monitoring > Linear Transect (line) EARTH SCIENCE > Biosphere > Zoology > Corals > Reef Monitoring and Assessment > Benthos Analysis > Transect Monitoring > Linear Transect (point) EARTH SCIENCE > Biosphere > Zoology > Corals > Reef Monitoring and Assessment > GIS EARTH SCIENCE > Biosphere > Zoology > Corals > Reef Monitoring and Assessment > In Situ Physical EARTH SCIENCE > Biosphere > Zoology > Corals > Reef monitoring and assessment EARTH SCIENCE > Oceans > Bathymetry/Seafloor Topography > Water Depth EARTH SCIENCE > Oceans > Coastal Processes > Coral Reefs EARTH SCIENCE > Oceans > Ocean Temperature > Water Temperature theme CoRIS Theme Thesaurus DEPTH - SENSOR LATITUDE LONGITUDE WATER TEMPERATURE theme NODC DATA TYPES THESAURUS GPS Temperature Sensors theme NODC INSTRUMENT TYPES THESAURUS GIS product in situ survey - coral reef theme NODC OBSERVATION TYPES THESAURUS HI'IALAKAI OSCAR ELTON SETTE TOWNSEND CROMWELL theme NODC PLATFORM NAMES THESAURUS CORAL REEF STUDIES Coral Reef Conservation Program National Coral Reef Monitoring Program Pacific Reef and Assessment Monitoring Program theme NODC PROJECT NAMES THESAURUS US DOC; NOAA; NMFS; Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center; Ecosystem Sciences Division theme NODC SUBMITTING INSTITUTION NAMES THESAURUS COUNTRY/TERRITORY > Northern Mariana Islands > Agrihan Island > Agrihan Island (18N145E0002) COUNTRY/TERRITORY > Northern Mariana Islands > Aguihan > Aguihan Island (Aguijan) (14N145E0006) COUNTRY/TERRITORY > Northern Mariana Islands > Alamagan Island > Alamagan Island (17N145E0002) COUNTRY/TERRITORY > Northern Mariana Islands > Anatahan > Anatahan Island (16N145E0001) COUNTRY/TERRITORY > Northern Mariana Islands > Asuncion Island > Asuncion Island (19N145E0001) COUNTRY/TERRITORY > Northern Mariana Islands > Farallon de Pajaros > Farallon de Pajaros (20N144E0001) COUNTRY/TERRITORY > Northern Mariana Islands > Guguan > Guguan Island (17N145E0001) COUNTRY/TERRITORY > Northern Mariana Islands > Maug > Maug Island (20N145E0001) COUNTRY/TERRITORY > Northern Mariana Islands > Northern Mariana Islands > Arakane Reef (15N141E0001) COUNTRY/TERRITORY > Northern Mariana Islands > Northern Mariana Islands > Northern Mariana Islands ( CNMI ) (18N146E0000) COUNTRY/TERRITORY > Northern Mariana Islands > Northern Mariana Islands > Pathfinder Reef (16N141E0001) COUNTRY/TERRITORY > Northern Mariana Islands > Northern Mariana Islands > Stingray Shoals (20N142E0001) COUNTRY/TERRITORY > Northern Mariana Islands > Pagan > Pagan Island (18N145E0001) COUNTRY/TERRITORY > Northern Mariana Islands > Rota > Rota Island ( Luta ) (14N145E0007) COUNTRY/TERRITORY > Northern Mariana Islands > Saipan > Saipan Island (15N145E0002) COUNTRY/TERRITORY > Northern Mariana Islands > Sarigan Island > Sarigan Island (16N145E0003) COUNTRY/TERRITORY > Northern Mariana Islands > Supply Reef (16N145E0004) COUNTRY/TERRITORY > Northern Mariana Islands > Tinian > Tatsumi Reef (14N145E0011) COUNTRY/TERRITORY > Northern Mariana Islands > Tinian > Tinian Island (14N145E0005) COUNTRY/TERRITORY > United States of America > American Samoa > American Samoa > American Samoa (14S170W0000) COUNTRY/TERRITORY > United States of America > American Samoa > American Samoa > Manu'a Islands (14S170W0038) COUNTRY/TERRITORY > United States of America > American Samoa > American Samoa > Ofu Island (14S169W0013) COUNTRY/TERRITORY > United States of America > American Samoa > American Samoa > Olosega Island (14S169W0014) COUNTRY/TERRITORY > United States of America > American Samoa > American Samoa > Rose Atoll (14S168W0001) COUNTRY/TERRITORY > United States of America > American Samoa > American Samoa > Swains Atoll (11S171W0001) COUNTRY/TERRITORY > United States of America > American Samoa > American Samoa > Ta'u Island (14S169W0012) COUNTRY/TERRITORY > United States of America > American Samoa > American Samoa > Tutuila Island (14S170W0016) COUNTRY/TERRITORY > United States of America > American Samoa > South Bank (14S170W0067) COUNTRY/TERRITORY > United States of America > Guam > Guam (13N144E0000) COUNTRY/TERRITORY > United States of America > Guam > Santa Rosa Bank (12N144E0051) COUNTRY/TERRITORY > United States of America > Hawaii > Hawaii > Hawaii Island (19N155W0003) COUNTRY/TERRITORY > United States of America > Hawaii > Hawaii > Kauai Island (22N159W0001) COUNTRY/TERRITORY > United States of America > Hawaii > Hawaii > Molokai Island (21N157W0001) COUNTRY/TERRITORY > United States of America > Hawaii > Honolulu > French Frigate Shoals (24N166W0001) COUNTRY/TERRITORY > United States of America > Hawaii > Honolulu > Gardner Pinnacles (25N168W0001) COUNTRY/TERRITORY > United States of America > Hawaii > Honolulu > Kure Atoll (28N178W0001) COUNTRY/TERRITORY > United States of America > Hawaii > Honolulu > Laysan Island (25N171W0001) COUNTRY/TERRITORY > United States of America > Hawaii > Honolulu > Lisianski Island (25N173W0001) COUNTRY/TERRITORY > United States of America > Hawaii > Honolulu > Maro Reef (25N170W0001) COUNTRY/TERRITORY > United States of America > Hawaii > Honolulu > Midway Atoll (28N177W0001) COUNTRY/TERRITORY > United States of America > Hawaii > Honolulu > Necker Island (23N164W0001) COUNTRY/TERRITORY > United States of America > Hawaii > Honolulu > Nihoa (23N161W0001) COUNTRY/TERRITORY > United States of America > Hawaii > Honolulu > Northwestern Hawaiian Islands (28N178W0000) COUNTRY/TERRITORY > United States of America > Hawaii > Honolulu > Oahu (21N157W0003) COUNTRY/TERRITORY > United States of America > Hawaii > Honolulu > Pearl and Hermes Reef (27N176W0001) COUNTRY/TERRITORY > United States of America > Hawaii > Honolulu > Raita Bank (25N168W0002) COUNTRY/TERRITORY > United States of America > Hawaii > Kauai > Kaula Island (21N160W0003) COUNTRY/TERRITORY > United States of America > Hawaii > Kauai > Lehua Island (22N160W0001) COUNTRY/TERRITORY > United States of America > Hawaii > Kauai > Niihau Island (21N160W0001) COUNTRY/TERRITORY > United States of America > Hawaii > Maui > Lanai Island (20N156W0002) COUNTRY/TERRITORY > United States of America > Hawaii > Maui > Maui Island (20N156W0004) COUNTRY/TERRITORY > United States of America > Hawaii > Maui > Molokini Islet (20N156W0003) COUNTRY/TERRITORY > United States of America > Hawaiian Islands (21N157W0027) COUNTRY/TERRITORY > United States of America > USA Minor Outlying Islands > Baker Island (00N176W0001) COUNTRY/TERRITORY > United States of America > USA Minor Outlying Islands > Howland Island (00S176W0001) COUNTRY/TERRITORY > United States of America > USA Minor Outlying Islands > Jarvis Island (00S160W0001) COUNTRY/TERRITORY > United States of America > USA Minor Outlying Islands > Johnston Atoll (16N169W0001) COUNTRY/TERRITORY > United States of America > USA Minor Outlying Islands > Kingman Reef (06N162W0001) COUNTRY/TERRITORY > United States of America > USA Minor Outlying Islands > Palmyra Atoll (05N162W0001) COUNTRY/TERRITORY > United States of America > USA Minor Outlying Islands > Wake Atoll (19N167E0001) OCEAN BASIN > Pacific Ocean > American Samoa > American Samoa (14S170W0000) OCEAN BASIN > Pacific Ocean > American Samoa > Manu'a Islands (14S170W0038) OCEAN BASIN > Pacific Ocean > American Samoa > Rose Atoll (14S168W0001) OCEAN BASIN > Pacific Ocean > American Samoa > South Bank (14S170W0067) OCEAN BASIN > Pacific Ocean > American Samoa > Swains Atoll (11S171W0001) OCEAN BASIN > Pacific Ocean > American Samoa > Tutuila Island (14S170W0016) OCEAN BASIN > Pacific Ocean > Central Pacific Ocean > Baker Island > Baker Island (00N176W0001) OCEAN BASIN > Pacific Ocean > Central Pacific Ocean > Hawaiian Islands (21N157W0027) OCEAN BASIN > Pacific Ocean > Central Pacific Ocean > Hawaiian Islands > Hawaii Island > Hawaii Island (19N155W0003) OCEAN BASIN > Pacific Ocean > Central Pacific Ocean > Hawaiian Islands > Kauai Island > Kauai Island (22N159W0001) OCEAN BASIN > Pacific Ocean > Central Pacific Ocean > Hawaiian Islands > Lanai Island > Lanai Island (20N156W0002) OCEAN BASIN > Pacific Ocean > Central Pacific Ocean > Hawaiian Islands > Maui Island > Maui Island (20N156W0004) OCEAN BASIN > Pacific Ocean > Central Pacific Ocean > Hawaiian Islands > Molokai Island > Molokai Island (21N157W0001) OCEAN BASIN > Pacific Ocean > Central Pacific Ocean > Hawaiian Islands > Molokini Island > Molokini Islet OCEAN BASIN > Pacific Ocean > Central Pacific Ocean > Hawaiian Islands > Niihau Island > Kaula Island (21N160W0003) OCEAN BASIN > Pacific Ocean > Central Pacific Ocean > Hawaiian Islands > Niihau Island > Lehua Island (22N160W0001) OCEAN BASIN > Pacific Ocean > Central Pacific Ocean > Hawaiian Islands > Niihau Island > Niihau Island (21N160W0001) OCEAN BASIN > Pacific Ocean > Central Pacific Ocean > Hawaiian Islands > Oahu Island > Oahu (21N157W0003) OCEAN BASIN > Pacific Ocean > Central Pacific Ocean > Howland Island > Howland Island (00S176W0001) OCEAN BASIN > Pacific Ocean > Central Pacific Ocean > Johnston Atoll > Johnston Atoll (16N169W0001) OCEAN BASIN > Pacific Ocean > Central Pacific Ocean > Line Islands > Jarvis Island (00S160W0001) OCEAN BASIN > Pacific Ocean > Central Pacific Ocean > Line Islands > Kingman Reef (06N162W0001) OCEAN BASIN > Pacific Ocean > Central Pacific Ocean > Line Islands > Palmyra Atoll (05N162W0001) OCEAN BASIN > Pacific Ocean > Central Pacific Ocean > Northwestern Hawaiian Islands (28N178W0000) OCEAN BASIN > Pacific Ocean > Central Pacific Ocean > Northwestern Hawaiian Islands > French Frigate Shoals (24N166W0001) OCEAN BASIN > Pacific Ocean > Central Pacific Ocean > Northwestern Hawaiian Islands > Gardner Pinnacles (25N168W0001) OCEAN BASIN > Pacific Ocean > Central Pacific Ocean > Northwestern Hawaiian Islands > Kure Atoll (28N178W0001) OCEAN BASIN > Pacific Ocean > Central Pacific Ocean > Northwestern Hawaiian Islands > Laysan Island (25N171W0001) OCEAN BASIN > Pacific Ocean > Central Pacific Ocean > Northwestern Hawaiian Islands > Lisianski Island (25N173W0001) OCEAN BASIN > Pacific Ocean > Central Pacific Ocean > Northwestern Hawaiian Islands > Maro Reef (25N170W0001) OCEAN BASIN > Pacific Ocean > Central Pacific Ocean > Northwestern Hawaiian Islands > Midway Atoll (28N177W0001) OCEAN BASIN > Pacific Ocean > Central Pacific Ocean > Northwestern Hawaiian Islands > Necker Island (23N164W0001) OCEAN BASIN > Pacific Ocean > Central Pacific Ocean > Northwestern Hawaiian Islands > Nihoa (23N161W0001) OCEAN BASIN > Pacific Ocean > Central Pacific Ocean > Northwestern Hawaiian Islands > Pearl and Hermes Reef (27N176W0001) OCEAN BASIN > Pacific Ocean > Central Pacific Ocean > Northwestern Hawaiian Islands > Raita Bank (25N168W0002) OCEAN BASIN > Pacific Ocean > Central Pacific Ocean > Wake Atoll > Wake Atoll (19N167E0001) OCEAN BASIN > Pacific Ocean > Manu'a Group > Ofu Island (14S169W0013) OCEAN BASIN > Pacific Ocean > Manu'a Group > Olosega Island (14S169W0014) OCEAN BASIN > Pacific Ocean > Manu'a Group > Ta'u Island (14S169W0012) OCEAN BASIN > Pacific Ocean > Western Pacific Ocean > Agrihan Island > Agrihan Island (18N145E0002) OCEAN BASIN > Pacific Ocean > Western Pacific Ocean > Aguihan Island Reefs > Aguihan Island (Aguijan) (14N145E0006) OCEAN BASIN > Pacific Ocean > Western Pacific Ocean > Alamagan Island > Alamagan Island (17N145E0002) OCEAN BASIN > Pacific Ocean > Western Pacific Ocean > Anatahan Island > Anatahan Island (16N145E0001) OCEAN BASIN > Pacific Ocean > Western Pacific Ocean > Arakane Reef > Arakane Reef (15N141E0001) OCEAN BASIN > Pacific Ocean > Western Pacific Ocean > Asuncion Island > Asuncion Island (19N145E0001) OCEAN BASIN > Pacific Ocean > Western Pacific Ocean > Farallon de Pajaros > Farallon de Pajaros (20N144E0001) OCEAN BASIN > Pacific Ocean > Western Pacific Ocean > Guam > Guam (13N144E0000) OCEAN BASIN > Pacific Ocean > Western Pacific Ocean > Guam > Santa Rosa Bank (12N144E0051) OCEAN BASIN > Pacific Ocean > Western Pacific Ocean > Guguan Island > Guguan Island (17N145E0001) OCEAN BASIN > Pacific Ocean > Western Pacific Ocean > Mariana Archipelago > Northern Mariana Islands ( CNMI ) (18N146E0000) OCEAN BASIN > Pacific Ocean > Western Pacific Ocean > Mariana Islands > Stingray Shoals (20N142E0001) OCEAN BASIN > Pacific Ocean > Western Pacific Ocean > Maug Island > Maug Island (20N145E0001) OCEAN BASIN > Pacific Ocean > Western Pacific Ocean > Pagan Island > Pagan Island (18N145E0001) OCEAN BASIN > Pacific Ocean > Western Pacific Ocean > Pathfinder Reef > Pathfinder Reef (16N141E0001) OCEAN BASIN > Pacific Ocean > Western Pacific Ocean > Rota Island > Rota Island ( Luta ) (14N145E0007) OCEAN BASIN > Pacific Ocean > Western Pacific Ocean > Saipan Island > Saipan Island (15N145E0002) OCEAN BASIN > Pacific Ocean > Western Pacific Ocean > Sarigan Island > Sarigan Island (16N145E0003) OCEAN BASIN > Pacific Ocean > Western Pacific Ocean > Supply Reef (16N145E0004) OCEAN BASIN > Pacific Ocean > Western Pacific Ocean > Tinian Island > Tatsumi Reef (14N145E0011) OCEAN BASIN > Pacific Ocean > Western Pacific Ocean > Tinian Island Reefs > Tinian Island (14N145E0005) place CoRIS Place Thesaurus Equatorial Pacific Ocean Marianas Trench Marine National Monument NW Pacific North Pacific Ocean Pacific Remote Islands Marine National Monument Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument Rose Atoll Marine National Monument South Pacific Ocean place NODC SEA AREA NAMES THESAURUS CRED CREP Coral Reef Ecosystem Division Coral Reef Ecosystem Program ESD Ecosystem Sciences Division NCRMP National Coral Reef Monitoring Program PIFSC Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center RAMP Reef Assessment and Monitoring Program TDS towboard towed diver towed-diver survey theme CNMI Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands MHI Main Hawaiian Islands Mariana Islands Marianas NWHI PMNM PRIA PRIMNM Pacific Remote Island Areas place DOC/NOAA/NMFS/PIFSC > Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center, National Marine Fisheries Service, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce dataCentre Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Data Center Keywords 2017-04-24 publication 8.5 Earth Science Data and Information System, Earth Science Projects Division, Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC), National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) https://forum.earthdata.nasa.gov/app.php/tag/GCMD%2BKeywords GCMD Keyword Forum Page Global Change Master Directory (GCMD). 2025. GCMD Keywords, Version 22. Greenbelt, MD: Earth Science Data and Information System, Earth Science Projects Division, Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC), National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). URL (GCMD Keyword Forum Page): https://forum.earthdata.nasa.gov/app.php/tag/GCMD+Keywords information custodian National Coral Reef Monitoring Program project InPort otherRestrictions Cite As: Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center, [Date of Access]: Pacific Reef Assessment and Monitoring Program: Geospatial, Temperature, and Depth Data Collected during Towed-diver Surveys of the U.S. Pacific Reefs from 2000 to 2017 [Data Date Range], https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/inport/item/25298. NOAA provides no warranty, nor accepts any liability occurring from any incomplete, incorrect, or misleading data, or from any incorrect, incomplete, or misleading use of the data. It is the responsibility of the user to determine whether or not the data is suitable for the intended purpose. otherRestrictions Access Constraints: None otherRestrictions Use Constraints: Please cite PIFSC Ecosystem Sciences Division (ESD) when using the data. Example: Ecosystem Sciences Division; Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center, 2019: Pacific Reef Assessment and Monitoring Program: Geospatial, Temperature, and Depth Data Collected during Towed-diver Surveys of the U.S. Pacific Reefs from 2000 to 2017, https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/inport/item/25298. otherRestrictions Distribution Liability: While every effort has been made to ensure that these data are accurate and reliable within the limits of the current state of the art, NOAA cannot assume liability for any damages caused by errors or omissions in the data, nor as a result of the failure of the data to function on a particular system. NOAA makes no warranty, expressed or implied, nor does the fact of distribution constitute such a warranty. unclassified Not applicable Not applicable National Coral Reef Monitoring Program: Towed-diver Surveys of Benthic Habitat, Key Benthic Species, and Marine Debris Sightings of American Samoa in 2015 NOAA/NMFS/EDM 35768 crossReference National Coral Reef Monitoring Program: Towed-diver Surveys of Benthic Habitat, Key Benthic Species, and Marine Debris Sightings of the Hawaiian Archipelago in 2016 NOAA/NMFS/EDM 35767 crossReference National Coral Reef Monitoring Program: Towed-diver Surveys of Benthic Habitat, Key Benthic Species, and Marine Debris Sightings of the Marianas since 2014 NOAA/NMFS/EDM 35769 crossReference National Coral Reef Monitoring Program: Towed-diver Surveys of Benthic Habitat, Key Benthic Species, and Marine Debris Sightings of the Pacific Remote Island Areas since 2014 NOAA/NMFS/EDM 5567 crossReference National Coral Reef Monitoring Program: Towed-diver Surveys of Large-bodied Fishes of American Samoa in 2015 NOAA/NMFS/EDM 35761 crossReference National Coral Reef Monitoring Program: Towed-diver Surveys of Large-bodied Fishes of the Hawaiian Archipelago in 2016 NOAA/NMFS/EDM 35760 crossReference National Coral Reef Monitoring Program: Towed-diver Surveys of Large-bodied Fishes of the Marianas since 2014 NOAA/NMFS/EDM 35762 crossReference National Coral Reef Monitoring Program: Towed-diver Surveys of Large-bodied Fishes of the Pacific Remote Island Areas since 2014 NOAA/NMFS/EDM 5568 crossReference Pacific Reef Assessment and Monitoring Program: Sightings of Marine Species of Interest during Towed-diver Surveys of the U.S. Pacific Reefs from 2000 to 2017 NOAA/NMFS/EDM 25301 crossReference Pacific Reef Assessment and Monitoring Program: Towed-diver Surveys of Benthic Habitat, Key Benthic Species, including Marine Debris Sightings, of the U.S. Pacific Reefs from 2000 to 2012 NOAA/NMFS/EDM 35618 crossReference Pacific Reef Assessment and Monitoring Program: Towed-diver Surveys of Large-bodied Fishes of the U.S. Pacific Reefs from 2000 to 2012 NOAA/NMFS/EDM 34521 crossReference NOAA Data Management Plan (DMP) NOAA/NMFS/EDM 25298 https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/inportserve/waf/noaa/nmfs/pifsc/dmp/pdf/25298.pdf WWW:LINK-1.0-http--link NOAA Data Management Plan (DMP) NOAA Data Management Plan for this record on InPort. information crossReference eng; US oceans Garmin GPSMAP series have been used to collect waypoints in recent years (GPSMAP 76 - GPSMAP 78SC). The datum is set to WGS 1984 with the geographic coordinate system. Seabird SBE 39 Depth and Temperature Recorder has been used to collect temperature in degrees Celsius and depth data in meters. A post-processing script was written in Python 2.5 in 2007, implemented in 2008 and last updated in 2011. The script is run in ArcGIS Desktop environment (ArcGIS 10.3). PIFSC Oracle database: GISDAT.TOW_DIVEPOINTS , TABLESPACE "GISDATA" American Samoa -171.09329 -168.13673 -14.91070487 -11.0449 American Samoa including Tutuila, Manu'a (Ofo, Olosega, and Ta'u), Rose Atoll, South Bank, and Swains. ASRAMP mission to Tutuila, Rose, South Bank, Ofu & Olosega, Tau, and Swains. | Currentness: Ground Condition 2010-02-23 2010-03-20 ASRAMP mission to Swains, Tutuila, Rose, Tau, and Ofu & Olosega. | Currentness: Ground Condition 2012-03-21 2012-04-25 ASRAMP mission to Tutuila, Tau, Ofu & Olosega, Swains, and Rose. | Currentness: Ground Condition 2002-02-09 2002-03-03 ASRAMP mission to Tau, Ofu & Olosega, Rose, Swains, and Tutuila. | Currentness: Ground Condition 2004-02-04 2004-02-25 ASRAMP mission to Swains, Tutuila, Ofu & Olosega, Tau, and Rose. | Currentness: Ground Condition 2006-02-11 2006-03-09 ASRAMP mission to Tutuila, Ofu & Olosega, Tau, Rose, and Swains. | Currentness: Ground Condition 2008-02-18 2008-03-18 ASRAMP mission to Swains, Tutuila, Ofu & Olosega, Tau, and Rose. | Currentness: Ground Condition 2015-02-15 2015-03-23 Mariana Archipelago 142.43534 145.85405835 12.80543 20.5541903 Mariana Archipelago including Guam, Rota, Tinian, Aguijan, Saipan, Sarigan, Guguan, Alamagan, Pagan, Agrihan, Asuncion, Maug, Supply Reef, Farallon de Pajaros, Anatahan, Arakane, Pathfinder, Santa Rosa, Stingray, and Tatsumi. MARAMP 2003 mission to Saipan, Tinian, Sarigan, Pagan, Agrihan, Stingray, Farallon de Pajaros, Supply, Maug, Asuncion, Anatahan, Guguan, Alamagan, Pathfinder, Arakane, Aguijan, Tatsumi, Rota, Guam, Santa Rosa. | Currentness: Ground Condition 2003-08-22 2003-09-28 MARAMP 2007 mission to Guam, Rota, Aguijan, Tinian, and Saipan. | Currentness: Ground Condition 2007-05-12 2007-05-22 MARAMP 2007 mission to Tinian, Sarigan, Alamagan, Agrihan, Maug, Farallon de Pajaros, Asuncion, Pagan, and Guguan. | Currentness: Ground Condition 2007-05-25 2007-06-08 MARAMP 2009 mission to Guam, Rota, Aguijan, Tinian, and Saipan. | Currentness: Ground Condition 2009-04-05 2009-04-14 MARAMP 2009 mission to Saipan, Sarigan, Pagan, Asuncion, Farallon de Pajaros, Maug, Agrihan, Alamagan, and Guguan. | Currentness: Ground Condition 2009-04-18 2009-05-05 MARAMP 2011 to Saipan, Tinian, Sarigan, Pagan, Asuncion, Farallon de Pajaros, Maug, Agrihan, Alamagan, Guguan, Rota, Aguijan, and Guam. | Currentness: Ground Condition 2011-04-07 2011-05-09 MARAMP 2005 mission to Saipan, Guguan, Pagan, Asuncion, Farallon de Pajaros, Maug, Agrihan, Alamagan, Sarigan, Pathfinder, Arakane, Tinian, Aguijan, and Rota. | Currentness: Ground Condition 2005-09-04 2005-09-30 MARAMP 2005 mission to Guam and Santa Rosa Reef. | Currentness: Ground Condition 2005-10-03 2005-10-08 MARAMP 2014 mision to Guam, Rota, Aguijan, Tinian, Saipan, Sarigan, Pagan, Asuncion, Farallon de Pajaros, Maug, Alamagan, and Guguan. | Currentness: Ground Condition 2014-03-25 2014-05-06 MARAMP 2017 mission to Guam, Rota, Tinian, Saipan, Aguijan, Guguan, Agrihan, Pagan, Alamagan, Asuncion, Farallon de Pajaros, Maug, and Sarigan. | Currentness: Ground Condition 2017-05-04 2017-06-20 Hawaiian Archipelago including the main and Northwestern Hawaiian Islands. -160.54519 -154.80475 18.90733 22.23715287 Main Hawaiian Islands (MHI), including Hawaii, Kauai, Kaula, Lanai, Lehua, Maui, Molokai, Molokini, Niihau, and Oahu. -178.3859 -161.91425 23.0554 28.45932075 Northwestern Hawaiian Islands (NWHI), including French Frigate, Gardner, Kure, Laysan, Lisianski, Maro, Midway, Necker, Nihoa, Pearl & Hermes, and Raita Mission HI0505 to Oahu, Kauai, Niihau, Lehua, Molokai, Lanai, and Maui of the main Hawaiian Islands. | Currentness: Ground Condition 2005-07-14 2005-08-06 Mission to Oahu, Kauai, Molokai, Maui, Hawaii, Lanai, Niihau, Kaula, and Lehua of the main Hawaiian Islands. | Currentness: Ground Condition 2006-07-27 2006-08-19 Mission OES0810 to Maui, Lanai, Molokai, Hawaii, Kauai, Lehua, Niihau, and Oahu of the main Hawaiian Islands. | Currentness: Ground Condition 2008-10-17 2008-11-13 Mission TC0011 to Nihoa, Necker, French Frigate, Gardner, Maro, Lisianski, Pearl & Hermes, Kure, and Laysan of the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands. | Currentness: Ground Condition 2000-09-09 2000-10-05 Shore-based mission to Oahu in the main Hawaiian Islands. | Currentness: Ground Condition 2008-12-09 2008-12-10 Mission HA1008 to Hawaii, Maui, Lanai, Oahu, Kauai, Lehua, Niihau, and Molokai of the main Hawaiian Islands. | Currentness: Ground Condition 2010-10-08 2010-11-04 Mission TC0110 to French Frigate, Raita, and Maro of the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands. | Currentness: Ground Condition 2001-09-13 2001-09-25 Mission HA1606 to Maui, Molokai, Lanai, Kauai, Niihau, and Hawaii of the main Hawaiian Islands. | Currentness: Ground Condition 2016-07-13 2016-08-14 Mission TC0207 to French Frigate, Laysan, Lisianski, Pearl & Hermes, Midway, Kure, and Maro of the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands. | Currentness: Ground Condition 2002-09-11 2002-10-04 Mission OES0306 to Necker, French Frigate, Gardner, Maro, Laysan, Lisianski, Midway, Pearl & Hermes, and Kure of the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands. | Currentness: Ground Condition 2003-07-14 2003-08-08 Mission HI0401 to French Frigate, Gardner, Maro, Laysan, Pearl & Hermes, Pearl & Hermes, Midway, Kure, and Lisianski of the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands. | Currentness: Ground Condition 2004-09-16 2004-10-11 Mission HI0611 to Necker, French Frigate, Maro, Laysan, Pearl & Hermes, Midway, Kure, and Lisianski of the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands. | Currentness: Ground Condition 2006-09-03 2006-10-01 Mission HI0809 to French Frigate, Maro, Laysan, Pearl & Hermes, Midway, Kure, and Lisianski of the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands. | Currentness: Ground Condition 2008-09-14 2008-10-09 Mission HA1007 to French Frigate, Pearl & Hermes, Kure, and Lisianski of the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands. | Currentness: Ground Condition 2010-09-07 2010-09-24 Mission OES0502 to Oahu, Maui, and Hawaii of the main Hawaiian Islands. | Currentness: Ground Condition 2005-02-15 2005-03-05 Mission HA1602 to Lanai, Maui, Hawaii, and Oahu of the main Hawaiian Islands. | Currentness: Ground Condition 2015-11-03 2015-11-18 HARAMP 2016 to French Frigate, Pearl & Hermes, Kure, and Lisianski of the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands. | Currentness: Ground Condition 2016-09-01 2016-09-26 Pacific Remote Island Areas (PRIA) 166.59343751 -159.97139278 -0.38306238 19.32654 Pacific Remote Island Areas, including the Phoenix (Baker and Howland), Line (Jarvis, Kingman, and Palmyra), and Wake Islands , and Johnston Atoll. 2005 mission to Wake in the Pacific Remote Island Areas. | Currentness: Ground Condition 2005-10-18 2005-10-21 2007 mission to Wake in the Pacific Remote Island Areas. | Currentness: Ground Condition 2007-04-30 2007-05-03 2009 mission to Wake in the Pacific Remote Island Areas. | Currentness: Ground Condition 2009-03-22 2009-03-26 2011 mission to Wake in the Pacific Remote Island Areas. | Currentness: Ground Condition 2011-03-23 2011-03-27 2001 mission to Howland, Baker, Jarvis, Palmyra, and Kingman of the Pacific Remote Island Areas. | Currentness: Ground Condition 2001-02-07 2001-02-23 2002 mission to Baker, Howland, Jarvis, Palmyra, and Kingman of the Pacific Remote Island Areas. | Currentness: Ground Condition 2002-01-29 2002-03-19 2004 mission to Johnston, Howland, and Baker of the Pacific Remote Island Areas. | Currentness: Ground Condition 2004-01-12 2004-01-24 2004 mission to Jarvis, Palmyra, and Kingman of the Pacific Remote Island Areas. | Currentness: Ground Condition 2004-03-26 2004-04-04 2006 mission to Johnston, Howland, and Baker of the Pacific Remote Island Areas. | Currentness: Ground Condition 2006-01-18 2006-02-01 2006 mission to Jarvis, Palmyra, and Kingman of the Pacific Remote Island Areas. | Currentness: Ground Condition 2006-03-20 2006-04-02 2008 mission to Johnston, Howland, and Baker of the Pacific Remote Island Areas. | Currentness: Ground Condition 2008-01-27 2008-02-09 2008 mission to Jarvis, Palmyra, and Kingman of the Pacific Remote Island Areas. | Currentness: Ground Condition 2008-03-26 2008-04-07 2010 mission to Johnston, Howland, and Baker of the Pacific Remote Island Areas. | Currentness: Ground Condition 2010-01-24 2010-02-08 2010 mission to Jarvis, Palmyra, and Kingman of the Pacific Remote Island Areas. | Currentness: Ground Condition 2010-04-01 2010-04-17 2012 mission to Johnston, Howland, Baker, Jarvis, Kingman, and Palmyra of the Pacific Remote Island Areas. | Currentness: Ground Condition 2012-03-02 2012-05-19 2014 mission to Wake in the Pacific Remote Island Areas. | Currentness: Ground Condition 2014-03-16 2014-03-17 2015 mission to Johnston, Howland, Baker, Jarvis, Palmyra, and Kingman of the Pacific Remote Island Areas. | Currentness: Ground Condition 2015-01-26 2015-04-26 2017 mission to Jarvis, Baker, Howland, and Wake of the Pacific Remote Island Areas. | Currentness: Ground Condition 2017-04-02 2017-04-20 Pacific RAMP, established by the Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center (PIFSC), Ecosystem Sciences Division (ESD) and supported by NOAA's Coral Reef Conservation Program (CRCP), was tasked with documenting and understanding the status and trends of coral reef ecosystems in the U.S. Pacific Islands Region. Pacific RAMP involved interdisciplinary monitoring of oceanographic conditions and biological surveys of organisms associated with hard-bottom habitats in the 0-30 m depth range and aimed to support integrated, consistent and comparable monitoring of coral reef systems. RAMP missions were conducted in each Pacific region, including the Hawaiian and Mariana Archipelagos, American Samoa, and the Pacific Remote Island Areas, every 1-3 years. Starting in 2013, Pacific RAMP was incorporated into NOAA's National Coral Reef Monitoring Program. false eng false Data Table Tows 2019-05-30 publication Segments 2019-05-30 publication DivePoints 2019-05-30 publication CSV - Comma Separated Values (Text) Shapefile Shapefile CSV - Comma Separated Values (Text) NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information ncei.info@noaa.gov https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/contact WWW:LINK-1.0-http--link NCEI Contact Information Information for contacts at NCEI. information distributor https://accession.nodc.noaa.gov/0189889 WWW:LINK-1.0-http--link DivePoints.csv Estimated position of the divers at each 5 second survey point during towed-diver surveys of U.S. Pacific Reefs from 2000 to 2017 conducted by the PIFSC Ecosystem Sciences Division. download https://accession.nodc.noaa.gov/0189889 WWW:LINK-1.0-http--link Tows.shp Estimated survey track of the divers for each 50-minute survey track of towed-diver surveys of the U.S. Pacific Reefs from 2000 to 2017 conducted by the PIFSC Ecosystem Sciences Division. download https://accession.nodc.noaa.gov/0189889 WWW:LINK-1.0-http--link Segments.shp Estimated survey track of the divers for each 5-minute survey segment of towed-diver surveys of the U.S. Pacific Reefs from 2000 to 2017 conducted by the PIFSC Ecosystem Sciences Division. download https://accession.nodc.noaa.gov/0189889 WWW:LINK-1.0-http--link Island_Lookup_Table.csv Full name of each island code listed in ISLAND field in each of the entities. download dataset Accuracy Horizontal accuracy is affected by GPS positional error, but should be accurate to within ~10 m. Vertical accuracy to within 1 m based on in situ SBE39 temperature and depths recorder readings. GPS Specifications (Garmin GPSMAP 78 Series): GPS Accuracy is less than 33 ft (10 m) 95% for typical use. Differential correction is not applied. GPS is subject to accuracy degradation to 100 m 2DRMS under the U.S. DoD imposed Selective Availability (SA) Program when activated. Instrument Specifications for SBE39: Temperature (Degrees Celsius): Measurement Range -5 to +45 °C; Initial Accuracy ± 0.002 (-5 to +35 °C); ± 0.01 (+35 to +45 °C), Typical Stability 0.0002 per month, Resolution 0.0001. Analytical Accuracy The custom built Python script mathematically calculates the diver's positions based on the track, speed, and course of the boat and depth of the divers. However, accuracy of the geolocation estimation (i.e., the true positions of the divers) is greatly influenced by the ocean/underwater conditions, including the current strength and direction, and therefore the accuracy at times is difficult to estimate. This is particularly true when the surface craft is stalled due to currents, the estimation of geolocation is difficult with a python script which assumes the surface craft moves forward. The quality control procedure flags estimated geolocations that are unfit for the further analyses. Comparability The Python script in ArcGIS environment has been used since 2008 for post processing. Prior to 2008, ArcView 3.x script was used to process the GPS points, depths and temperature. When the transition from the ArcView 3.x script was implemented, the Python script was tested and the results were compared with the older script. Completeness Report There are a few scenarios that will affect the completeness of the data: 1) If the GPS points are not collected, associated diver's positions and survey tracks are not generated 2) If the estimation of the divers' positions are erroneous and it is not possible to correct, the tow tracks/points are flagged and removed from further analyses 3) If SEABIRD sensor (SBE 39) is not operational during surveys, temperature and depth data are not available. Conceptual Consistency The quality control effort has not been consistent over the years, especially prior to 2008. Generally, the latitude and longitude coordinates of the survey track are recorded every 5 seconds using a Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver on-board the tow boat. In 2015, the coordinates were recorded every 15 seconds. Methodology to process the geospatial data (GPS points) from towed-diver surveys, including the associated SBE39 temperature and depth data, to generate the resulting files/shapefiles (Dive Points, Segments, and Tows). The geospatial data are processed using a layback script written in Python that uses various GIS functions to estimate the position of the diver. During towed-diver surveys, a pair of divers was towed approximately 60 m behind a small boat, with 1 diver tasked with benthic data collection and 1 diver tasked with data collection on large fishes (>50 cm in total length). Each diver made observations over a visually estimated 10-m swath (5 m out on each side of their respective tow lines, which act as transect lines). Towed at typical speeds of 0.5-1.3 m s-1 (1-2.5 knots), divers attempted to maintain their position ~1 m above the seafloor. Divers recorded observations every 5 minutes over a survey segment length of ~200 m, summarizing the benthic composition, ecologically and economically important fishes, and macroinvertebrates encountered throughout each survey segment. Each survey takes 50 minutes and includes a total of 10 segments, although the actual time and length of surveys occasionally varied depending on environmental conditions and diving or logistical constraints. Four to six surveys were generally completed during each field day. To georeference all data collected during towed-diver surveys, a GPS receiver located on the small boat was programmed to record every 5 seconds. The towed-diver platforms, or towboards, used by the divers were constructed of StarBoard (King Plastic Corp., North Port, Fla.) marine polymer sheets ~100 cm x 50 cm x 2 cm. Each tow board was outfitted with an SBE 39 temperature and pressure (depth) recorder set to record at 5 second intervals. All timing devices were set to Greenwich Mean Time and synchronized each morning using the calibrated clock on the research vessel. Ferguson, Megan megan.ferguson@noaa.gov processor Following each day of field operations for towed-diver surveys, the GPS waypoints collected from the GPS receiver, and the temperature and depth data from the SBE39s were downloaded in text and ascii formats, respectively. A metadata file was generated in notepad listing the local time zone difference from UTC, and the start and end time (in local time) of each tow. A custom built Python script (Python Software Foundation, Wolfeboro Falls, NH) run in an ArcGIS environment was used for processing these waypoints and the corresponding depth and temperature data. This data processing generated 4 standard shapefiles: GPS points, DIVE points, SEGMENTS and TOWS. GPS points represent the raw, uncorrelated, GPS waypoints and were used to generate the other three shapefiles. The Python script: 1) clipped the GPS track points to the survey extent (based on start and stop waypoints for the towed-diver survey), 2) re-positioned the GPS track points to the divers’ location (based on the track, speed, and course of the boat and the divers’ depths), 3) imported the corresponding SBE39 temperature and depth data using the metadata time stamps, and 4) added two unique serial numbers. The serial numbers include DIVE ID that represents the date of the 50-minute tow survey (YYYYMMDD) plus the single-digit tow number for the day (1-6), and SEGMENT ID that represents DIVE ID plus the 2-digit segment (01-10) within the tow (e.g., the DIVE ID for the first towed-diver survey on May 16, 2007 is 200705161, and the SEGMENT ID for segment #5 of during the first survey of the day is 20070516105). A 50-minute towed-diver survey typically includes ten 5-minute segments/observations. Akridge, Michael W (808)725-5483 michael.akridge@noaa.gov processor The DIVE points file results from these initial post-processing steps, and includes 1) the adjusted LATITUDE and LONGITUDE, 2) the temperature and depth data recorded from the benthic and fish SBE39s, 3) the mean temperature and mean depth of the combined benthic and fish SBE39 data, and 4) the two serial numbers (DIVE ID and SEGMENT ID). The DIVE points are then laced together and 1) grouped by SEGMENT ID to generate the SEGMENTS polyline shapefile, and 2) grouped by DIVE ID to generate the TOWS polyline shapefile. These serial numbers are the link between the geospatial data described here (SEGMENTS and TOWS) and the fish or benthic observation data (i.e., the observation data is mapped to specific geographic locations, or georeferenced). The mean benthic and fish temperature and depths provided in the SEGMENTS and the TOWS shapefiles are both calculated from the benthic and fish temperature and depths in the DIVE points file, and the standard deviations for the means are also provided. Acoba, Tomoko S (808)725-5448 tomoko.acoba@noaa.gov processor Upon return from each cruse, a GIS analyst reviewed the output files, flagged any anomalies, and made corrections, when possible, based on the available information from the physical data sheet. The data was then migrated to the Oracle database. Acoba, Tomoko S (808)725-5448 tomoko.acoba@noaa.gov processor Lino K, Asher J, Ferguson M, Gray A, McCoy K, Timmers M, Vargas-Ãngel B (2018) Ecosystem Sciences Division standard operating procedures: data collection for towed-diver benthic and fish surveys. Pacific Islands Fish. Sci. Cent., Natl. Mar. Fish. Serv., NOAA, Honolulu, HI 96818-5007. Pacific Islands Fish. Sci. Cent. Admin. Rep. H-18-02, 76 p. https://doi.org/10.25923/59sb-sy51 https://doi.org/10.25923/59sb-sy51 WWW:LINK-1.0-http--link NOAA Institutional Repository Survey protocol information otherRestrictions otherRestrictions Access Constraints: None | Use Constraints: None towboard-benthic Benthic towboard SCUBA divers conduct towed-diver surveys to assess relatively large areas of reef habitat and to survey large-bodied reef fishes. This method involves towing two divers (one fish, one benthic) behind a small surface craft that is moving at a velocity of 1-2 mph. The benthic towboard is equipped with a digital camera that is pointing in the downward-looking direction, to record the benthos over which the diver and camera are moving. The benthic diver maneuvers the towboard on which the camera is mounted and records selected data pertaining to the habitat using datasheets mounted on the towboard. The towboard is also equipped with a SEABIRD sensor that records depth and water temperature every 5 seconds. A GPS unit on the surface tow vessel records the trackline over which the divers are being towed. towboard-fish Fish towboard SCUBA divers conduct towed-diver surveys to assess relatively large areas of reef habitat and to survey large-bodied reef fishes. This method involves towing two divers (one fish, one benthic) behind a small surface craft that is moving at a velocity of 1-2 mph. The fish towboard is equipped with a digital videocamera that is pointing in the forward-looking direction to document the fish associated with the reef. The fish diver maneuvers the towboard on which the camera is mounted and records selected data pertaining to fish using datasheets mounted on the towboard. The towboard is also equipped with a SEABIRD sensor that records depth and water temperature every 5 seconds. A GPS unit on the surface tow vessel records the trackline over which the divers are being towed. In Situ Ocean-based Platforms > SHIPS Various ocean-based and lake-based ships, boats, remotely operated vehicles, submersibles, and other unspecified types of platforms towboard-benthic Benthic towboard SCUBA divers conduct towed-diver surveys to assess relatively large areas of reef habitat and to survey large-bodied reef fishes. This method involves towing two divers (one fish, one benthic) behind a small surface craft that is moving at a velocity of 1-2 mph. The benthic towboard is equipped with a digital camera that is pointing in the downward-looking direction, to record the benthos over which the diver and camera are moving. The benthic diver maneuvers the towboard on which the camera is mounted and records selected data pertaining to the habitat using datasheets mounted on the towboard. The towboard is also equipped with a SEABIRD sensor that records depth and water temperature every 5 seconds. A GPS unit on the surface tow vessel records the trackline over which the divers are being towed. towboard-fish Fish towboard SCUBA divers conduct towed-diver surveys to assess relatively large areas of reef habitat and to survey large-bodied reef fishes. This method involves towing two divers (one fish, one benthic) behind a small surface craft that is moving at a velocity of 1-2 mph. The fish towboard is equipped with a digital videocamera that is pointing in the forward-looking direction to document the fish associated with the reef. The fish diver maneuvers the towboard on which the camera is mounted and records selected data pertaining to fish using datasheets mounted on the towboard. The towboard is also equipped with a SEABIRD sensor that records depth and water temperature every 5 seconds. A GPS unit on the surface tow vessel records the trackline over which the divers are being towed.