gov.noaa.nmfs.inport:35618 eng UTF8 dataset CSV Files 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 Akridge, Michael W (808)725-5483 1845 Wasp Blvd. Honolulu HI 96818 USA michael.akridge@noaa.gov pointOfContact DesRochers, Annette M (808)725-5461 1845 Wasp Blvd. Honolulu HI 96818 USA annette.desrochers@noaa.gov 8 am - 5 pm pointOfContact 2026-03-04T19:17:28 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: Towed-diver Surveys of Benthic Habitat, Key Benthic Species, including Marine Debris Sightings, of the U.S. Pacific Reefs from 2000 to 2012 RAMP: Benthic Towed-diver Surveys from 2000-2012 2016 publication NOAA/NMFS/EDM 35618 https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/inport/item/35618 WWW:LINK-1.0-http--link Full Metadata Record View the complete metadata record on InPort for more information about this dataset. information NOAA Coral Reef Conservation Program (301) 713-3155 1305 East West Highway 10th Floor Silver Spring MD 20910-3281 https://coralreef.noaa.gov WWW:LINK-1.0-http--link NOAA Coral Reef Conservation Program Website Link to the NOAA Coral Reef Conservation Program website information originator 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.pifsc.noaa.gov/cred/benthic_monitoring.php WWW:LINK-1.0-http--link Citation URL Coral Reef Ecosystem Program website, Benthic Monitoring download https://www.coris.noaa.gov/monitoring/ WWW:LINK-1.0-http--link Citation URL Information about the NOAA National Coral Reef Monitoring Program (NCRMP) on the NOAA Coral Reef Information System website. download https://www.pifsc.noaa.gov/cred/survey_methods.php WWW:LINK-1.0-http--link Citation URL NOAA Coral Reef Ecosystem Program website, survey methods page, which includes a brief description of the towed-diver survey method used since 2000 to survey the benthic habitat. download tableDigital The towed-diver method is used to conduct benthic surveys, assessing large-scale disturbances (e.g., bleaching) and quantifying benthic components such as habitat complexity/type and the general distribution and abundance patterns of live coral, CCA, macroalgae, and macroinvertebrates. Surveys are conducted in the Hawaiian and Mariana Archipelagos, American Samoa, and the Pacific Remote Island Areas as part of the NOAA National Coral Reef Monitoring Program (NCRMP). A suitable method for assessing relatively large areas of reef habitat, the method involves towing a pair of SCUBA divers—one benthic and one fish—behind a small boat for approximately 50 min following the ~15-m depth contour and covering about 2–3 km of habitat. Each diver is equipped with a towboard and attempts to maintain a constant elevation above the surface of the reef (~1 m) for the duration of the survey. A complete towed-diver survey is divided into 10, 5-min segments, with visual observations recorded by 5-min segment. The visual estimate data provided in this dataset were collected during towed-diver surveys which includes percentage cover of total live hard corals, stressed hard corals, soft corals, sand, coralline algae, and macroalgae, and the number of individual macroinvertebrates (crown of thorns starfish (COTS), sea urchins, and giant clams). Benthic habitat complexity and type data are also collected as part of the survey with the following habitat type categories: continuous reef, spur and groove, patch reefs, rock boulders, pavement, rubble flat, sand flats, pinnacle, and wall. The data were collected at coral reefs across all U.S.-affiliated regions as part of the NOAA Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center (PIFSC), Coral Reef Ecosystem Program (CREP) led missions since 2000. These data can be accessed online via the NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI) Ocean Archive. The Pacific Reef Assessment and Monitoring Program (Pacific RAMP), established by the NOAA Coral Reef Ecosystem Program (CREP) and supported by NOAA's Coral Reef Conservation Program (CRCP), is tasked with documenting and understanding the status and trends of coral reef ecosystems in the U.S. Pacific. Pacific RAMP involves interdisciplinary monitoring of oceanographic conditions and biological surveys of organisms associated with hard-bottomed habitats in the 0 - 30 m depth range. Regions are surveyed on a biennial cycle and aims to support integrated, consistent and comparable monitoring of coral reefs across all U.S.-affiliated regions. PIFSC Coral Reef Ecosystem Program and funded by the NOAA Coral Reef Conservation Program completed Vargas-Angel, Bernardo (808)725-5423 1845 Wasp Blvd. Honolulu HI 96818 USA bernardo.vargasangel@noaa.gov email preferred pointOfContact Ferguson, Marie H (808)725-5414 1845 Wasp Blvd. Honolulu HI 96818 marie.ferguson@noaa.gov email preferred custodian notPlanned https://www.pifsc.noaa.gov/cred/img/towboard.jpg A diver conducting a survey of the benthos and benthic habitat using the towed diver method. JPG 1221 587 C204 Pacific Reef Assessment and Monitoring Program (Pacific RAMP): Biennial monitoring for the US Pacific Islands and Atolls Pacific Reef Assessment and Monitoring Program: Monitoring coral reef ecosystems of the US Pacific Islands and Atolls theme CRCP Project Numeric Data Sets > Biology theme CoRIS Discovery Thesaurus EARTH SCIENCE > Biosphere > Aquatic Habitat > Reef Habitat EARTH SCIENCE > Biosphere > Zoology > Corals EARTH SCIENCE > Biosphere > Zoology > Corals > Coral Mortality EARTH SCIENCE > Biosphere > Zoology > Corals > Photic Zone Corals EARTH SCIENCE > Biosphere > Zoology > Corals > Reef Monitoring and Assessment EARTH SCIENCE > Oceans > Coastal Processes > Coral Reefs EARTH SCIENCE > Oceans > Coastal Processes > Coral Reefs > Coral Reef Ecology > Benthic biology EARTH SCIENCE > Oceans > Coastal Processes > Coral Reefs > Coral Reef Ecology > Coral Cover EARTH SCIENCE > Oceans > Coastal Processes > Coral Reefs > Coral Reef Ecology > Habitats EARTH SCIENCE > Oceans > Coastal Processes > Coral Reefs > Coral Reef Ecology > Hard Coral Cover EARTH SCIENCE > Oceans > Coastal Processes > Coral Reefs > Coral Reef Ecology > Hard Coral Cover Dead percentage EARTH SCIENCE > Oceans > Coastal Processes > Coral Reefs > Coral Reef Ecology > Hard Coral Cover Live percentage EARTH SCIENCE > Oceans > Marine Biology > Coral EARTH SCIENCE > Oceans > Marine Biology > Coral Communities EARTH SCIENCE > Oceans > Marine Biology > Macroinvertebrates EARTH SCIENCE > Oceans > Marine Biology > Marine Invertebrates EARTH SCIENCE > Oceans > Marine Biology > Marine Invertebrates > Census EARTH SCIENCE > Oceans > Marine Biology > Marine Invertebrates > Census > Macroinvertebrates EARTH SCIENCE > Oceans > Marine Biology > Marine Invertebrates > Census > Population Density EARTH SCIENCE > Oceans > Marine Biology > Marine Invertebrates > Macroinvertebrates theme CoRIS Theme Thesaurus CORAL DEBRIS DEPTH - SENSOR HABITAT - BENTHIC MACROINVERTEBRATE CENSUS REEF AND/OR BOTTOM REGIME - PERCENT COVER TEMPERATURE theme NODC DATA TYPES THESAURUS survey survey - biological survey - coral reef survey - swimmer/diver tows visual estimate theme NODC OBSERVATION TYPES THESAURUS HI'IALAKAI OSCAR ELTON SETTE TOWNSEND CROMWELL theme NODC PLATFORM NAMES THESAURUS CORAL REEF STUDIES Coral Reef Conservation Program Pacific Reef and Assessment Monitoring Program theme NODC PROJECT NAMES THESAURUS US DOC; NOAA; NMFS; Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center; Ecosystem Sciences Division; Coral Reef Ecosystem Program theme NODC SUBMITTING INSTITUTION NAMES THESAURUS COUNTRY/TERRITORY > United States of America > Hawaii > Hawaii > Hawaii (21N160W0000) COUNTRY/TERRITORY > United States of America > Hawaii > Hawaii > Hawaii Island (19N155W0003) COUNTRY/TERRITORY > United States of America > Hawaii > Honolulu > Oahu (21N157W0003) 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 > Hawaiian Islands (21N157W0027) OCEAN BASIN > Pacific Ocean > Central Pacific Ocean > Hawaiian Islands (21N157W0027) OCEAN BASIN > Pacific Ocean > Central Pacific Ocean > Hawaiian Islands > Hawaii > Hawaii (21N160W0000) OCEAN BASIN > Pacific Ocean > Central Pacific Ocean > Hawaiian Islands > Hawaii Island > Hawaii Island (19N155W0003) 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 > Oahu Island > Oahu (21N157W0003) place CoRIS Place Thesaurus North Pacific Ocean place NODC SEA AREA NAMES THESAURUS CRED CREP Coral Reef Ecosystem Division Coral Reef Ecosystem Program PIFSC Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center RAMP Reef Assessment and Monitoring Program TDS Towed-diver surveys towboard towed diver theme Biennial temporal MHI Main Hawaiian Islands 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 Ecosystem Monitoring and Assessment project InPort otherRestrictions Cite As: Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center, [Date of Access]: 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 [Data Date Range], https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/inport/item/35618. 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 NOAA Coral Reef Ecosystem Program (CREP) when using the data. Suggested citation: Coral Reef Ecosystem Program; Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center (2016). 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's National Center for Environmental Information, https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/inport/item/35618. 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 NOAA Data Management Plan (DMP) NOAA/NMFS/EDM 35618 https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/inportserve/waf/noaa/nmfs/pifsc/dmp/pdf/35618.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 biota PIFSC Oracle database view: VS_BENT_TDS The latitude and longitude coordinates of the survey track are recorded using a Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver on-board the tow boat. The survey track is georeferenced and a layback model is applied (python script in ESRI ArcGIS for Desktop) that more accurately maps the positions of the recorded observations. Hawaiian Archipelago including the main and Northwestern Hawaiian Islands. -160.54516804 -154.83979027 18.90836853 22.23705898 Main Hawaiian Islands (MHI), including Hawaii, Kauai, Kaula, Lanai, Maui, Molokai, Niihau, and Oahu -178.38542228 -161.91509543 23.05548364 28.45872797 Northwestern Hawaiian Islands (NWHI), including French Frigate, Gardner, Kure, Laysan, Lisianski, Maro, Midway, Necker, Nihoa, Pearl & Hermes, and Raita | Currentness: Ground Condition 2005-07-14 2005-08-06 | Currentness: Ground Condition 2006-07-27 2006-08-19 | Currentness: Ground Condition 2008-10-17 2008-11-13 | Currentness: Ground Condition 2008-12-09 2008-12-10 | Currentness: Ground Condition 2010-10-08 2010-11-04 | Currentness: Ground Condition 2000-09-09 2000-10-05 | Currentness: Ground Condition 2001-09-13 2001-09-25 | Currentness: Ground Condition 2002-12-03 2002-12-06 | Currentness: Ground Condition 2002-09-11 2002-10-04 | Currentness: Ground Condition 2003-07-14 2003-08-08 | Currentness: Ground Condition 2004-09-16 2004-10-11 | Currentness: Ground Condition 2006-09-03 2006-10-01 | Currentness: Ground Condition 2008-09-14 2008-10-09 | Currentness: Ground Condition 2010-09-07 2010-09-24 American Samoa -171.09273053 -168.13673589 -14.91052889 -11.04527083 American Samoa including Tutuila, Manu'a (Ofo, Olosega, and Ta'u), Rose Atoll, South Bank, and Swains. | Currentness: Ground Condition 2002-02-09 2002-03-03 | Currentness: Ground Condition 2004-02-04 2004-02-25 | Currentness: Ground Condition 2006-02-11 2006-03-09 | Currentness: Ground Condition 2008-02-18 2008-03-18 | Currentness: Ground Condition 2010-02-23 2010-03-20 | Currentness: Ground Condition 2012-03-21 2012-04-25 Pacific Remote Island Areas (PRIA) 166.59345657 166.66057 19.26696409 19.32606047 Wake Island, one of the seven PRIA, is routinely surveyed as part of the Mariana Archipelago RAMP (MARAMP) missions. -176.6269294 -159.97143455 -0.38304574 16.78843124 Phoenix (Baker and Howland) and Line Islands (Jarvis, Kingman, and Palmyra), and Johnston Atoll. These six of the seven PRIA are routinely surveyed as part of the American Samoa RAMP (ASRAMP) missions (Johnston, Baker and Howland during the first leg of ASRAMP, and Jarvis, Kingman, and Palmyra during the last leg of ASRAMP). | Currentness: Ground Condition 2005-10-18 2005-10-21 | Currentness: Ground Condition 2007-04-30 2007-05-03 | Currentness: Ground Condition 2009-03-22 2009-03-26 | Currentness: Ground Condition 2011-03-23 2011-03-27 | Currentness: Ground Condition 2001-02-07 2001-02-23 | Currentness: Ground Condition 2002-01-29 2002-02-01 | Currentness: Ground Condition 2004-01-12 2004-01-24 | Currentness: Ground Condition 2004-03-26 2004-04-04 | Currentness: Ground Condition 2006-01-18 2006-02-01 | Currentness: Ground Condition 2006-03-20 2006-04-02 | Currentness: Ground Condition 2008-01-27 2008-02-09 | Currentness: Ground Condition 2008-03-26 2008-04-07 | Currentness: Ground Condition 2002-03-10 2002-03-19 | Currentness: Ground Condition 2010-01-24 2010-02-08 | Currentness: Ground Condition 2010-04-01 2010-04-17 | Currentness: Ground Condition 2012-03-02 2012-03-16 | Currentness: Ground Condition 2012-05-03 2012-05-19 Mariana Archipelago 142.43575067 145.85367032 12.80619352 20.55415502 Mariana Archipelago including Guam, Rota, Tinian, Aguijan, Saipan, Sarigan, Guguan, Alamagan, Pagan, Agrihan, Asuncion, Maug, Farallon de Pajaros, Anatahan, Arakane, Pathfinder, Santa Rosa, Stingray, Supply, and Tatsumi. | Currentness: Ground Condition 2003-08-22 2003-09-28 | Currentness: Ground Condition 2005-09-04 2005-09-30 | Currentness: Ground Condition 2005-10-03 2005-10-08 | Currentness: Ground Condition 2007-05-12 2007-05-22 | Currentness: Ground Condition 2007-05-25 2007-06-08 | Currentness: Ground Condition 2009-04-03 2009-04-14 | Currentness: Ground Condition 2009-04-15 2009-05-05 | Currentness: Ground Condition 2011-04-07 2011-05-09 false eng false Data View View: VS_BENT_TDS 2017-06-27 publication 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/0163745 WWW:LINK-1.0-http--link VS_BENT_TDS 2000-2012.csv Observations from towed-diver surveys of the benthic habitat conducted across the Pacific Islands Region by the PIFSC Ecosystem Sciences Division from 2000 to 2012. download dataset Accuracy Observations during each tow were made by trained divers. The visual variation throughout the tow may change drastically as well as current and surface conditions for the support vessel impacting the preferred depth contour and accompanying track lines. Analytical Accuracy The different benthic elements and macroinvertebrate taxa are recorded as percentage cover. Note that the total percentage cover will not add up to 100%, as all possible benthic categories are not included. From 2000 to 2004, benthic cover estimates are recorded to the nearest percentage and macroinvertebrate estimates are individual counts. In 2004 (BIN_A), benthic cover and macroinvertebrate categories and the corresponding percentage range bins are as follows: Category 1: 0 % Category 2: 0 - 1 % Category 3: 1 - 5 % Category 4: 5 - 10 % Category 5: 10 - 25 % Category 6: 25 - 50 % Category 7: 50 - 75 % Category 8: 75 - 100 % From 2004 to 2012 (BIN_B), benthic cover and macroinvertebrate categories and the corresponding percentage range bins are as follows: Category 1: 0.1 - 1 % Category 2: 1.1 - 5 % Category 3: 5.1 - 10 % Category 4: 10.1 - 20 % Category 5: 20.1 - 30 % Category 6: 30.1 - 40 % Category 7: 40.1 - 50 % Category 8: 50.1 – 62.5 % Category 9: 62.5 – 75 % Category 10: 75.1 – 100 % The following is a summary of the changes in benthic cover and macroinvertebrate categories, respectively: 2000 (Perc_a) – live hard coral, dead coral, algae, sand, hard bottom/rock ; lobster, COTs, urchins 2001 (Perc_b) - live hard coral, dead coral, rubble, carbonate pavement, algae (coralline and fleshy), sand (fine, medium, coarse), hard bottom/rock (cobble, boulder, basalt pavement); lobster, COTs, urchins (boring, free), Holothurian, Asteroid 2002 (Perc_d) - hard coral (live, dead, rubble, carbonate pavement), algae (coralline and fleshy), sand (fine, medium, coarse), hard bottom/rock (cobble, boulder, basalt pavement); lobster, COTs, urchins (boring, free), Holothurian, giant clams 2002 (Perc_c) – hard coral (live, stressed, bleached, dead, rubble, carbonate pavement), algae (coralline and fleshy), sand (fine, medium, coarse), hard bottom/rock (cobble, boulder, basalt pavement); lobster/octopus, COTs, urchins (boring, free), sea cucumbers, pearl oyster 2003 to 2004 (Perc_c) - hard coral (normal, pale, white, recently dead), pavement (covered with: bare, fleshy algae, calcareous algae), rubble (covered with: bare, fleshy algae, calcareous algae), sand (fine: bare or with fleshy algae, medium: bare or with fleshy algae, coarse: bare or with fleshy algae), hard bottom/rock (covered with: bare, fleshy algae, calcareous algae); lobster/octopus, COTs, urchins (boring, free), sea cucumbers, pearl oyster, giant clams 2004 (BIN_A) - hard coral (live, stressed, dead), macroalgae, coralline algae; lobster/octopus, COTs, urchins (boring, free), sea cucumbers 2005 to 2012 (BIN_B) - hard coral (live, stressed/bleached), soft coral, sand, rubble, macroalgae, coralline algae; COTs, urchins, sea cucumbers, giant clams Habitat complexity data is based on a six-point subjective assessment of topographical diversity and complexity of the benthic habitat. Classified according to 1 of 6 categories: low (L), medium-low (ML), medium (M), medium-high (MH), high (H), and very high (VH). Habitat type is recorded as dominant, abundant, common, occasional, rare (DACOR) from 2001 to 2002 and from 2003 to 2012 only the dominant habitat type is recorded. The following is a summary of the changes in habitat categories: 2000 – not recorded 2001 - spur and groove, flats, patch reef, linear/reticulate reef, pinnacle, canyon, channel or pass, cave, hole or pool, artificial structure 2002 - spur and groove, patch reef, linear/aggregate reef, scattered coral in sand 2003 to 2012 - continuous reef, spur and groove, patch reef, pavement, sand flat, rubble flat, bedrock, rock boulders Completeness Report The towed-diver surveys are completed in forereef, backreef, and lagoon habitats. Considering that the towed-divers are covering ~200 m during each 5-min time frame of a 50-minute survey, benthic coverage calculations are broad estimates. These data can be used to see large differences but can not be process to a fine scale. Conceptual Consistency The same methods of data collection are used during each tow. Regular examination and comparisons of the data are conducted throughout each mission to check for diver bias or other discrepancies. The data is captured on physical data sheets by each diver, then transferred to a MS Access database on the ship. At the conclusion of the cruise, the data is migrated to the PIFSC Oracle database, where there are several database views used to analyze the data. A pair of scuba divers is towed about 1 m above the reef roughly 60 m behind a small boat at a constant speed of about 1.5 knots. One diver quantifies fish populations, and the other diver quantifies the benthos. Each diver maneuvers their own towboard. Towboards are connected to the small boat by a bridle and towline and outfitted with various survey equipment, including a video camera on the fish towboard. The benthic diver records percentage cover of total live hard corals, stressed hard corals, soft corals, sand, coralline algae, and macroalgae, and the number of individual macroinvertebrates (crown of thorns starfish (COTS), sea urchins, and giant clams) as well as benthic habitat complexity and type data. A towed survey is typically 50 min long and covers about 2 km of habitat. Each survey is divided into 5-min segments, with data recorded separately per segment to allow for georeferencing of observations within the ~200 m covered during each segment. Throughout a survey, the latitude and longitude of its survey track are recorded at 5-s intervals on the small boat with a global positioning system (GPS). Following a survey, diver tracks are generated using this GPS data and a layback algorithm to account for position of the diver relative to the small boat. Ferguson, Marie H (808)725-5414 marie.ferguson@noaa.gov processor otherRestrictions otherRestrictions Access Constraints: None | Use Constraints: None