A poetic rendering of The Reef Life Survey Methods Manual
Two divers swim along a line they’ve laid along the ocean floor one counts the fishes on one side the other counts those on the other the transect line runs 50 metres long a 50 metre line of fibreglass Two divers swim along a line they’ve laid along the shallow floor the substratum must be mostly hard a patch of sand or silt’s acceptable Two divers swim along a line they’ve laid along a coral reef the substratum must be mostly hard an artificial reef’s acceptable two divers choose the depth surveyed they keep a record on a sheet bring a slate, two pencils, paper (waterproof) clips, camera, gps and fibreglass note on the sheet some reference points and their relation to the shore two divers choose the depth surveyed based on the waves, the time, their plans one counts the fishes on one side the other counts those on the other they count the fishes that they see within 5 metres either side they count the fishes that they see within 5 metres deep or high 5 metre blocks on either side of the 50 metre transect line they count large swimming animals as well as fish: for instance squid seals, octopi, and jellyfish turtles, whales and anything as big that swims they count those fishes that they see they count those swimming beasts