Seahorse Ecology and Monitoring

Seahorse Ecology and Monitoring
Prerequisites

• Be certified as an advanced diver under a leading diving organization (PADI, SSI, etc) (must include at least 1 deep dive)
• Demonstrate proper diving ability at an Advanced Level and be proficient in buoyancy and self-awareness.

Standards

• Learn about seahorse ecology and identification and understand the global and local threats to seahorse populations
• Learn the diagnostic features for identifying seahorses and be able to identify the most common local species of seahorses
• Know how to survey for seahorses using the roving diver and transect survey methods
• Practice a seahorse survey completing at least two of the main tasks (surveying along the line, controlling the GPS raft, keeping track of dive activity timing)
• Be familiar with the iSeahorse.org website and how to enter sightings data into the global database

Requirements

• Attend 1 seahorse lecture
• Attend 1 seahorse dive briefing
• Complete ID quiz using dichotomous key and seahorse photos
• Complete 1 seahorse survey dives (in 2 different roles)
• Enter GPS data into Google Earth
• Enter sightings and data into the iSeahorse.org and other relevant databases (if seahorse was observed)

Expected course time about 4 hours