24/03/2021
Invitation to Join Project:
Documentation of Scleractinian Corals in the Mesophotic Coral Ecosystems
The purpose is to find and document (picture, size, location) scleractinian corals in the 30-100m+ depths in the Izu area for a National Geographic funded project with the Tropical Biosphere Research Center University of the Ryukyus.
Ideally we need two 2(3)-man teams for each dive with one team finding the coral, taking pictures of the corals (macro and wide) and the second team documenting the exact location on a map including depth (and GPS if needed) and when necessary mark the coral to make it easier to find again. For the deep dives we will need more divers for surface and in water support.
In a 2nd phase it may be needed to take samples of the corals for DNA sequencing. The University will need a special permission for that.
Dive 1.
ATAMI 20210327 Start 08:00
Max 30m depth (EANx32)
Photo Team: Thomas/Nicholas
Map Team: Open/Open
Dive 2.
ATAMI 20210410 (or11) tbd this week Start 08:00
Max 30m depth (EANx32)
Photo Team: Thomas/Open
Map Team: Open/Open
Dive 3.
ATAMI 20210425 Start 08:00
Max 45m depth (TMX21/35)
Photo Team: Thomas/Open
Map Team: Open/Open
Dive 4.
ATAMI 20210501 Start 08:00
Max 60m depth (TMX18/45)
Photo Team: Thomas/Open
Map Team: Open/Open
Dive 5.
ATAMI 20210508 Start 08:00
Max 60m depth (TMX18/45)
Photo Team: Thomas/Open
Map Team: Open/Open
Dive 6.
OSEZAKI 20210515 Start 08:00
Max 30m depth (EANx32)
Photo Team: Thomas/Open
Map Team: Open/Open
Dive 7.
OSEZAKI 2021022Start 08:00
Max 30m depth (EANx32)
Photo Team: Thomas/Open
Map Team: Open/Open
Dive 8.
OSEZAKI 20210529 Start 08:00
Max 45m depth DPV (TMX21/35)
Photo Team: Thomas/Open
Map Team: Open/Open
Dive 9.
OSEZAKI 20210605 Start 08:00
Max 45m depth DPV (TMX21/35)
Photo Team: Thomas/Open
Map Team: Open/Open
Dive 10.
OSEZAKI 20210612 Start 08:00
Max 60m depth DPV (TMX18/45)
Photo Team: Thomas/Open
Map Team: Open/Open
Dive 11.
OSEZAKI 20210619 Start 08:00
Max 75m depth DPV (TMX15/55)
Photo Team: Thomas/Open
Map Team: Open/Open
Dive 12.
OSEZAKI 20210626 Start 08:00
Max 90m depth DPV (TMX12/65)
Photo Team: Thomas/Open
Map Team: Open/Open
Support Team Open/Open
Deeper dives if needed to be planned after this.
Please note that participants needs to be certified for the dive depths, as well as competent to ensure safety and that the tasks will be performed. Priority will be given to GUE Documentation Divers.
If you do not have the depth certificates - this is a nice carrot to get the training for that coming months!
Send me a private message for the dives you decide to apply for. I will later make a FB group for the project.
