PERSONNEL

A minimum of four people are required to conduct the surveys efficiently. One person, nominated as the cruise leader is responsible for planning the trip and ensuring that the surveys follow a standardised and safe procedure.

The surveys are conducted using two boats. Each boat has a driver and an observer and these roles are rotated during the survey of the reef. Each person should have a good knowledge of the coral reef environment and its fauna, be an experienced snorkeller and possess a speed boat driver's licence.

EQUIPMENT

The equipment used to conduct manta tow surveys is listed below. The field gear is required in each boat while the extra gear remains on the ship.

Field gear

• A small (4 m) boat with 15-20 HP outboard motor and necessary safety gear
• Waterproof VHF hand-held radio
• Rope harness which attaches to the boat's transom (Figure 2)
• Manta board with fitted harness and attached pencil (Figure 2)
• 17 metre, 10 mm towing rope with quick release clips on either end (Two small white floats are attached to the rope at 6 metre intervals from the manta board (Figure 1).)
• A4 size data sheet printed on underwater paper (Appendix I). (This is held in the recess on the manta board by a fixed clamp (Figure 2).)
• Container with spare 2B pencils, twine and rubber bands
• Photocopy of an aerial photograph of the reef, attached to a slate by screw down clamps and rubber bands (The photocopy is made on waterproof drawing film)
• Snorkelling gear (mask, fins, snorkel and wetsuit or stinger suit) for each person
• Two large buoys, 2 ropes (10 m) and 2 dump weights
• Waterproof, digital watch with countdown function

• Field logbook
• One reef aesthetics and 2 manta tow data sheets for each reef
• Extra data sheets (manta tow and SCUBA search)
• 486 laptop computer with data entry software (Reefmon) and HD 3.5 inch disks
• Marine Park zoning maps of the Great Barrier Reef
• Maps of manta tow paths of previously surveyed reefs
• Spare stationery items
• Tide tables
• Basic toolbox and spare snorkelling gear

Figure 2. The manta board and attachments.

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Last updated - 9 February 98

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