Belize - 2010

In June of 2010, 14 members of the Tarpon Springs Chapter of SCUBAnauts spent 5 days diving and conducting scientific research at Glover’s Reef, Belize. Glover’s Reef mission is to provide a platform for information about Glover’s Reef Marine Reserve and Research Station, sharing data and knowledge to improve conservation and management of coral reef ecosystems and their biodiversity. The Nauts and scientists took every advantage of it. In addition to our normal benthic surveys, fish counts and turtle research, teams of Nauts took on additional projects in areas such as water quality and content, fish counts on specific patch reefs and coral diversity. We look forward to a long standing relationship with the Glover’s Reef Team and the Wildlife Conservation Society.

Key Largo - 2010

In 2010 the focus of the Key Largo trip for the Tarpon Springs Chapter was training, and while we encountered some challenges with the weather, we were able to accomplish many of our goals. Training included underwater navigation, performing Benthic Surveys and deep water dives to 60 feet. The Nauts were also able to participate in twilight and night dives to experience the changes that occur to the reefs during those times of day. In addition, the Nauts were able to increase their overall knowledge of the ecosystem with scientific classes and presentations that included an introduction to the Coral Restoration Foundation by its founder, Ken Nedimyer. The lessons learned by the new Nauts here will be employed throughout the year during our surveys in the Springs Coast area. We wish to express our thanks to the Florida Keys Dive Center and Able Body Labor for their support.

Key West - 2009

The island chain of the Florida Keys lies adjacent to North America’s only living coral barrier reef and the third longest barrier reef in the world. Each year, the SCUBAnauts conduct extensive underwater surveys of the diverse assemblages of corals, sponges, macroinvertebrates, and fish that inhabit the area. Robust scientific methodologies are employed (e.g., benthic quadrats, digital photo-transect surveys, and visual censuses). Additionally, some of the advanced divers were able to learn and practice methods of underwater archaeology on various wrecks around Key West. In 2009, the expedition was limited to Key West because the record number of scubanauts (almost 60!) could not be housed easily in the Upper Keys. Special thanks to the U.S. Army Special Forces Underwater Operations School for all their support and training assistance!

Florida Keys - 2005, 2007, 2008

The island chain of the Florida Keys lies adjacent to North America’s only living coral barrier reef and the third longest barrier reef in the world. Each year, the SCUBAnauts conduct extensive underwater surveys of the diverse assemblages of corals, sponges, macroinvertebrates, and fish that inhabit the area. Robust scientific methodologies are employed (e.g., benthic quadrats, digital photo-transect surveys, and visual censuses) and the data collected have been used to ground truth satellite imagery and augment databases at the Florida Fish and Wildlife Research Institute. In addition, the SCUBAnauts explored and entered Aquarius (a unique undersea research lab), helped NOAA scientists care for and transplant coral fragments in Key West, and honed their underwater navigation skills with Special Forces Underwater Operations combat diver trainers.

Bahamas - 2006, 2008

Living aboard a boat for seven days, the SCUBAnauts traversed the Bahamian waters and learned about the tropical biological, chemical, physical, and geological oceanography of the region. The SCUBAnauts collected fish and coral data by day and spent the evenings immersed in hands-on learning projects led by experienced scientists. There was also plenty of time for barracuda fishing and diving with lemon sharks! Land-based activities included instruction on the carbonate-based geology of the region and experiencing the wonderful flair of Bahamian culture.

Jamaica - 2008

The Discovery Bay Marine Lab (DBML) on the island of Jamaica was home to a group of advanced SCUBAnauts for seven days during Summer 2008. DBML is uniquely situated 300 meters from the Jamaican fringing reef crest, and provides exceptional accessibility to environments including a lagoon, mangrove system, shallow back-reef, and fringing reef. The SCUBAnauts conducted experiments using the flow-through system in the lab, collected invertebrate specimens for identification and observation, and were able to SCUBA dive a variety of environments including vertical walls, spur-and-groove formations, and shallow coral reefs. Land-based activities included exploration of Windsor Cave and its speleothems (cave deposits), swimming amongst bioluminescent organisms at Glistening Waters, and touring the remote countryside of Jamaica.

Hawaii - 2007

In October 2007 a group of SCUBAnauts embarked on a ten day expedition that began with a 1,000 foot descent in deep sea submersibles to explore the flanks of Mauna Kea (Hawaii), a climb up to the 13,786 summit of this tallest mountain on earth, and concluded with the unfurling of a SCUBAnaut banner by Commander Dom Gorie on board the Space Shuttle Endeavor (STS-123) in February 2008. While in Hawaii the SCUBAnauts also went SCUBA diving with the massive manta rays off the Kona coast, conducted underwater marine archeology dives with NOAA scientists, and partook in a traditional luau celebration.