Learn more about the Seasearch project from the information below
1. What is Seasearch?
2. Why do we need Seasearch?
3. How to get involved in Seasearch?
4. Seasearch Courses dates
5. Seasearch Dive dates
6. Seasearch Reports
7. Seasearch pictures - 2006 and 2007
8. Get in touch with us…
1. What is Seasearch?
The Seasearch project is for volunteer scuba divers who wish to learn more about the UK's marine wildlife and participate in organised dives in the waters of Hampshire and the Isle of Wight. Download the Seasearch Project summary for 2006.
Exploring the wildlife of Hampshire and the Isle of Wight’s seas with the help of local divers, Hampshire and the Isle of Wight Seasearch is part of the national Seasearch programme for recreational divers who want to do their bit for marine wildlife by collecting information about the habitats, plants and animals that only divers see.
2. Why do we need Seasearch?
The marine habitats off the Hampshire and Isle of Wight coasts are diverse, with wrecks, rocky reefs and sand and gravel dunes. These play host to a wealth of marine life from sea squirts and sponges to corals and cuttlefish. Our marine environment is vital to us. It provides food and building materials, helps protect our coast, supports industry and transport and acts as a playground for sailors, divers and other recreational users. Despite its importance, much of our seabed has never been surveyed and so the habitats and wildlife remain a mystery. Hampshire and Isle of Wight Seasearch aims to help solve this mystery. The project will map out the various types of seabed found around Hampshire and the Isle of Wight and identify important sites and species around our shores.
3. How to get involved in Seasearch?
All you need to help with Seasearch is an interest in marine life and a suitable dive qualification. The minimum qualification is BSAC Sports Diver, SAA Club Diver or PADI Advanced Open Water level. You need to have done at least 20 dives in temperate sea water. You will also need to have a diving medical certificate or a Sports Diver medical self-declaration and have 3rd party diving insurance. No specialist wildlife knowledge is needed as a range of training courses are provided:
Observer – this one day course is aimed at giving a basic grounding to marine recording. At the end of the course you will be able to complete the Seasearch Observation Form and take part in Seasearch dives.
Surveyor – this two day course is aimed at experienced Seasearch observers and others with a good background knowledge of marine life and recording. At the end of the course you will be able to complete a Seasearch survey form, which is used on most of the expeditionary Seasearch dives and which gives more detailed information, useful for future conservation purposes. This advanced course includes a training surveyor dive.
Special interest – in addition to the Observer or Surveyor courses there are a number of specialist courses during 2007. These included general marine life identification as well as specialist courses in things like fishes, seaweeds, anemones/corals and seaslugs. Check out the Seasearch website for further details.
Seasearch Surveyor Course, Poole - 19th& 20th July. £70. For qualified Seasearch observers, taking your marine recording skills to the next level. Includes a dive on the Sunday.
Seasearch Observer Course, Beechcroft - Saturday 30th August. Cost £40. An introductory course for divers to learn about marine life identification and ecology and conducting Seasearch surveys.
We can arrange further courses if there is sufficient demand. If you're interested in attending the Seasearch courses, please email AngelaG@hwt.org.uk
5. Seasearch Dive dates
Friday 22nd August - Wreck and seagrass dives to the west of the Isle of Wight. Cost £25.
Sunday 31st August - Isle of Wight, location to be confirmed. Cost £25
'Dive Connections' Dives for Seasearch volunteers
Wednesday 9th July - Isle of Wight, details to be confirmed. Cost - Free.
Friday 5th September - Isle of Wight, details to be confirmed. Cost - Free.
For more information on Seasearch dives, please email AngelaG@hwt.org.uk
6. Seasearch Reports
Download the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Seasearch summary report , 2007.
Download the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Seasearch summary report , 2006.
7. Seasearch pictures - 2006 and 2007
Click for Dive pictures from 2006 and Dive pictures for 2007. (Note VERY large files - 11MB and 5MB respectively)
8. Get in touch with us…
For more information contact Angie Gall of our Marine team, on tel 01489 774423 or email AngelaG@hwt.org.uk
Hampshire and Isle of Wight Seasearch is run by Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust as part of the Trust’s work to encourage the protection and enjoyment of the local marine environment. Hampshire and Isle of Wight Seasearch was set up in 2005 with support from English nature through Defra’s Aggregates Levy Sustainability Fund, the Environment Agency and the Marine Conservation Society.
For more information about the national Seasearch project visit www.seasearch.org.uk
