Department of Marine Sciences

Scientific Diving - NOT AVAILABLE IN 2025-2026

(1) General

School:	Of the Environment
Academic Unit:	Department of Marine Sciences
Level of studies:	Undergraduate
Course Code:	191ΘΠ14x	Semester:	H
Course Title:	Scientific Diving - NOT AVAILABLE IN 2025-2026
Independent Teaching Activities		Weekly Teaching Hours	Credits
Lectures		3
Lab/Tutorials		2
		Total credits	5
Course Type:
Prerequisite Courses:
Language of Instruction and Examinations:
Is the course offered to Erasmus students:
Course Website (Url):	https://www.mar.aegean.gr/index.php?lang=en&lesson=1196&pg=3.1.1

(2) Learning Outcomes

Learning Outcomes

The aim of the course is to introduce students to issues related to a) on-site application of scientific methods in the marine environment through free and autonomous diving, b) legal framework and conditions, c) physiology and safety during field work using SCUBA, d) existing recording tools and techniques, e) randomness, representativeness and error correction during sampling, f) quantitative data analysis methods and software.

The course is in line with the modern needs of systematic and long-term monitoring of the natural environment. Emphasizing the subjects of Marine Biology and Marine Ecology, the course combines theoretical lectures with practical field and laboratory exercises, as well as basic methods of data analysis and presentation of results.

Upon successful course attendance students will understand the basic principles of how to safely organize and implement a basic field sampling plan, have basic familiarity with specific field equipment, as well as the main field techniques / techniques. and monitoring of the marine environment using scuba diving, and will know basic methods of data processing and analysis.

General Competences

(3) Syllabus

A) Theoretical lectures

Introduction to scientific diving.
Historical Background: Science and diving.
Legal framework.
Diving physiology (humans & marine mammals).
Scientific equipment and safety.
Sampling techniques in different environments and habitat types.
Mapping and quantitative assessment of species and habitats.
Sampling randomness and representativeness.
Καταγραφή βιοποικιλότητας – επιτόπια καταγραφή & ταυτοποίηση, προβλήματα και λύσεις.
Εφαρμογή δεικτών εκτίμησης οικολογικής κατάστασης
Οπτικές καταγραφές με χρήση πλαισίων: sampling techniques & analysis methods.
Οπτικές καταγραφές σε λουρίδες: sampling techniques & analysis methods.
Use of photographs and video: sampling techniques & analysis methods.
Experimental methods & applications (μαρκάρισμα, μελέτες αύξησης, μελέτες αποκλεισμού).
Sampling and field work design.

B) Workshops / field practice

Diving and sampling design.
Habitat mapping.
Οπτική καταγραφή σε πλαίσια.
Οπτική καταγραφή σε λουρίδες.
Οπτική καταγραφή με χρόνο.
Μέτρηση σφαλμάτων, εύρεση βέλτιστων λύσεων και διόρθωσης σφαλμάτων.
Collection of photographic samples.
Πρακτική άσκηση στο πεδίο μαρκαρίσματος βενθικών ασπόνδυλων.
Analysis of photoquadrat samples using the photoQuad software.

C) Assignment

Η εργασία θα παρουσιάζει ένα επιστημονικό θέμα / ερώτημα που αφορά στην χρήση της επιστημονικής κατάδυσης ως εργαλείο έρευνας στο θαλάσσιο περιβάλλον. Η επιλογή του θέματος θα γίνεται από τον εκάστοτε φοιτητή/τρια, σε συνεργασία με τη διδάσκουσα.

(4) Teaching and Learning Methods - Evaluation

Delivery:

Face-to-face

Use of Information and Communication Technology:

Multimedia use.
Use of specialized scientific software.
Teaching support via the e-class platform.
Communication via e-class and e-mail.

Teaching Methods:

	Activity	Semester workload
	Lectures	39
	Laboratory exercises	26
	Assignment work (individually)	25
	Lectures	30
	Presentation of the project	2
	Final exam	3
	*Course total*	125

Student Performance Evaluation:

The final evaluation is a result of the final written exams (60%) and the final assignment (40%).

Students with learning difficulties are tested orally.
Language of evaluation: Greek.
All evaluation results are announced at e-class, and students are encouraged to review their written tests.

(5) Attached Bibliography

Suggested bibliography

Bianchi CN, Pronzato R, Cattaneo-Vietti R, Benedetti Cecchi L, Morri C, Pansini M, Chemello R, Milazzo M, Fraschetti S, Terlizzi A, Peirano A, Salvati E, Benzoni F, Calcinai B, Cerrano C, Bavestrello G, 2004. Hard bottoms. In: Gambi MC, Dappiano M (Eds.), Mediterranean marine benthos: a manual of methods for its sampling and study. Biol. Mar. Mediterr. 11 (Suppl. 1), 185–215.
RAC/SPA – UNEP/MAP, 2015. A guide on environmental monitoring of rocky seabeds in Mediterranean Marine Protected Areas and surrounding zones. By Carlos Garcia-Gomez. Marine Biology Laboratory, Department of Zoology, Faculty of Biology, University of Seviile. R+d+I Biological Research Area. Seville Aquarium. Ed. RAC/SPA –MedMPAnet Project, Tunis: 482 pages+annexes.

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