National Coral Reef Monitoring Program: Towed-diver surveys of benthic habitat, key benthic species, and marine debris of the Pacific Remote Island Areas

During towed-diver surveys, the diver records the percentage cover of total live hard corals, stressed hard corals, soft corals, sand, coralline algae, macroalgae, and the number of individual macroinvertebrates (crown of thorns starfish (COTS), sea urchins, and giant clams). Benthic habitat complexity and type data are also collected as part of the survey with the following habitat type categories: continuous reef, spur and groove, patch reefs, rock boulders, pavement, rubble flat, sand flats, pinnacle, and wall.

Surveys were conducted in the Pacific Remote Island Areas as part of the ongoing NOAA National Coral Reef Monitoring Program (NCRMP).