Pacific Reef Assessment and Monitoring Program: Towed-diver Surveys of Benthic Habitats, Key Benthic Species, and Marine Debris Sightings of the U.S. Pacific Reefs from 2000-09-09 to 2012-05-19 (NCEI Accession 0163745)

Published by NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information | National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Department of Commerce | Metadata Last Checked: January 29, 2026 | Last Modified: 2017-08-19T00:00:00.000+00:00

The towed-diver method is used to conduct benthic surveys, assessing large-scale disturbances (e.g., bleaching) and quantifying benthic components such as habitat complexity/type and the general distribution and abundance patterns of live coral, CCA, macroalgae, and macroinvertebrates. Surveys are conducted in the Hawaiian and Mariana Archipelagos, American Samoa, and the Pacific Remote Island Areas as part of the NOAA National Coral Reef Monitoring Program (NCRMP). A suitable method for assessing relatively large areas of reef habitat, the method involves towing a pair of SCUBA divers—one benthic and one fish—behind a small boat for approximately 50 min following the ~15-m depth contour and covering about 2–3 km of habitat. Each diver is equipped with a towboard and attempts to maintain a constant elevation above the surface of the reef (~1 m) for the duration of the survey. A complete towed-diver survey is divided into 10, 5-min segments, with visual observations recorded by 5-min segment. The visual estimate data provided in this dataset were collected during towed-diver surveys which includes percentage cover of total live hard corals, stressed hard corals, soft corals, sand, coralline algae, and 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. The data were collected at coral reefs across all U.S.-affiliated regions as part of the NOAA Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center (PIFSC), Coral Reef Ecosystem Program (CREP) led missions since 2000.

Find Related Datasets

Click any tag below to search for similar datasets

Complete Metadata

@type	dcat:Dataset
accessLevel	non-public
contactPoint	{ "fn": "NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information", "@type": "vcard:Contact", "hasEmail": "mailto:ncei.info@noaa.gov" }
describedByType	application/octet-steam
description	The towed-diver method is used to conduct benthic surveys, assessing large-scale disturbances (e.g., bleaching) and quantifying benthic components such as habitat complexity/type and the general distribution and abundance patterns of live coral, CCA, macroalgae, and macroinvertebrates. Surveys are conducted in the Hawaiian and Mariana Archipelagos, American Samoa, and the Pacific Remote Island Areas as part of the NOAA National Coral Reef Monitoring Program (NCRMP). A suitable method for assessing relatively large areas of reef habitat, the method involves towing a pair of SCUBA divers—one benthic and one fish—behind a small boat for approximately 50 min following the ~15-m depth contour and covering about 2–3 km of habitat. Each diver is equipped with a towboard and attempts to maintain a constant elevation above the surface of the reef (~1 m) for the duration of the survey. A complete towed-diver survey is divided into 10, 5-min segments, with visual observations recorded by 5-min segment. The visual estimate data provided in this dataset were collected during towed-diver surveys which includes percentage cover of total live hard corals, stressed hard corals, soft corals, sand, coralline algae, and 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. The data were collected at coral reefs across all U.S.-affiliated regions as part of the NOAA Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center (PIFSC), Coral Reef Ecosystem Program (CREP) led missions since 2000.
distribution	[ { "@type": "dcat:Distribution", "title": "NCEI Dataset Landing Page", "mediaType": "placeholder/value", "description": "Navigate directly to the URL for a descriptive web page with download links.", "downloadURL": "https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/archive/accession/0163745", "describedByType": "application/octet-steam" }, { "@type": "dcat:Distribution", "title": "Descriptive Information", "mediaType": "placeholder/value", "description": "Navigate directly to the URL for a descriptive web page with download links.", "downloadURL": "https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/archive/accession/oas/163745", "describedByType": "application/octet-steam" }, { "@type": "dcat:Distribution", "title": "HTTPS", "mediaType": "placeholder/value", "description": "Navigate directly to the URL for data access and direct download.", "downloadURL": "https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/archive/accession/download/163745", "describedByType": "application/octet-steam" }, { "@type": "dcat:Distribution", "title": "FTP", "mediaType": "placeholder/value", "description": "These data are available through the File Transfer Protocol (FTP). FTP is no longer supported by most internet browsers. You may copy and paste the FTP link to the data into an FTP client (e.g., FileZilla or WinSCP).", "downloadURL": "ftp://ftp-oceans.ncei.noaa.gov/nodc/archive/arc0110/0163745/", "describedByType": "application/octet-steam" }, { "@type": "dcat:Distribution", "title": "https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/inport/item/35618", "mediaType": "placeholder/value", "description": "InPort Metadata Record", "downloadURL": "https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/inport/item/35618", "describedByType": "application/octet-steam" }, { "@type": "dcat:Distribution", "title": "GCMD Keyword Forum Page", "mediaType": "placeholder/value", "description": "Global Change Master Directory (GCMD). 2025. GCMD Keywords, Version 21. Greenbelt, MD: Earth Science Data and Information System, Earth Science Projects Division, Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC), National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). URL (GCMD Keyword Forum Page): https://forum.earthdata.nasa.gov/app.php/tag/GCMD+Keywords", "downloadURL": "https://forum.earthdata.nasa.gov/app.php/tag/GCMD%2BKeywords", "describedByType": "application/octet-steam" }, { "@type": "dcat:Distribution", "title": "NCEI Contact Information", "mediaType": "placeholder/value", "description": "Information for contacts at NCEI.", "downloadURL": "https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/contact", "describedByType": "application/octet-steam" } ]
identifier	gov.noaa.nodc:0163745
issued	2017-06-27T00:00:00.000+00:00
keyword	[ "0163745", "biological data", "CORAL", "DEBRIS", "DEPTH - SENSOR", "HABITAT - BENTHIC", "MACROINVERTEBRATE CENSUS", "REEF AND/OR BOTTOM REGIME - PERCENT COVER", "WATER TEMPERATURE", "GPS", "swimmer/diver", "in situ", "survey", "survey - biological", "survey - coral reef", "survey - swimmer/diver", "visual observation", "NOAA Ship Hi'ialakai", "NOAA Ship Oscar Elton Sette", "NOAA Ship Townsend Cromwell", "Coral Reef Ecosystem Program", "Coral Reef Ecosystem Program", "Coral Reef Conservation Program (CRCP)", "CORAL REEF STUDIES", "Pacific Reef and Assessment Monitoring Program (Pacific RAMP)", "Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary", "National Marine Sanctuary of American Samoa", "North Pacific Ocean", "Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument", "Philippine Sea", "Rose Atoll Marine National Monument", "South Pacific Ocean", "oceanography", "CRED", "CREP", "Coral Reef Ecosystem Division", "Coral Reef Ecosystem Program", "PIFSC", "Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center", "DOC/NOAA/NMFS > National Marine Fisheries Service, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce", "1221", "587", "C204 Pacific Reef Assessment and Monitoring Program (Pacific RAMP): Biennial monitoring for the US Pacific Islands and Atolls", "Pacific Reef Assessment and Monitoring Program: Monitoring coral reef ecosystems of the US Pacific Islands and Atolls", "Numeric Data Sets > Biology", "EARTH SCIENCE > Biosphere > Aquatic Habitat > Reef Habitat", "EARTH SCIENCE > Biosphere > Zoology > Corals", "EARTH SCIENCE > Biosphere > Zoology > Corals > Coral Mortality", "EARTH SCIENCE > Biosphere > Zoology > Corals > Photic Zone Corals", "EARTH SCIENCE > Biosphere > Zoology > Corals > Reef Monitoring and Assessment", "EARTH SCIENCE > Oceans > Coastal Processes > Coral Reefs", "EARTH SCIENCE > Oceans > Coastal Processes > Coral Reefs > Coral Reef Ecology > Benthic biology", "EARTH SCIENCE > Oceans > Coastal Processes > Coral Reefs > Coral Reef Ecology > Coral Cover", "EARTH SCIENCE > Oceans > Coastal Processes > Coral Reefs > Coral Reef Ecology > Habitats", "EARTH SCIENCE > Oceans > Coastal Processes > Coral Reefs > Coral Reef Ecology > Hard Coral Cover", "EARTH SCIENCE > Oceans > Coastal Processes > Coral Reefs > Coral Reef Ecology > Hard Coral Cover Dead percentage", "EARTH SCIENCE > Oceans > Coastal Processes > Coral Reefs > Coral Reef Ecology > Hard Coral Cover Live percentage", "EARTH SCIENCE > Oceans > Marine Biology > Coral", "EARTH SCIENCE > Oceans > Marine Biology > Coral Communities", "EARTH SCIENCE > Oceans > Marine Biology > Macroinvertebrates", "EARTH SCIENCE > Oceans > Marine Biology > Marine Invertebrates", "EARTH SCIENCE > Oceans > Marine Biology > Marine Invertebrates > Census", "EARTH SCIENCE > Oceans > Marine Biology > Marine Invertebrates > Census > Macroinvertebrates", "EARTH SCIENCE > Oceans > Marine Biology > Marine Invertebrates > Census > Population Density", "EARTH SCIENCE > Oceans > Marine Biology > Marine Invertebrates > Macroinvertebrates", "EARTH SCIENCE > BIOLOGICAL CLASSIFICATION", "EARTH SCIENCE > BIOLOGICAL CLASSIFICATION > ANIMALS/INVERTEBRATES", "EARTH SCIENCE > BIOSPHERE > ECOSYSTEMS > MARINE ECOSYSTEMS > BENTHIC", "EARTH SCIENCE > OCEANS > OCEAN TEMPERATURE > WATER TEMPERATURE", "EARTH SCIENCE > SOLID EARTH > GEOMORPHIC LANDFORMS/PROCESSES > COASTAL LANDFORMS > CORAL REEFS", "Biennial", "GPS RECEIVERS > GPS RECEIVERS", "Ships", "Hi'ialakai (call sign: WTEY, ICES code: 33HL, 2004-)", "OSCAR ELTON SETTE (call sign: WTEE, ICES code: 33OC, 2003-)", "TOWNSEND CROMWELL (ICES code: 31TC)", "COUNTRY/TERRITORY > Northern Mariana Islands > Northern Mariana Islands > Northern Mariana Islands ( CNMI ) (18N146E0000)", "COUNTRY/TERRITORY > United States of America > American Samoa > American Samoa > American Samoa (14S170W0000)", "COUNTRY/TERRITORY > United States of America > Guam > Guam (13N144E0000)", "COUNTRY/TERRITORY > United States of America > Hawaiian Islands (21N157W0027)", "COUNTRY/TERRITORY > United States of America > USA Minor Outlying Islands > Baker Island (00N176W0001)", "COUNTRY/TERRITORY > United States of America > USA Minor Outlying Islands > Howland Island (00S176W0001)", "COUNTRY/TERRITORY > United States of America > USA Minor Outlying Islands > Jarvis Island (00S160W0001)", "COUNTRY/TERRITORY > United States of America > USA Minor Outlying Islands > Johnston Atoll (16N169W0001)", "COUNTRY/TERRITORY > United States of America > USA Minor Outlying Islands > Kingman Reef (06N162W0001)", "COUNTRY/TERRITORY > United States of America > USA Minor Outlying Islands > Palmyra Atoll (05N162W0001)", "COUNTRY/TERRITORY > United States of America > USA Minor Outlying Islands > Wake Atoll (19N167E0001)", "OCEAN BASIN > Pacific Ocean > American Samoa > American Samoa (14S170W0000)", "OCEAN BASIN > Pacific Ocean > Central Pacific Ocean > Baker Island > Baker Island (00N176W0001)", "OCEAN BASIN > Pacific Ocean > Central Pacific Ocean > Hawaiian Islands (21N157W0027)", "OCEAN BASIN > Pacific Ocean > Central Pacific Ocean > Howland Island > Howland Island (00S176W0001)", "OCEAN BASIN > Pacific Ocean > Central Pacific Ocean > Johnston Atoll > Johnston Atoll (16N169W0001)", "OCEAN BASIN > Pacific Ocean > Central Pacific Ocean > Line Islands > Jarvis Island (00S160W0001)", "OCEAN BASIN > Pacific Ocean > Central Pacific Ocean > Line Islands > Kingman Reef (06N162W0001)", "OCEAN BASIN > Pacific Ocean > Central Pacific Ocean > Line Islands > Palmyra Atoll (05N162W0001)", "OCEAN BASIN > Pacific Ocean > Central Pacific Ocean > Wake Atoll > Wake Atoll (19N167E0001)", "OCEAN BASIN > Pacific Ocean > Western Pacific Ocean > Guam > Guam (13N144E0000)", "OCEAN BASIN > Pacific Ocean > Western Pacific Ocean > Mariana Archipelago > Northern Mariana Islands ( CNMI ) (18N146E0000)", "OCEAN > PACIFIC OCEAN > CENTRAL PACIFIC OCEAN > AMERICAN SAMOA", "OCEAN > PACIFIC OCEAN > CENTRAL PACIFIC OCEAN > HAWAIIAN ISLANDS", "OCEAN > PACIFIC OCEAN > NORTH PACIFIC OCEAN", "OCEAN > PACIFIC OCEAN > SOUTH PACIFIC OCEAN", "WUR9KB" ]
landingPage	https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/contact
language	[]
license	https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/
modified	2017-08-19T00:00:00.000+00:00
publisher	{ "name": "NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information", "@type": "org:Organization" }
references	[ "https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/inport/item/35618" ]
rights	otherRestrictions
spatial	-154.8397903,-14.8784,142.4357507,28.4234
temporal	2000-09-09T00:00:00+00:00/2012-05-19T00:00:00+00:00
title	Pacific Reef Assessment and Monitoring Program: Towed-diver Surveys of Benthic Habitats, Key Benthic Species, and Marine Debris Sightings of the U.S. Pacific Reefs from 2000-09-09 to 2012-05-19 (NCEI Accession 0163745)

Location