Land-Based Dive Operations

When possible, many scientific diving operations are land based. It is easier and cheaper to base your diving activities from shore. The most diverse ecosystems are near shore and you can reach vast regions of the oceans in a short boat ride from the docks. Scientists could study only the land-accessible regions for the rest of their lives, never get bored, and constantly make new discoveries.

Land based scientific dive operations are easier because you can leave almost everything onshore. The only things you need to bring out to sea with you are your diving equipment, your dive team, and your scientific diving goals. The bulky stuff like extra equipment, air filling devices, and laboratories can stay on shore.

Usually land based diving uses smaller boats than the large vessels used by sea-based operations. They can usually be handled by the scientific diving team and do not require a boat crew to navigate and take care of the ship. The smaller boats also mean that the scientists come home every day after completing their dives.

The land-based operations can explore the ecologically diverse regions along the coast where the majority of aquatic organisms live. These areas are hot beds for scientific research. There is plenty to study from land based operations such as the archaeological wrecks off the coast of North Carolina, whale migration in Utila, Honduras, the coral reefs of Belize, the salmon habitats of the Pacific Northwest, the invasive species in Florida, or the benthic ecological interactions of New England.

When the dive team returns to shore, they can resupply their dive gear, fill tanks, and head to the laboratory to investigate and scrutinize the data they collected during the day. The benefit of a land-based laboratory is that everything is right at your fingertips and your lab can be much larger than the lab of a scientific vessel. Plus, each day scientists can analyze their results and prepare for the next day. They can easily alter their dive plans in case they forgot something important, they need additional equipment, or their research leads them in an unexpected direction. This helps to maximize their research time.

Land based operations are much simpler than ship based operations. They are easier to organize, cost less, and can reach some of the most diverse parts of the ocean. If you get a chance to join a land based scientific operation for the day, don’t turn it down.