Every year, sanctuary researchers collect long-term monitoring data on the reefs of Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary. This includes running photo transects, taking repetitive photo station images, and fish surveys, among other activities. And, of course, random observations of what is happening during these dives.
0:00-0:05 Title page - NOAA's Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary, East and West FGB Long Term Monitoring, 2013
0:05-0:11 A Chub (Kyphosus sp.) swimming up to the camera.
0:11-0:21 A scuba diver with a long t-frame camera setup taking a photo at a repetitive photo station on the reef.
0:21-0:31 A scuba diver laying a random transect line by unreeling a measuring tap across the reef in a specified direction.
0:31-0:38 Moving along a transect line as it lays across the reef.
0:38-0:47 A scuba diver with a short t-frame camera setup taking photos at a specific point along a reef transect, then picking up to move further down the line.
0:47-0:54 A scuba diver swimming in the midst of a school of Bar Jacks (Caranx ruber) over the reef.
0:54-1:03 A large invasive Lionfish (Pterois volitans) hovering just above the reef.
1:03-1:18 A scuba diver using a Hawaiian sling spear to capture a large invasive Lionfish (Pterois volitans) then stuff it into a PVC tube called a Zookeeper for safe keeping.
1:18-1:42 Side and overhead views of a Manta Ray (Mobula birostris) swimming up in the water column with two remoras attached on top of it's head. Flecks of plankton in the water catch the light and for a brief moment, the dive ladder of R/V MANTA is visible above the manta ray.
1:42-1:59 Belly view of a Manta Ray (Mobula birostris) swimming over and past the camera in open water with the sun reflecting off the waves at the surface.
1:59-2:10 Several Great Barracuda (Sphyraena barracuda) and a Horse-eye Jack (Caranx latus) in blue water with a large school of Chub (Kyphosus sp.) and Bar Jacks (Caranx ruber) in the background.
2:10-2:45 A group of three Mobula Rays, each with at least one remora attached, gliding above the reef in formation. Camera pans behind this group and picks up a fourth Mobula Ray with remoras. Video continues to follow the group of four as the slowly swim away across the reef.
2:45-3:06 Belly view of a single Mobula Ray (Mobula sp.) with attached remoras. The ray slowly glides, then turns and shudders, sending ripples through its fins.
3:06-3:18 Following from slightly above and behind the same Mobula Ray (Mobula sp.) as it swims past a school of Great Barracuda (Sphyraena barracuda)and away from the camera.
3:18-3:48 Belly view of a Mobula Ray (Mobula sp.) swimming near the surface of the water where ladder lines are trailing behind R/V MANTA. The camera gets closer until it is following directly behind the Mobula Ray as it swims away.
3:48-3:56 Scrolling credits - Funding provided by: National Marine Sanctuary Foundation, Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, NOAA's Flower Garden Banks NMS. Vessel Support: R/V MANTA, Blue Star Marine. Diving support: Ryan Eckert (FGBNMS), John Embesi (FGBNMS), Emma Hickerson (FGBNMS), Michelle Johnston (FGBNMS), Kaitlin McGraw (FGBNMS), Marissa Nuttall (FGBNMS), Julia O'Hern (FGBNMS/Blue Star Marine), Doug Peter (BSEE), Randy Rudd (GRNMS), G.P. Schmahl (FGBNMS), Michael Shetler (FGBNMS/Blue Star Marine), Jams Sinclair (BSEE), Scott Sorset (BOEM), Amanda Sterne (TAMUG), Matt Stout (TAMUG). Video by FGBNMS/Emma L. Hickerson.
Video Length: 3:56
Credit: FGBNMS/Hickerson
