Key West - 2009

The island chain of the Florida Keys lies adjacent to North America’s only living coral barrier reef and the third longest barrier reef in the world. Each year, the SCUBAnauts conduct extensive underwater surveys of the diverse assemblages of corals, sponges, macroinvertebrates, and fish that inhabit the area. Robust scientific methodologies are employed (e.g., benthic quadrats, digital photo-transect surveys, and visual censuses). Additionally, some of the advanced divers were able to learn and practice methods of underwater archaeology on various wrecks around Key West. In 2009, the expedition was limited to Key West because the record number of scubanauts (almost 60!) could not be housed easily in the Upper Keys. Special thanks to the U.S. Army Special Forces Underwater Operations School for all their support and training assistance!