Marine Biology, Ecology and Diving Science – Diving with a Purpose
My early interest in marine biology, inspired by marine field work and learning to dive developed with my Zoology degree, Ph.D and working on a wide variety of underwater science projects, including work on historic wreck sites, marine ecological surveys and then working on citizen science for sports divers. This can be summarised as diving with a purpose.
My father taking me sea fishing was my first real introduction to marine life but an early interest bird watching and watching Hans Hass and David Attenborough on TV stimulated this interest. During ‘A’ levels two work experience trips, one to Anglesey to collect young plaice and another on MAFF Trawler to collect cod parasites, as well as an amazing field trip to Northumberland including the Farne islands further developed my interests.
My university years, from 1968, reading Zoology and learning to dive cemented this interest which was reinforced by summer diving expeditions to Shetland, Miami and the Bahamas and Jamaica. Further projects included nautical archaeology, in-situ monitoring of subtidal bivalves for my PhD and later ecological surveys and citizens science projects. I have completed over 1000 dives, lead many expeditions and dived widely in the UK, Mediterranean, Caribbean and the Red Sea.
I have been diving since 1968 and formative expeditions to the wreck of the Dutch East Indiaman Liefde (1968) off Out Skerries, Shetland. This was followed by 12 weeks in Miami & the Bahamas with Flip Schulke (1969) and 6 weeks in Jamaica (1970) with an Edinburgh University expedition which established my deep interest in the underwater world. These expeditions and hearing talks from world leading scientist at the Underwater Association meetings showed me that I could have a career in marine biology and underwater science.
In 1970 I started a PhD at Manchester University and used diving to monitor the activity patterns (heart rates) in subtidal bivalves in situ on field work at the Millport Marine Station.
In 1973 I was in the organising group that lead the University of Manchester and Aston expedition to the wreck of the Dutch East Indiaman Kennemerland on Out Skerries, Shetland.
Subsequently I lead an ITE funded major sublittoral survey to the Shetlands in 1974. Transects studies to 30m were completed across the entire wave exposure range of sites to reveal the broad scale distribution of species and communities. This work paved the way for my participation in many other sublittoral surveys, many in prospective MPA sites from 1978 -1984.
Working with sports divers on citizen science projects and also a range of marine life courses lead to work with David Erwin (1976-83) on the Species Recording Project for Underwater Conservation Year (UCY, 1977). In 1978 I became the co-ordinator of the successors to UCY with a major programme of citizen science projects for sports divers. This lead to the formation of the Underwater Conservation Society (1979) and then the Marine Conservation Society (MCS) 1983-84.
Further work including a detailed study of the impacts of fish farming in the Western Isles (1984), the MCS basking sharks project and being the first co-ordinator of Seasearch (1988-1992). I continue to really enjoy snorkelling and diving and taking videos for the SeaStuff project.
For further details contact Bob
bob@bobearll.co.uk
My early interest in marine biology, inspired by marine field work and learning to dive developed with my Zoology degree, Ph.D and working on a wide variety of underwater science projects, including work on historic wreck sites, marine ecological surveys and then working on citizen science for sports divers. This can be summarised as diving with a purpose.
My father taking me sea fishing was my first real introduction to marine life but an early interest bird watching and watching Hans Hass and David Attenborough on TV stimulated this interest. During ‘A’ levels two work experience trips, one to Anglesey to collect young plaice and another on MAFF Trawler to collect cod parasites, as well as an amazing field trip to Northumberland including the Farne islands further developed my interests.
My university years, from 1968, reading Zoology and learning to dive cemented this interest which was reinforced by summer diving expeditions to Shetland, Miami and the Bahamas and Jamaica. Further projects included nautical archaeology, in-situ monitoring of subtidal bivalves for my PhD and later ecological surveys and citizens science projects. I have completed over 1000 dives, lead many expeditions and dived widely in the UK, Mediterranean, Caribbean and the Red Sea.
I have been diving since 1968 and formative expeditions to the wreck of the Dutch East Indiaman Liefde (1968) off Out Skerries, Shetland. This was followed by 12 weeks in Miami & the Bahamas with Flip Schulke (1969) and 6 weeks in Jamaica (1970) with an Edinburgh University expedition which established my deep interest in the underwater world. These expeditions and hearing talks from world leading scientist at the Underwater Association meetings showed me that I could have a career in marine biology and underwater science.
In 1970 I started a PhD at Manchester University and used diving to monitor the activity patterns (heart rates) in subtidal bivalves in situ on field work at the Millport Marine Station.
In 1973 I was in the organising group that lead the University of Manchester and Aston expedition to the wreck of the Dutch East Indiaman Kennemerland on Out Skerries, Shetland.
Subsequently I lead an ITE funded major sublittoral survey to the Shetlands in 1974. Transects studies to 30m were completed across the entire wave exposure range of sites to reveal the broad scale distribution of species and communities. This work paved the way for my participation in many other sublittoral surveys, many in prospective MPA sites from 1978 -1984.
Working with sports divers on citizen science projects and also a range of marine life courses lead to work with David Erwin (1976-83) on the Species Recording Project for Underwater Conservation Year (UCY, 1977). In 1978 I became the co-ordinator of the successors to UCY with a major programme of citizen science projects for sports divers. This lead to the formation of the Underwater Conservation Society (1979) and then the Marine Conservation Society (MCS) 1983-84.
Further work including a detailed study of the impacts of fish farming in the Western Isles (1984), the MCS basking sharks project and being the first co-ordinator of Seasearch (1988-1992). I continue to really enjoy snorkelling and diving and taking videos for the SeaStuff project.
For further details contact Bob
bob@bobearll.co.uk