By definition, a “naturalist” is someone versed in natural history (not to be confused with a “naturist”,

who is someone who sunbathes naked), so by definition, someone versed in aquatic natural history is an “underwater naturalist”.

To some extent, then, you’re already a naturalist – whether you realize it or not.

Think about your diving experiences. Whether you’ve made only a few dives or hundreds,

or whether you dive in salt water or fresh, you’ve seen and become familiar with aquatic organisms and some of their characteristics.

Even if you don’t know them by name, you know how they behave or where they “belong”, so that you recognize where to expect them.

 

For example, if you’ve previously encountered octopus in wholes in our favourite reef,

you might think to look for octopus in similar holes on a similar reef.

In this sense you’re already an underwater naturalist.

This section takes your experiences and builds upon them.

You’ll understand more about the animals and plants you see underwater and learn how the environment dictates their form and behaviour.

You’ll learn to put aside conclusions drawn from land organisms,

and instead comprehend underwater plants and animals in light of their aquatic environment.

 

Most importantly, this section shows you how you fit in, how your actions affect organisms that you interact with,

and how to visit the aquatic world in a responsible manner.

Introduction To The Aquatic Realm.

Imagine walking into the living room of someone you’ve never met.

Glance around the room, you spot an, expensive stereo and classical music compact disks.

In the corner stands a piano and next to it a cello.

Immediately you conclude that for this person, music is very important, and not just any music, but classical music.

In a rudimentary sense, this person’s environment tells you about the person who lives there.

Similarly, underwater naturalists observe the aquatic environment to understand the organisms that live there.

With this in mind, a study of underwater life begins with ecology,

which is “the study of the interrelationship of living things and their environment”.

Ecology examines not just organisms and their relationship with their environments, but also ecosystems,

which are “the complex of living things and their environment functioning as a unit”.

An ecosystem can be large and general, or small and specific, depending upon your context.

The earth is an ecosystem, but so is a vegetable garden or a puddle of rain water.

Underwater naturalists focus on aquatic (underwater), rather than terrestrial (land) ecosystems,

so comparing the physical and structural differences between the two environments lays the

foundation for understanding the differences between the organisms that live in water versus on land.


Terrestrial And Aquatic Environments – Physical Characteristics.

 Terrestrial And Aquatic Environments – Structural Characteristics.

 

Human Perceptions Of Aquatic Life.

 

Responsible Interactions With Aquatic Life.

 

Dive Techniques That Preserve.  

 

Knowledge Review.