OP
astrofunk
Contributor
Thanks for the feedback, all! This is exactly what I wanted to find out.
Info on California Reef Check
- Thread starter astrofunk
- Start date
Please register or login
Welcome to ScubaBoard, the world's largest scuba diving community. Registration is not required to read the forums, but we encourage you to join. Joining has its benefits and enables you to participate in the discussions.
Benefits of registering include
- Ability to post and comment on topics and discussions.
- A Free photo gallery to share your dive photos with the world.
- You can make this box go away
OP
astrofunk
Contributor
How often are reef check dives happening around Monterey, or on the north coast?
Ben_ca
Contributor
As far as the Monterey area the boat dives last year were scheduled at 2-3 times a month....
There were also some shore diving opportunities in there also. I suspect as we get more and more reef checkers that number will increase.
There were also some shore diving opportunities in there also. I suspect as we get more and more reef checkers that number will increase.
Hey Ken,
What's that big gray thing strapped on your back? Makes you look slower than usual
Ben_ca
Contributor
It's so much easier to count them when they are still like this
(and when they have numbers on them!)
ozk
Registered
Hello! here is more on what Reef Check does.
YouTube - National Geographic on Reef Check Dominican Republic
YouTube - National Geographic on Reef Check Dominican Republic
ozk
Registered
Hello! here is more on what Reef Check does.
YouTube - National Geographic on Reef Check Dominican Republic
YouTube - National Geographic on Reef Check Dominican Republic
Hello my friend,
I was in one of the Reef Check Classes last year with Cyndi. I'm a marine science gradute and let her know before we started that I really cared about what Reef Check was doing and was excitied to get involved. She really went out of her way to let me know that she knew so much more than I did and that she wrote the protocol so we had to do it her way. She was awful to deal with and I tried to explain that the executive director(who I looked up on the website but hate naming because they seem to do some good work) might welcome a few outside ideas. He blew me off and explained that he was a Phd in ecology and he didn't want deal with me and that CA DFG was using the data for management protocol.
That made me curious so I called a few friends at DFG. They told me that they weren't using any of the data and weren't too sure about Cyndi. It was all a joke.
It made me realize what a waste of time working with these people was. I enjoyed a couple of day trips out in the bay but it makes me mad that these people have hijacked a good thing that divers cared about.
Sad stuff.
Frisco
I was in one of the Reef Check Classes last year with Cyndi. I'm a marine science gradute and let her know before we started that I really cared about what Reef Check was doing and was excitied to get involved. She really went out of her way to let me know that she knew so much more than I did and that she wrote the protocol so we had to do it her way. She was awful to deal with and I tried to explain that the executive director(who I looked up on the website but hate naming because they seem to do some good work) might welcome a few outside ideas. He blew me off and explained that he was a Phd in ecology and he didn't want deal with me and that CA DFG was using the data for management protocol.
That made me curious so I called a few friends at DFG. They told me that they weren't using any of the data and weren't too sure about Cyndi. It was all a joke.
It made me realize what a waste of time working with these people was. I enjoyed a couple of day trips out in the bay but it makes me mad that these people have hijacked a good thing that divers cared about.
Sad stuff.
Frisco
HBDiveGirl
Contributor
- Messages
- 1,329
- Reaction score
- 44
- # of dives
- 1000 - 2499
Thanks for playing, Frisco.
That you were told you had to follow the methodology as presented in the Reef Check training class speaks loudly to the validity of Reef Check as a data collecting organization. Students and volunteers may not change the protocol. The purpose of the training is to teach, test, and VALIDATE that the new volunteer divers will use the methodolgy correctly in order to collect high quality data.
If you wish to write your own data collection protocol, or modify a methodolgy as you see fit based on your marine science graduate status, Reef Check's California Monitoring program is not for you.
But thanks for asking.
Reef Check California is an excellent experience for volunteer divers.
California Department of Fish and Game recognizes and accepts data from the Reef Check California program as scientifically valid. CalDFG had already issued a formal Memorandum of Understanding to Reef Check by the time you arrived to sign up for the training. Yes, it was silly of your instructor to refuse to alter the methodology based on your input prior to mastering the skills and prior to collecting any valid data, but that's the way professional scientists are.
Of course NOAA also recognizes Reef Check California data as scientifically valid and acceptable for consideration on par with data from a university-level research program.
The leadership and volunteer divers of Reef Check continue to set new records for successful surveys and volunteer participation, while validating the growing database by comparison analyses with PISCO and CRANE surveys. Reef Check California data is demonstating the effectiveness of their training programs, the accuracy and reliability of their divers, and the validity of their Quality Assessment and Control measures.
Very simply, what Reef Check is doing.... works.
Reef Check's database is an important part of the multifaceted approach to scientifically valid management of California marine habitats.
ReefCheck California is very, Very good stuff.
~~~~
Claudette
Reef Check California Volunteer Diver
That you were told you had to follow the methodology as presented in the Reef Check training class speaks loudly to the validity of Reef Check as a data collecting organization. Students and volunteers may not change the protocol. The purpose of the training is to teach, test, and VALIDATE that the new volunteer divers will use the methodolgy correctly in order to collect high quality data.
If you wish to write your own data collection protocol, or modify a methodolgy as you see fit based on your marine science graduate status, Reef Check's California Monitoring program is not for you.
But thanks for asking.
Reef Check California is an excellent experience for volunteer divers.
California Department of Fish and Game recognizes and accepts data from the Reef Check California program as scientifically valid. CalDFG had already issued a formal Memorandum of Understanding to Reef Check by the time you arrived to sign up for the training. Yes, it was silly of your instructor to refuse to alter the methodology based on your input prior to mastering the skills and prior to collecting any valid data, but that's the way professional scientists are.
Of course NOAA also recognizes Reef Check California data as scientifically valid and acceptable for consideration on par with data from a university-level research program.
The leadership and volunteer divers of Reef Check continue to set new records for successful surveys and volunteer participation, while validating the growing database by comparison analyses with PISCO and CRANE surveys. Reef Check California data is demonstating the effectiveness of their training programs, the accuracy and reliability of their divers, and the validity of their Quality Assessment and Control measures.
Very simply, what Reef Check is doing.... works.
Reef Check's database is an important part of the multifaceted approach to scientifically valid management of California marine habitats.
ReefCheck California is very, Very good stuff.
~~~~
Claudette
Reef Check California Volunteer Diver
My bad. I guess what I should have said is that the data collected is kind of wasted. No, seriously wasted. None of the groups you listed are using it for scientific analysis or management purposes as far as my friend at DFG is concerned. If they are and I'm wrong, I'd love to be corrected. I'm pretty sure I'm not but I'd love to see the results here at the UC or on the board. Prove me wrong. I'll buy you a brunch at Poggios .
BTW, I was trained as a PISCO diver in my graduate program and lowering my expectations to deal with a reduced protocol while trying to tell others what you're doing is relevant breaks my heart as you try to recruit people to join the program. It's a lie and now that I've been forced to say so, it's a theft of grant money to pretend it accomplishes anything.
I was so disappointed by my time in the program and all the false promises that Cyndi and people like you presented. California deserves better.
BTW, I was trained as a PISCO diver in my graduate program and lowering my expectations to deal with a reduced protocol while trying to tell others what you're doing is relevant breaks my heart as you try to recruit people to join the program. It's a lie and now that I've been forced to say so, it's a theft of grant money to pretend it accomplishes anything.
I was so disappointed by my time in the program and all the false promises that Cyndi and people like you presented. California deserves better.
Similar threads
