Survey 2019

Dive Log and Data regarding the survey done on the presence of seahorses on the coast of Stratoni in Halkidiki 2019

Date	Divers	Entry time	Exit time	Temp.	Location	Descriptions/Observations
1/05/2019					Stratoni / Institute	Initiation of Summer School. Arrival of Mentogiannis Vasilis, Katsioulis Kostas, Paschalis Alexandros, equipment placement, preparations, infrastructure works.
2/05/2019	Mentogiannis Paschalis Alex				Stratoni / Institute	Preparations of the office and divecentre.
3/05/2019	Mentogiannis Paschalis Alex	14:30	15:00		The spot we have selected as the main study and protection area.	Dive for locating the anchorage used for the park and boat. The old anchorage could not be located, a new one will be placed. The arrival of the team from Portugal was delayed due to a late arrival and connecting flights.
4/05/2019	Paschalis Alex. John Pavlidis Agathos Anastasis			16	The spot we have selected as the main study and protection area.	Placement of the new anchorage and a quick inspection of the habitat. Approximately 10 seahorses were located mainly on the ropes we had previously placed. Afterwards, a swimming buoy was brought up and replaced, according to a request by the Nautical Club of Stratoni.
5/5/2019	All guest divers attending the Summer School including Mr. Katsioulis. 12 divers in total.				Coastal Stratoni	8 georeferenced underwater transects for the estimation of the seahorse population were made. The transects were made in the second park, on the sand, in the spot opposite the stream, close to Paraty bar, then in the first park on the lines delineated by ropes. Οι πορείες έγιναν στο δεύτερο πάρκο, στην άμμο, στο σημείο απέναντι από το ρέμα, πλησίον του Paraty μπαρ, έπειτα στο πρώτο πάρκο, στις γραμμές που έχουμε χαράξει με σχοινιά και στη περιοχή του 1 πρώτου πάρκου. Οι γραμμές είχαν μήκος 10 μέτρα και πλάτος 5 μέτρα. The transects were fifty meters long and two meters wide. GPS co-ordinates were taken and will be handed over to Professors Miguel and Diogo.
5/5/2019	Mentogiannis Paschalis Alex			17	The spot we have selected as the main study and protection area. .	Dive for checking the artificial habitats co-ordinates, so that the dive teams can survey the area.
6-7-8 /5/2019	Daily dives of all summer school divers (12) and HMI’s divers (6)			17	Coastal Stratoni and in the area after the loading tower, in the Posidonia meadows.	Double dives were performed daily. Geo referenced transects were made for estimating the seahorse density. Dives were performed in the Posidonia meadows, after the loading tower. No seahorses were spotted anywhere else besides the small area in coastal Stratoni.
8/5/2019	Samara Elina Paschalis Alex	11:00	12:00	17	The spot we have selected as the main study and protection area.	First trial of the pilot camera system using pattern recognition from the National Metsovio Polytechnic School. The camera was placed underwater for approximately an hour and was then retrieved for inspection.
8/5/2019	Mentogiannis Katsioulis?	17:30	18:30	17	The spot we have selected as the main study and protection area.	Second placement of the pilot camera system, where it remained submerged overnight for twelve hours. We retrieved footage and macro photographs of the seahorses.
9/5/2019	Σκάφος	10:00		17	The spot we have selected as the main study and protection area.	Retrieval of the pilot camera system from the surface and collection of the footage taken. The footage will be inspected and analyzed. A beach cleanup was performed along the entire beach front, with the use of large bags and gloves provided by the Stratoni community.
10/5/2019	Mentogiannis Agathos Katsioulis Paschalis Al. Samara	09:30	11:00	17	The spot we have selected as the main study and protection area.	Dive for macro photographs and video. Meeting and close swimming with a pod of five, common dolphins (Delphinus delphis). The boat was hoisted on land for maintenance. Departure. Summer School is over.