Photo Transects: Reef Survey Method Getting to the Bottom of Things

Getting to the bottom of things

March 13, 2013

Written by Liz Thompson

One of our survey methods that we do while diving at each site is photo transecting. Photo transects involve taking evenly measured photos of the reef bottom. This not only gives us a permanent record of the reef condition, but it also allows us to do a more detailed analysis after the dive. Executive Director Phil Renaud, Chief Scientist Andy Bruckner and Ken Marks have been taking photo transects on this trip to Rangiroa. Combined they take several photo transects every 5 meters from 30 to 5 meters depth.

*A screenshot of one of the programs used to analyze photo transects.*

Each photo they take covers one square meter of reef. Using these photos, in combination with various computer programs, we can calculate the percentage of each organism on the bottom, the different sizes of corals or even the total area covered by coral. Photo transects are just another tool we have to help us describe and evaluate these reefs.

(Photos by 1-Brian Beck, 2-Ken Marks)

To follow along and see more photos, please visit us on Facebook!

Connecting People, Art, and Oceans: Championing Conservation at the 2025 IUCN Congress

The IUCN World Conservation Congress brings together thousands of leaders and decision-makers from governments, non-profit organizations, civil society, Indigenous groups, and the private sector to shape global conservation policy and action. This influential gathering serves as a platform to share knowledge, build partnerships, and advance initiatives that protect our planet’s biodiversity.

As a member of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), the Khaled bin Sultan Living Oceans Foundation was honored to take part in the Congress, joining a global community of leaders, organizations, and changemakers committed to protecting nature and advancing sustainable futures.

Take the Pledge to Navigate with Care

Every voyage leaves a mark. Whether you’re steering a small recreational boat, running a dive operation, or captaining a commercial vessel, the way you navigate the seas matters—not just for your safety, but for the health of our oceans. The Khaled bin Sultan Living Oceans Foundation, in partnership with the International Foundation for Aids to Navigation (IFAN), launched the Navigate with Care campaign to help mariners around the world protect what matters most: our safety, our vessels, and the marine ecosystems that sustain life on Earth.

Related Posts

Connecting People, Art, and Oceans: Championing Conservation at the 2025 IUCN Congress

Take the Pledge to Navigate with Care