SCIENTIFIC DIVE TEAM
AQUAFACT’s scientific dive team consists of Dr. John Costelloe, Dr. Mark Costelloe, Dr. Brendan O’Connor and Stiofán Creaven M.Sc.
John has been largely responsible for all major diving projects and underwater in-situ biological assessments since 1986. He carried out in excess of 1500 logged scientific dives that have included assessments, collections and photographic recordings of both soft and hard-bottom communities in the marine environment. John is a holder of a CMAS Instructor diving certificate, a PADI rescue Diver qualification and Divemaster qualifications. He represented Ireland at 3 World Underwater CMAS photography competitions and carried out an underwater documentary production on behalf of BBC,TG4 and RTÉ
Mark has approximately 25 years experience in a diversity of marine dive projects. He has carried out in excess of 2000 logged scientific dives that have included assessments, collections and photographic recordings of both soft and hard-bottom communities in the marine environment. He is an experienced scientific diver having first qualified as a CMAS** in 1979 and has since qualified as a PADI Rescue Diver and Divemaster.
Brendan began diving as an undergraduate at the National University of Ireland, Galway, and has routinely participated in and managed diving projects since AQUAFACT was founded. He has been involved in species and habitat surveys, examination of benthic conditions under salmon farms and mussel lines and freshwater pearl mussel surveys.
Stiofán has played a key role in all major diving projects and underwater in-situ biological assessments since 2001. He has carried out in excess of 500 logged scientific dives that have included assesments, collections and photographic recordings of both soft and hard-bottom communities in the marine environment. Stiofán has developed taxonomic expertise in the area of epifaunal identifications and is a holder of PADI Rescue Diver and Divemaster qualifications.
EXAMPLES OF AQUAFACT DIVE SURVEYS:
- A review of Epifaunal Classification Systems and Sampling Methodologies in the context of the Water Framework Directive
- Epifaunal survey – Gurraig Sound, Co. Galway
- Subtidal epifaunal survey in the Shannon Estuary, Co. Kerry
- Benthic survey of outfall exclusion zone, Wexford Harbour
- Seabed photography and faunal survey at a proposed aggregate extraction site, Hastings Bank, English Channel
- Dive survey examining epifauna at aquaculture sites in Bantry Bay, Co. Cork, Kenmare River, Co. Cork
- Courtown beach re-nourishment project. Courtown, Co. Wexford
- Dive examining epifauna near Knightstown, Valentia Island – focussing on a search for rare anthozoans
- Diving surveys of marine cSAC epifauna in Roaringwater Bay, Kenmare River and Clew Bay.