A Report on the GIRT Scientific Diver Survey of the Rainbow Warrior, Cavalli Islands, New Zealand

Abstract

The Gathering Information via Recreational and Technical (GIRT) Scientific Divers citizen science program is a no-impact citizen science initiative that contends that regular systematic observations in the open sea environment can be used to note trends of stability and conditions and to inform science-based decision making in underwater cultural heritage management (Viduka 2020a, b). GIRT is a project initiated by Andrew Viduka, the lead author of this paper, and aligns with the in situ preservation as a first option focus of both the UNESCO 2001 Convention on the Protection of the Underwater Cultural Heritage and its associated Annex Rules. GIRT members adopt a wreck they agree to monitor annually using the GIRT methodology.