A comprehensive biotope mapping survey of the sublittoral habitats was undertaken in July and August 2001, by a collaborative research group comprising staff from the University of St Andrews, Herriot Watt University and SNH. Rapid broadscale remote acoustic mapping techniques were utilised and "groundtruth" data were collected to enable to interpretation of acoustically classed seafloor maps. Groundtruthing data were collected in the field using a range of sampling techniques including diver-based observations with video and still cameras (20 stations), video imagery collected by remotely operated vehicle (ROV, 52 stations) and grab sampling of sedimentary habitats (16 stations).
