It is not possible to draw statistical significance from the results due to the wide range of variables. The summarised data do however provide an indication of the range of location distances for individual devices and enables direct comparisons between devices. The collated data (section 4.3) clearly demonstrate three main observations:
Relocation distances of devices decrease with increasing wave height.
Relocation distances of devices decrease as light intensity falls whilst those devices which provide a light source are more readily located as light intensity decreases.
Relocation distances of devices are increased at elevated observation heights.
Additional to this, detailed notes and comments were recorded on daily record sheets. In particular, the names of individual observers were attributed to a significant proportion of each device relocations. The deployment and relocation of devices were plotted for most trial days and correlated with search aspect and wind direction. The following observations were clearly apparent:
Relocation distances of some devices are optimised from particular search aspects.
The ability of individuals to relocate visual devices varies greatly.
The folding divers flag with a day-glow yellow pennant is considered to be the best all round location device. Devices including flags and paired buoys are more clearly observed when the search aspect is abeam to the direction of wind due to the larger surface area that is presented to the observer. Flags are not located by helicopter as readily as from vessels.