Intelligence and personality traits are currently considered effective predictors of human behavior and job performance. However, there are few studies about their relevance in the underwater environment. Data from a sample of military personnel performing scuba diving courses were analyzed with regression techniques, testing the contribution of individual differences and ascertaining the incremental validity of the personality in an environment with extreme psychophysical demands. The results confirmed the incremental validity of personality traits (ΔR 2 = .20, f2 = .25) over the predictive contribution of general mental ability (ΔR 2 = .07, f2 = .08) in divers’ performance. Moreover, personality ( $R_L^2$ = .34) also showed a higher validity to predict underwater adaptation than general mental ability ( $R_L^2$ = .09). The ROC curve indicated 86% of the maximum possible discrimination power for the prediction of underwater adaptation, AUC = .86, p < .001, 95% CI (.82–.90). These findings confirm the shift and reversal of incremental validity of dispositional traits in the underwater environment and the relevance of personality traits as predictors of an effective response to the changing circumstances of military scuba diving. They also may improve the understanding of the behavioral effects and psychophysiological complications of diving and can also provide guidance for psychological intervention and prevention of risk in this extreme environment.

Sponge samples were taken by scuba diving from six sites around Sea Lion Island (Sea Lion, Sea Lion Easterly and Brandy Islands), three sites south-east of East Falkland (Motley Island, Green Island and Triste Island) and six sites around Beauchêne Island. Nine new species are described: Iophon roseum sp. nov., Clathria (Microciona) tenebrosa sp. nov., Clathria (Microciona) cheeki sp. nov., Hymedesmia (Hymedesmia) laptikhovskyi sp. nov., Hymedesmia (Hymedesmia) croftsae sp. nov., Myxilla (Ectyomyxilla) beauchênensis sp. nov., Tedania (Tedania) livida sp. nov., Amphilectus fimbriatus sp. nov. and Isodictya cutisanserina sp nov. Additional information is provided on several species recently described from the Falkland Islands and Amphimedon marsei is newly reported. The biogeography of the sponge fauna of the southern Falkland Islands is discussed.

Four new records of nudibranchs from Kuwait, one new record for the Arabian Gulf and two rare species are reported together with photographs. A preliminary checklist of nudibranchs occurring in Kuwait is provided, based on current and literature records.

Sponge samples were taken by SCUBA diving from four sites around Stanley and nine sites at the Jason Islands in the Falkland Islands. Twelve new species are described: Iophon pictoni sp. nov., Lissodendoryx (Ectyodoryx) jasonensis sp. nov., Phorbas ferrugineus sp. nov., Phorbas shackletoni sp. nov., Myxilla (Styloptilon) acanthotornota sp. nov., Amphilectus fleecei sp. nov., Amphilectus dactylus sp. nov., Mycale (Aegogropila) nodulosa sp. nov., Scopalina erubescens sp. nov., Scopalina bunkeri sp. nov., Amphimedon calyx sp. nov. and Pachychalina erinacea sp. nov. Information is also provided on the distribution and external appearance of other sponge species: Iophon proximum Ridley, 1881, Clathria (Dendrocia) tuberculata Burton, 1934, Tedania (Tedania) mucosa Thiele, 1905, Tedania (Tedania) murdochi Topsent, 1915, Halichondria (Eumastia) attenuata Topsent, 1915, Siphonochalina fortis Ridley, 1881 and Haliclona (Soestella) chilensis Thiele, 1905. The biogeography of the Falklands' sponge fauna is discussed.

The effects of diving activity in different Mediterranean subtidal habitats are scarcely known. This study evaluates diver behaviour (for example time spent in each habitat), use (contacts made with the substrate) and immediate effects of diver contact on benthic species in a marine protected area (MPA) in Sicily. Over a two-year period, intentions of 105 divers were observed within seven subtidal habitats: algae on horizontal substrate, algae on vertical substrate, Posidonia oceanica, encrusted walls, caves, sand and pebbles. Divers selected a habitat in proportion to its availability along the scuba trail. On average, each diver made 2.52 contacts every seven minutes, and no differences were detected among the levels of diver scuba certification. The highest rates of total and unintentional contacts were recorded on caves and encrusted walls, and the slow growing species Eunicella singularis and Astroides calycularis were the most frequently injured by divers. Most of the contacts were concentrated in the first minutes of the dives. The identification of diving effects in different habitats will enable management strategies to specifically control this impact at a habitat scale, for example restricting the start of the dive to low vulnerability habitats would reduce damage to benthic organisms, allowing sustainable use of MPAs.

One of the most frequently used sampling methods used in defining fish microhabitat is the Point Abundance Sampling byElectrofishing (PASE) technique. Nevertheless this method is size-selective and induces escapement behaviour in most fish species.The aim of this study is first to describe a direct visual fish observation method, the Point Abundance Sampling by Scubadiving (PASS), and second, to compare this method with the classical PASE to determine 0+ (i.e. young of the year) roach(Rutilus rutilus,L.) microhabitat in the littoral zone of a mesotrophic lake.The study was undertaken during summer 1998 in lake Pareloup (south-west France). Sampling was performed weekly in tworestricted littoral areas of the lake which presented the same environmental and topographical characteristics aiming to compare0+ roach habitat features obtained using the two sampling techniques (PASE and PASS). The two data matrices obtained (i.e.PASE and PASS) were used to develop microhabitat preference indices for each of the 9 variables as a measurement of habitatuse by the 0+ roach vs. habitat availability.Even though 0+ roach occurrence and abundance were found to be similar with both methods, microhabitat profiles revealeddifferent patterns. A significant microhabitat difference between the two sampling methods was found using the non-parametricstatistical test of Wilcoxon (Z = -4.20, p < 0.01). We can hypothesise that the differences observed between the two samplingdesigns were due to an escapement behaviour of 0+ roach. Unlike PASS, using PASE, fish are located in «shelter habitats» suchas shallow water and dense vegetation. Such behaviour is caused by the environmental disturbance induced by this samplingmethod. The study reveals that PASS appears to be more suitable than PASE for the assessment 0+ fish microhabitat.