9 The Underwater Landscape
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certain vision of landscape, albeit indirectly. Moreover, the interpretation of what
exactly constitutes an underwater landscape varies from one individual to another.
Our second observation concerns a more surprising fact. Despite a relatively wellbalanced sample population, statistical analysis did not shed light on meaningful
correlations between the way in which the divers defined the underwater landscape
and other variables differentiating the various categories within the sample. Age,
gender, level of diving proficiency, and the fact of being a photographer or not, were
not proven to have any significant effect on the results. Therefore, no distinction
could be made between different groups within the sample from a statistical point of
view, despite good chi-squared variance. We did identify certain parallels drawn with
representations of terrestrial landscapes (Bigando 2006), for which once again no
direct correlation of any real significance could be made with sociological categories.
Our third and final observation concerns the importance of the imaginary world
conjured up by the divers, and the necessarily subjective way in which each of
them actually experiences the subaqueous world itself. When evoking underwater
landscapes, the divers refer frequently to the sensations and emotions stirred up by
their submarine experiences, and these more personal elements rub shoulders with
more ‘objective’ factors, especially those concerning the purely physical nature of
the landscape.
9.3 Defining the Underwater Landscape: Sense
and Significance for the Divers
‘Indicate, in a few words, what is an underwater landscape for you?’ was the first of
the two open questions we asked divers.
Some answers concentrated on describing the landscape and attempted to depict
a given underwater landscape, generally that individual’s favourite underwater landscape. Others, in what they no doubt considered to be a less subjective manner, tried
to put their finger on the defining elements of underwater landscapes in general. Finally, a handful of participants chose to talk about what underwater landscapes evoke
for them, and expressed the impressions and emotions aroused by specific moments
spent exploring the undersea world.
From an overall perspective, the elements evoked by the divers in their definition
of what an underwater landscape is for them, may be brought together in six main
categories (which we defined a posteriori, based on the results of the survey):
• material components (physical relief, bedrock, flora, stationary and/or moving
fauna, etc.),
• atmosphere, in an almost architectural acceptation of the term,
• sensations and emotions aroused,
• visual aspects (references to what the eye may see and the angle of vision the
diver adopts in observing the landscape),
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certain vision of landscape, albeit indirectly. Moreover, the interpretation of what
exactly constitutes an underwater landscape varies from one individual to another.
Our second observation concerns a more surprising fact. Despite a relatively wellbalanced sample population, statistical analysis did not shed light on meaningful
correlations between the way in which the divers defined the underwater landscape
and other variables differentiating the various categories within the sample. Age,
gender, level of diving proficiency, and the fact of being a photographer or not, were
not proven to have any significant effect on the results. Therefore, no distinction
could be made between different groups within the sample from a statistical point of
view, despite good chi-squared variance. We did identify certain parallels drawn with
representations of terrestrial landscapes (Bigando 2006), for which once again no
direct correlation of any real significance could be made with sociological categories.
Our third and final observation concerns the importance of the imaginary world
conjured up by the divers, and the necessarily subjective way in which each of
them actually experiences the subaqueous world itself. When evoking underwater
landscapes, the divers refer frequently to the sensations and emotions stirred up by
their submarine experiences, and these more personal elements rub shoulders with
more ‘objective’ factors, especially those concerning the purely physical nature of
the landscape.
9.3 Defining the Underwater Landscape: Sense
and Significance for the Divers
‘Indicate, in a few words, what is an underwater landscape for you?’ was the first of
the two open questions we asked divers.
Some answers concentrated on describing the landscape and attempted to depict
a given underwater landscape, generally that individual’s favourite underwater landscape. Others, in what they no doubt considered to be a less subjective manner, tried
to put their finger on the defining elements of underwater landscapes in general. Finally, a handful of participants chose to talk about what underwater landscapes evoke
for them, and expressed the impressions and emotions aroused by specific moments
spent exploring the undersea world.
From an overall perspective, the elements evoked by the divers in their definition
of what an underwater landscape is for them, may be brought together in six main
categories (which we defined a posteriori, based on the results of the survey):
• material components (physical relief, bedrock, flora, stationary and/or moving
fauna, etc.),
• atmosphere, in an almost architectural acceptation of the term,
• sensations and emotions aroused,
• visual aspects (references to what the eye may see and the angle of vision the
diver adopts in observing the landscape),