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Welcome to PlayingWithData, this is the home of projects that aim to engage the community in the collection and analysis of environmental information.

The first project is SecchiDisk.org, a joint global scientific project of Plymouth University  and Pixalytics Ltd that aims to engage seafarers in studying marine phytoplankton.

You can participate in this project by making a Secchi disk (a 30 cm flat white disk attached to a tape measure or rope, see the project FAQ for more details) and using the free to download ‘Secchi’ application to record measurements; the App is available from the  or .

Once installed you'll be asked to provide your boat's name so data uploaded to the database can be verified. Once uploaded, the data should appear on the map below within 48 hours. Over time we'll develop a more interactive site so the data can be viewed in different ways.

The long term aim is to understand more about the phytoplankton (microscopic plant-like cells) that underpin the marine food chain.

To zoom in double click on the map, and to pan drag with the mouse.

To see the boat name and Secchi depth click on a pointer (please be aware that uploaded data may take up to 48 hours to appear).

If you have any queries or questions about Secchi App please contact us by joining the SecchiDisk Facebook group or emailing  This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . We hope you'll enjoy using the App and being part of the marine science community.