page_title: Underwater searches
section_title: Circular search
hierarchical_section_title: Underwater searches / Diver searches / Search patterns controlled by ropes and lines / Circular search
caption_attribution_description: Illustration of underwater circular search pattern for solo scuba diver
context_page_description: Underwater searches are procedures to find a known or suspected target object or objects in a specified search area under water. They may be carried out underwater by divers, manned submersibles, remotely operated underwater vehicles, or autonomous underwater vehicles, or from the surface by other agents, including surface vessels, aircraft and cadaver dogs.
  A search method attempts to provide full coverage of the search area. This is greatly influenced by the width of the sweep which largely depends on the method used to detect the target. For divers in conditions of zero visibility this is as far as the diver can feel with his hands while proceeding along the pattern. When visibility is better, it depends on the distance at which the target can be seen from the pattern, or detected by sonar or magnetic field anomalies. In all cases the search pattern should completely cover the search area without excessive redundancy or missed areas. Overlap is needed to compensate for inaccuracy and sensor error, and may be necessary to avoid gaps in some patterns.
context_section_description: An underwater circular search is a procedure conducted by a diver swimming at a series of distances (radii) around a fixed reference point.
  The circular search is simple and requires little equipment. It is useful where the position of the objects of the search is known with reasonable accuracy.
caption: Standard circular search pattern
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