This dataset provides data collected during the Natural Geography In Shore Areas (NaGISA) quantitative global nearshore census. The data is coming in (i.e. the dataset is continually being added to and should not be considered complete) from a growing set of globally distributed standard transects from the high inter-tidal zone to the depth of 20m, most of which will be repeated, and many of which are being uploading in stages (i.e. taxonomic detail will improve with time). Target habitats are globally distributed algal/ hard bottom and sea-grass/ soft bottom communities. For each study site, replicate samples are collected at high, mid and low inter-tidal and 1, 5 and 10m sub-tidal depth (where possible at 15 and 20m). The NaGISA protocols (which are standardized) include: (1) Passive sampling, photography and observational techniques, estimates of percent cover of colonial invertebrates and rhizoidal macro algae and counts of algal stripes and solitary fauna within quadrates. (2) Active sampling, core samples of sea grass beds, and careful removal of organisms from small quadrants within macro algal sites. (3) Assessment, measurements of surface and bottom seawater temperature and a visual classification of substrata. For more details please see the project website http://www.nagisa.coml.org/. Please note that all enquires made to NaGISA about this dataset should make complete reference to the field number (s) listed in the NaGISA OBIS dataset.