Introduction -- Part 1 : Inberent optical properties of sea water. Scattering ; Beam attenuation -- Part 2 : Underwater radiant energy. Global radiation incident on the sea surface ; Reflection at the sea surface ; Refraction at the sea surface ; Theory of radiative transfer in the sea ; Techniques of underwater light measurement ; Radiance ; Irradiance ; Polarization of underwater radiant energy ; Visibility ; Colour of the sea -- Part 3 : Applications of optical methods. Applications to physical oceanography ; Applications to marine biology.