Submarine groundwater discharge (SGD) and its associated impact on coastal ecosystems was investigated at the sediment-water interface using diverse methods. This intercomparison of methods was the objective of a major project carried out in 5 diverse hydrogeological settings (Cockburn Sound, Australia; Donnalucata, Sicily; Shelter Island, USA; Ubatuba Bay, Brazil; and Flic-en-Flac Bay, Mauritius). Small-scale sedimentary processes were deemed very important in the control of local hydrogeological characteristics. Seepage meters were used to directly measure the flow of water across the sediment-sea interface. Coincident measurements of bulk ground conductivity (BGC) were made alongside seepage meters at four of these locations. An inverse relationship between BGC and SGD allowed for the extrapolation of point measurements of SGD to larger areas using BGC data. SGD estimates made using this method compared favorably with those obtained using other techniques.