Remote sensing is the collection of information about an object from a distance without physically being in contact with it. The type of remote sensing of interest here is in the form of digital images of water bodies acquired by satellite. The advantage over traditional sampling techniques is that data can be gathered quickly over large ranges, and be available for immediate analysis. Remote sensing is a powerful technique for the monitoring of water bodies. To interpret the remotely sensed data, however, knowledge of the optical properties of the water constituents is needed. One of the most important of these is the volume scattering function, which describes the angular distribution of light scattered by a sample. This thesis presents the first measurements of volume scattering functions for Australian waters. Measurements were made on around 40 different samples taken from several locations in the Gippsland lakes and the Great Barrier Reef. The measurements were made by modifying an existing static light scattering spectrometer in order to accurately measure the volume scattering functions. The development of the apparatus, its calibration and automation, and the application of a complex series of post-acquisition data corrections, are all discussed. In order to extrapolate the data over the full angular range, the data was analysed using theoretical curves calculated for multi-modal size distributions using Mie light scattering theory applied to each data set. From the Mie fits the scattering and backscattering coefficients were calculated. These were compared with scattering coefficients measured using in situ sensors ac-9 and Hydroscat-6, and with values from the literature. The effect of chlorophyll a concentrations on the scattering coefficients was examined, and a brief investigation of the polarisation properties of the samples was also undertaken. Finally the angular effects on the relationship between the backscattering coefficient and the volume scattering function were investigated. This is important as in situ backscattering sensors often assume that measuring at a single fixed-angle is a good approximation for calculating the backscattering coefficient. This assumption is tested, and the optimal measurement angle determined.