A photograph of two humpback whales has won the DAN Europe Card prize at the Abissi Underwater Photo Contest in Venice, Italy – which means that next year it will appear on the 100,000-plus e-Cards of DAN members in Europe, the Middle East and the Maldives. Read more...
Ocean-conservation charity Ghost Fishing UK has announced dates for an in-person "Winter Warmer" weekend at inland dive-site the National Diving & Activity Centre in Gloucestershire, after having been forced to hold its last annual event online because of Covid-19. Read more...
Peter Sotis, the US rebreather instructor who was buddying Sharkwater film-maker Rob Stewart when he died in a deep-diving incident in 2017, has been convicted of attempting to smuggle unlicensed military-grade rebreathers to Libya. Read more...
A Spanish court has rejected a criminal action against Odyssey Marine Exploration, the US shipwreck salvor that had been accused by Spanish maritime archaeologists of ruining an historic wreck-site when it stripped it of more than 13 tonnes of precious coins 14 years ago. Read more...
Many UK scuba divers interested in maritime archaeology train with the Nautical Archaeology Society, and the NAS has now matched a £46,000 grant from Historic England’s Covid-19 emergency fund to update the three courses on its e-learning platform - and develop two new ones. Read more...
A recreational diver has discovered a Crusader knight's sword off a Mediterranean beach in Israel. Read more...
Reef-restorer Coral Vita in the Bahamas has won one of the £1 million Earthshot Prizes, in the Revive Our Oceans category. Read more...
A new genus and species of pygmy pipehorse has been named by leaders of the Ngatiwai people of New Zealand – thought to be the first time in the world an indigenous group has been formally listed as the naming authority of an animal. Read more...
The first valuation of whale shark tourism in Madagascar’s tourist hotspot Nosy Be island has revealed that “dedicated” visitors who come specially for in-water whale shark encounters spend 55% more overall than “casual” whale shark tourists. Read more...
Ali Hood, director of conservation for the UK-based Shark Trust charity, has been recognised for her “outstanding dedication to protecting sharks” by being given the Marine Conservation Award by the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW). Read more...
