Sea sponges have always been regarded as sessile creatures, unable to move independently after the larval stage. Lacking locomotion organs or a nervous system, they were thought simply to settle down attached to a substrate. Read more...

Egyptian archaeological divers excavating an 18th-century merchant shipwreck site near Sadana Island, 22 miles south of Hurghada in the Red Sea, have reported uncovering its bow and central sections. Read more...

The British Sub-Aqua Club has linked up with Surfers Against Sewage (SAS) to encourage divers to get behind the surfers’ Million Mile Clean campaign. The objective is to encourage 100,000 volunteers to get outside in 2021 and each explore at least 10 miles while litter-picking. Read more...

The body of a missing scuba diver has been found off Malaysian Borneo by fishermen five days after her disappearance, 32 miles from her last known location. The fatal incident had prompted criticism of an allegedly slow response by the authorities – who have now launched an investigation with their own implied criticism of the diving arrangements. Read more...

UK-based freediving and scuba portal DeeperBlue has been recognised for producing the Best Sport Podcast at the international Webby Awards, which are described by the New York Times as the “Internet’s highest honour”. Read more...

Following recent speculation that the Maldives was about to renege on its commitment to shark protection, the government has issued a statement denying that it had any plans to lift its ban on shark-fishing. Read more...

Dutch underwater photographer Dray van Beeck, best-known for his imaginative digitally manipulated images, has died at the age of 60 after contracting dengue fever.  Read more...

Some 136 tonnes of giant clamshells worth an estimated £18 million have been seized in scuba diving destination Palawan in the western Philippines, in what the authorities describe as one of their biggest-ever raids on marine poachers. Read more...

The brother of a scuba diver missing off Malaysian Borneo since Saturday (17 April) has accused emergency services of dragging their feet in their response, and says the family has been forced to arrange its own searches. Read more...

Leading scuba diving destination the Maldives plans to offer visitors Covid-19 vaccination on arrival, as a booster shot for its flagging visitor revenues. Read more...