NEWS
Maldives denies plans to endanger sharks
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...
Photo-artist diver van Beeck dies
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...
Giant clamshells seized in Palawan raid
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...
Missing diver: agency accused of slow response
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...
‘Vaxication’ plan for scuba hotspot
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...
Giant trevally wanderlust revealed
The Seychelles giant trevally drew public attention when televised attacking seabirds in Blue Planet II but as a keystone species in the marine ecosystem now needs protection, says the Save Our Seas Foundation. SOSF has just produced a study revealing that the fish has a wider range than previously realised. Read more...
Hero diver combats Covid on two fronts
The fourth of Emperor Divers’ eight Covid Diver Heroes has been named, marking the halfway point in the liveaboard operator’s campaign to recognise and reward outstanding pandemic achievements among members of the global diving community. Read more...
FREE May DIVER Magazine out now!
TO ENSURE prompt delivery of DIVER Magazine during the continuing period of coronavirus disruption a special FREE digital version of the MAY issue has been produced to replace the normal paper copy. Read more...
PADI launches new Dive Guides
With its latest set of PADI Dive Guides, the training agency says that a new feature makes it easier for divers to discover, explore and plan their next adventure, whether it's far away or local. Read more...
DAN suggests divers pause after jab
Divers should consider waiting at least seven days after each dose of coronavirus vaccine before engaging in scuba or freediving activities, suggests DAN Europe. Read more...
Dive-boat fugitives caught on TV
A British couple who became fugitives 10 years ago following the death of a scuba diver on their Florida charter-boat have been captured by police in Spain. Read more...
‘Two good mates’ dive to deepest point
Limiting Factor, the world’s only private submersible certified to dive to any ocean depth, has continued its series of record-breaking Pacific dives - though this time the pilot was not owner Victor Vescovo, nor was it a world record that was claimed. Read more...
‘Diving is a wonderful sport’ – Prince Philip remembered
The late Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh, a scuba-diver who became the British Sub-Aqua Club's first president in 1960, has been paid a tribute by the club, the sport's governing body. Read more...
Chesil wrecks 3D diver trail launched
An interactive virtual tour of the protected Chesil Beach Cannon Site has been launched by the Maritime Archaeology Trust (MAT). Read more...
Divers rescue monk trapped in Thai cave
In an operation with echoes of the rescue of a youth football team from the Tham Luang caves in 2018, divers have succeeded in extracting a Buddhist monk who had spent four days in flooded caves in northern Thailand. Read more...
Deepest woman diver record claimed
South African technical diver Karen van den Oever has claimed a new women’s diving depth record, following her 236m descent into Boesmansgat Cave in Northern Cape province. Read more...
Octopuses dream – but what about?
The next time you see a stationary octopus while scuba diving and you have time to spare, you might like to keep it under observation to see if it’s awake, asleep - or dreaming. Read more...
Divers help to ID mystery spheres
The identity of this mysterious 1m-diameter “blob”, one of a number spotted by scuba divers in north-east Atlantic waters over the past 36 years, has finally been revealed in a new study. Read more...
‘Inspirational’ clearance diver Settle dies
One of Britain’s most highly decorated post-war clearance-divers, Warrant Officer Diver Terry Settle, has died at the age of 76. Read more...
Big BRUVS keep watch under water
An underwater-camera network described as “the world's largest ocean wildlife monitoring system” is being set up by the UK government in the majority of its Overseas Territories (UKOTs), which cover vast areas of the Atlantic, Indian, Pacific and Southern Oceans. Read more...
History made with deepest wreck dive
Just two days after piloting the first manned descent into the 10km-deep Emden Deep in the Philippines Sea, US ocean explorer Victor Vescovo has gone on to carry out the deepest shipwreck dive in history. Read more...
Free rides on seahorse course
UK-based charity the Seahorse Trust has launched an online version of its established seahorse biology, ecology and conservation course, and says that 10 free places are up for grabs. Read more...
First humans dive into Emden Deep
Emden Deep in the Philippines Trench, which is the worlds’ third-deepest point after Challenger Deep (Mariana Trench) and Horizon Deep (Tonga Trench), has been explored by a manned submersible for the first time. Read more...
Musical diver is latest Covid hero
Scuba diver and musician Megumi Gotada has become Emperor Divers’ third Covid Diver Hero, and wins a free Red Sea liveaboard trip. The dive operator's initiative has been designed to recognise and reward eight individuals nominated for stepping up during the pandemic. Read more...
Return to diving in the UK
Scuba diving is permitted again in England from today (29 March), and guidance on a safe return to the water has been issued by the sport’s governing body, the British Sub-Aqua Club, as the latest phase of the UK government’s road-map comes into force. Read more...
Greece offers scuba divers 91 wrecks
Scuba divers might be forgiven for thinking that Greece had already lifted restrictions on wreck-diving several times over, but the country’s Ministry of Culture & Sports has now announced the official opening to recreational divers of 91 listed ship and aircraft wrecks – and says that more are on the way. Read more...
Under pressure: divers’ star sharks & rays
Once-abundant reef sharks that are particular favourites with scuba divers are now under increased threat, according to the latest status updates from the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) released on 25 March. Read more...
Ice-breakers: freediving records topple
Russian freediver Alexey Molchanov has claimed a world under-ice depth record following an 80m plunge in Siberia’s Lake Baikal - while French freediver Arthur Guerin-Boeri has staked his claim to a new under-ice distance record of 120m in Finland’s Lake Sonnanen. Read more...
DAN divers set for European tour
DAN Europe is embarking on a road tour this summer, and says its aim is to promote sustainable lifestyle and corporate responsibility in the diving industry. Read more...
