NEWS

Ghost Winter Warmer goes live

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...

Odyssey off hook for shipwreck damage

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...

Covid grant boosts NAS training

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...

Pygmy pipehorse given Maori name

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...

Aggressor offers anniversary discounts

Liveaboard operator Aggressor Adventures, which describes itself as “the largest adventure company in the world”, has announced that it is celebrating its 38th anniversary with 25% discounts on sailings and a chance to win a full set of dive equipment. Read more...

Big fish draw big spenders

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...

Award for Shark Trust’s Ali Hood

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...

FREE November DIVER out now!

TO ENSURE prompt delivery of DIVER Magazine during the continuing period of coronavirus disruption a special FREE digital version of the NOVEMBER issue has been produced to replace the normal paper copy. Read more...

Diver Ballesta triumphs with his Creation

A scuba diver has emerged as overall winner of one of the world’s most prestigious wildlife photography competitions. French underwater photographer and marine biologist Laurent Ballesta won the 2021 Wildlife Photographer of the Year Grand Title with his image Creation, showing camouflage grouper exiting their milky cloud of eggs and sperm in Fakarava, French Polynesia. Read more...

Tiger sharks range far but don’t mix

The tiger sharks that scuba divers might encounter in the Bahamas or the Maldives keep themselves to themselves genetically. Two distinct populations have evolved separately in the Atlantic and Indo-Pacific oceans, despite their long trans-oceanic migrations and consequent potential for mixing, according to new genetic research. Read more...

A slice of Madeira

Portugal and the Azores have been on and off the all-clear list but the Portuguese island of Madeira has stayed green-listed for a while now, if we dare to tempt fate. Read more...