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The celebrity beluga whale Hvaldimir, once thought to have been harnessed by Russia for military intelligence activities and closely followed by the Norwegian public over the past five years, has died suddenly.

His death, the cause of which is unknown, comes on the eve of his being relocated, in a plan that had divided the environmental conservationists who had championed his cause over the years.

With the whale-support bodies OneWhale and...

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Celeb ‘spy whale’ dies – amid human follower fall-out The celebrity beluga whale Hvaldimir, once thought to have been harnessed by Russia for military intelligence activities and closely followed by the Norwegian

DeeperBlue.com, known until now as a freediving and scuba digital media outlet, has branched out with a range of eco-friendly topside clothing aimed at both types of diver and ocean advocates generally.

It says that the range “embodies the brand’s mission to inspire, educate and inform the diving community while promoting ocean conservation and responsible living”.

Included are a variety of ocean- and diving-inspired men’s and women’s T-sh...

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.COM

DeeperBlue gets into T-shirts DeeperBlue.com, known until now as a freediving and scuba digital media outlet, has branched out with a range of eco-friendly topside clothing aimed at both

Two men, one a scuba diver and the other a freediver according to reports, died in Puerto del Carmen, the main resort area of Lanzarote in the Canary islands, on Thursday (29 August).

In the early afternoon, a 59-year-old British man reportedly suffered a heart attack during what appears to have been a shore dive.

Members of the public raised the alarm at around 12.30 as the man was pulled unconscious from the water at Playa Chica, a cove...

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2 diver deaths in Lanzarote on same day Two men, one a scuba diver and the other a freediver according to reports, died in Puerto del Carmen, the main resort area of Lanzarote in the Canary islands,

Deep-sea lifeform rarities, 20 possible new species and a new 3km-high seamount have been found across a submerged South Pacific mountain chain during a month-long expedition led by the Schmidt Ocean Institute (SOI).

The discoveries were made along the Nazca Ridge, 1,450km off the coast of Chile, using multibeam echo-sounding equipment from the research vessel Falkor to map the area, and exploring it more closely from the ROV SuBastian.

RO...

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Flying spaghetti monsters among deep seamount rarities Deep-sea lifeform rarities, 20 possible new species and a new 3km-high seamount have been found across a submerged South Pacific mountain chain during a

Meridian Adventure Dive bring you the monthly Raja Ampat Creature Feature series: Octopus

Raja Ampat's reefs are home to many stunning and mysterious creatures. The octopus stands out among these captivating divers and snorkellers with its intelligence, camouflage abilities, and unique behaviour.

We have thoroughly researched ten aspects of octopuses to enhance our guests' understanding of the magnificent experience of observing these ...

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Raja Ampat Creature Feature Octopus Raja Ampat's reefs are home to many stunning and mysterious creatures. The octopus stands out among these captivating divers and snorkellers with its

As Clear As Crystal by US photographer Jason Gulley is the only underwater photograph among the 15 images chosen by London’s Natural History Museum (NHM) to preview this year’s prestigious Wildlife Photographer of the Year Competition, the 60th of the annual events.

It has become customary for the NHM, which organises the contest, to release a selection of Highly Commended images prior to the announcement of the WPotY winners in October. .

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Manatee magic in Wildlife Photographer teaser In Gulley’s picture for the Underwater category, taken at Hunter Springs in Florida’s Crystal River, the photographer gazes through clear water at a manatee

With PADI and its conservation charity the PADI AWARE Foundation hoping that their Dive Against Debris programme will be included in next year’s inter-governmental Global Plastics Treaty, the upcoming annual PADI AWARE Week has taken on special significance, they say.

The annual week PADI dedicates to removing litter from the ocean takes place on 14-22 September, and the training agency wants its members to organise events that could help to ...

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PADI urges all-out push for AWARE Week With PADI and its conservation charity the PADI AWARE Foundation hoping that their Dive Against Debris programme will be included in next year’s

In May last year, 22-year-old Ali Truwit was snorkelling from a boat in the Turks & Caicos Islands with a fellow-swimmer from the Yale University team, Sophie Pilkinton.

The friends had been enjoying a holiday to celebrate their graduation – but at this point the trip took a dark turn.

The area was not known for sharks, but what was later thought to have been a bull shark suddenly approached “and started attacking us and aggressively...

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From sharkbite victim to Paralympian – in 15 months The area was not known for sharks, but what was later thought to have been a bull shark suddenly approached “and started attacking us and aggressively bumping

The Ocean Film Festival World Tour originated in Australia 11 years ago but every year it takes in Britain with a new set of short documentaries. For 2024 it starts on 12 September in Leeds and follows up with 25 more screenings at another 21 venues into November.

The locations are mainly in England but also include Edinburgh, Swansea and Llandudno.

Sponsored by the Marine Conservation Society, PADI and the National Oceanography Centre, ...

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Ocean Film Festival rolls back to Britain The Ocean Film Festival World Tour originated in Australia 11 years ago but every year it takes in Britain with a new set of short documentaries. For 2024 it

Mafia offer

Divers are being offered a saving of £200 a head per week at a resort on Mafia, a Tanzanian island well-known for its diving opportunities. Pole Pole Lodge is a “boutique” property with 10 en suite bungalows raised on stilts above the beach, along with a dining bar and spa.

Diving takes place from sister-property Mafia Island Lodge, a PADI 5* dive-centre offering daily boat-diving from traditional dhows, shore-diving and a rang...

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Booking Now: 6 ways to dive Divers are being offered a saving of £200 a head per week at a resort on Mafia, a Tanzanian island well-known for its diving opportunities. Pole Pole Lodge is

As coral-bleaching events become more frequent and severe, a global decline in coral cover is occurring. Coral restoration can help, but the techniques remain largely experimental, logistically challenging and expensive.

So say researchers in Australia who have just announced their development of an advanced remote-sensing model designed to ease the challenges of managing and restoring damaged coral reefs.

The team from the Australian Inst...

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Overhead reef-sensing takes guesswork out of coral restoration As coral-bleaching events become more frequent and severe, a global decline in coral cover is occurring. Coral restoration can help, but the techniques remain

The British Sub-Aqua Club is encouraging its members, whether scuba divers or snorkellers, to get involved with its upcoming initiative the Great British Underwater Litter Pick.

The event is designed to coincide with and complement the long-running Marine Conservation Society (MCS) Great British Beach Clean, which this year takes place from 20-29 September.

BSAC members get to see at first-hand the amount of single-use plastics and other ...

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BSAC asks divers to get cleaning in September The British Sub-Aqua Club is encouraging its members, whether scuba divers or snorkellers, to get involved with its upcoming initiative the Great British

Nestled in the heart of the Dampier Strait, part of the renowned Raja Ampat archipelago, Friwin Wall is a premier dive site that captivates divers and snorkelers alike with its stunning underwater topography and rich biodiversity. Known for its spectacular reef wall and the plethora of marine life it supports, Friwin Wall offers an underwater adventure that promises to be both thrilling and unforgettable.

Area: Dampier Strait

Location: Fri...

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Local Guide to Raja Ampat Dive Sites Friwin Wall Nestled in the heart of the Dampier Strait, part of the renowned Raja Ampat archipelago, Friwin Wall is a premier dive site that captivates divers and

Fears are being expressed in Cornwall about the impending sale of the Shipwreck Treasure Museum in Charlestown, a property containing an historic collection of maritime and shipwreck memorabilia that includes many amateur scuba-diver finds from over the years.

There are now concerns that it might not prove possible to sell the museum as a going concern, in which case the unique collection could be broken up.

“It's sad for Charlestown on a...

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Break-up fears for shipwreck treasure collection Fears are being expressed in Cornwall about the impending sale of the Shipwreck Treasure Museum in Charlestown, a property containing an historic collection

The wreck of the cruiser HMS Hawke, sunk by German submarine U-9 early in World War One with the loss of 524 officers and crew, appears to have been discovered off Scotland's north-east coast by the Lost in Waters Deep wreck-researchers and Gasperados technical dive team.

The divers are waiting for the Royal Navy to officially confirm the wreck’s identity from their footage. HMS Hawke was one of the earliest British warships to be sunk in WW...

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Dive-team finds notable WW1 warship at 110m The wreck of the cruiser HMS Hawke, sunk by German submarine U-9 early in World War One with the loss of 524 officers and crew, appears to have been

A loophole in Malta’s 10-year-old animal-welfare legislation explains why the only dolphinarium at the popular Mediterranean scuba-diving destination is still allowed to charge visitors to see captive dolphins perform for them.

It is the very fact that Mediterraneo Marine Park is registered as a zoo that has allowed it to continue its activities in the face of continued protests from animal welfare campaigners – and perhaps explain...

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divernet.com

New gene-sequencing tools have just unlocked a well-kept secret - that there are three different kinds of great white shark and, unfortunately for them, they tend not to mix.

The white sharks that populate the north Pacific are distinct from those of the south Pacific and Indian Ocean - and both groups differ from those of the north Atlantic and Mediterranean.

Though still all belonging to the species Carcharadon carcharias the three group...

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divernet.com

The giant honeycomb coral in Fiji had been keeping track of the climate, report JUAN PABLO D’OLIVO of the Universidad Nacional Autónoma de Mexico, ARIAAN PURICH of Monash University and JENS ZINKE of the University of Leicester

A single coral in Fiji that is more than 600 years old has recorded how Pacific Ocean temperatures have varied during its long life.

Scientists know the Pacific has generally been getting warmer over the centuri...

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divernet.com

Captain Paul Watson has been told by a Danish court in Greenland that as he is considered a flight-risk he must remain in jail – but supporters say that the veteran anti-whaling campaigner has been “denied the basic right to defend himself with evidence, while enduring degrading treatment that is more fitting for a convicted criminal than a man yet to have his day in court”.

Watson was arrested when his ship John Paul DeJoria stopped to refu...

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‘Vengeful’ Japan wants Watson on 2010 stink-bomb charges Captain Paul Watson has been told by a Danish court in Greenland that as he is considered a flight-risk he must remain in jail – but supporters say that the

International scientists, including from the UK, are calling on the Maldivian government to reconsider its plans to bring back destructive longline fishing – and hope to count on the support of concerned scuba divers who visit the Indian Ocean islands in search of big-animal experiences.

Longline fishing threatens targeted and bycatch species and increases pressure on the already overfished tuna populations on which local small-scale fishers ...

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Maldives’ longline plans put pro-shark reputation at risk The Maldives’ draft regulation will allow shark bycatch to be landed, threatening its status as something of a shark and ray sanctuary.

The Essential and Fun Aspects of Having a Scuba Diving Buddy

Scuba diving presents an exhilarating opportunity to explore the underwater realm, replete with vibrant marine life and breathtaking seascapes. Although individual exploration may seem appealing, engaging in this activity with a diving buddy is enriching and imperative for safety. This article offers insights into the indispensable role of a scuba diving buddy in ensuring safety and...

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The Importance of Having a Diving Buddy Scuba diving presents an exhilarating opportunity to explore the underwater realm, replete with vibrant marine life and breathtaking seascapes. Although

French diver Paul-Henri Nargeolet had made more dives to the Titanic than any other human, so many that he was known as “Mr Titanic”.

So when he and four other crew died onboard the experimental Titan submersible last year, there was some surprise that with his level of experience he had undertaken to act as navigator on OceanGate’s tourist trip to the deep-lying wreck.

Now the Nargeolet family are claiming that OceanGate and its late fou...

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Titan lawsuit: Rush saw himself as deep-diving’s ‘maverick genius’ French diver Paul-Henri Nargeolet had made more dives to the Titanic than any other human, so many that he was known as “Mr Titanic”.

The wreck of the East India Company cargo sailing ship Earl of Abergavenny, an early example of a vessel incorporating iron in its construction, has been scheduled for protection.

The move by the Department for Culture, Media & Sport, recommended by Historic England (HE), means that scuba divers can still dive the wreck but by law must leave its contents untouched.

Launched in 1796 in Northfleet, Kent, the vessel was one of 36 ships of...

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Dorset shipwreck with Wordsworth links protected The wreck of the East India Company cargo sailing ship Earl of Abergavenny, an early example of a vessel incorporating iron in its construction, has been

The Isle of Man’s oldest scuba-diving club has been awarded a lottery grant to enable it to train more new divers - and, it hopes, lower the age range of its intake.

"It would be great to see more young people wanting to learn to dive," says club chair Leigh Morris, who wrote the funding application that has just been approved by the Manx Lottery Trust.

The Isle of Man Sub-Aqua Club (IOMSAC), now in its 66th year, was awarded £2,500 by th...

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Grant widens Manx dive-club's training scope The Isle of Man’s oldest scuba-diving club has been awarded a lottery grant to enable it to train more new divers - and, it hopes, lower the age range of its

The WreckLife project, which aims to preserve shipwrecks around the Maltese islands and use technology to bring them to a wider public than scuba divers, has been endorsed by the United Nations Ocean Decade, the marine-conservation initiative leading up to 2030.

WreckLife is run by Heritage Malta’s Underwater Cultural Heritage Unit (UCHU), which says its aim is to deepen “the intricate relationship between historic wrecks in Maltese coastal w...

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UN endorses Malta’s WreckLife project WreckLife is run by Heritage Malta’s Underwater Cultural Heritage Unit (UCHU), which says its aim is to deepen “the intricate relationship between historic

It’s not unknown, because Divernet reported on a similar encounter in May last year, but it’s rare enough to get marine biologists excited: a bluntnose six-gill shark hanging out in shallow waters off Canada’s Pacific coast.

“The find of a lifetime,” was how Mitchell Hewitt described his encounter on the evening of 8 August. “I have been diving every single day this summer to find one of these sharks.”

The field marine biologist, who work...

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Diver enjoys rare shark encounter in BC It’s not unknown, because Divernet reported on a similar encounter in May last year, but it’s rare enough to get marine biologists excited: a bluntnose

Scientists have pushed back hard against what they regard as a complacent assessment by the United Nations of the level of threat posed to the Great Barrier Reef by climate change.

At the end of July, UNESCO’s World Heritage Committee declined to list the GBR as “in danger” when it handed down its final decision on the state of the world’s biggest coral reef.

In contrast, in a new report just published in Nature, an Australian-American res...

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400 years’ Coral Sea data challenges UN stance At the end of July, UNESCO’s World Heritage Committee declined to list the GBR as “in danger” when it handed down its final decision on the state of the

The Colombian government has issued a new statement about its much-anticipated exploration of the 600m-plus deep San José, the Spanish treasure ship thought to have been carrying the most valuable cargo ever dispatched from the New World to the old.

It says that a recent expedition has “revealed a map of archaeological evidence never seen before, significantly expanding what was known until now”, although its announcement appears to be paving...

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Treasure ship: Colombia talks of nail, not gold The Colombian government has issued a new statement about its much-anticipated exploration of the 600m-plus deep San José, the Spanish treasure ship thought

Top 5 Dive Sites in Raja Ampat: Insights from Jo, the Meridian Adventure Dive Manager

Raja Ampat, an archipelago in Indonesia's West Papua province, is renowned for its breathtaking underwater landscapes and unparalleled biodiversity. Jo, the experienced Dive Manager at Meridian Adventure Dive, shares her top five must-visit dive sites in this underwater paradise.

Jo loves the local culture and the fantastic staff at MAD. She's been runnin...

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Top 5 Dive Sites in Raja Ampat Raja Ampat, an archipelago in Indonesia's West Papua province, is renowned for its breathtaking underwater landscapes and unparalleled biodiversity. Jo, the

Captain Paul Watson has been held in prison by Danish police ever since his ship arrived in Greenland on 21 July. The veteran anti-whaling campaigner was detained at the behest of Japan, still smarting from his activities in the Antarctic more than a decade ago.

Fewer than 10 days after his arrest, Japan had harpooned its first endangered fin whale in more than half a century. This, according to the Captain Paul Watson Foundation (CPWF), “con...

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Paul Watson jailed as Japanese kill fin whale Captain Paul Watson has been held in prison by Danish police ever since his ship arrived in Greenland on 21 July. The veteran anti-whaling campaigner was