Archive

Manta rays form social relationships and actively choose their social partners, a new study has revealed. Research published today by scientists from the Marine Megafauna Foundation, Macquarie University, the University of Papua, and the University of York is the first to describe the structure of social relationships in manta rays. Sharks and rays are often thought to be solitary creatures, but reef […]

Marine archaeologists believe they have found the world’s deepest military wreck – they are now trying to decide which of two American Fletcher-class destroyers they have captured on video at 6,220m in the Philippine Sea. According to Guinness World Records, the previous deepest wreck was a German vessel found at 5,762m. Video footage captured by a remote […]

The British Sub-Aqua Club (BSAC) has released updated guidelines for divers on dealing with Immersion Pulmonary Oedema/Edema (IPO/IPE) which, according to the UK Diving Medical Committee (UKDMC), may be the most common cause of fatal incidents in amateur scuba divers. Pulmonary Oedema is caused by a build-up of fluid in the lungs. It has a range of causative factors but is […]

Scientists from the Marine Megafauna Foundation (MMF) have released their findings from a new study investigating the distinctive colouration of black manta rays. The study, carried out by MMF and scientists from the University of Western Australia, University of Papua, Udayana University, Murdoch University, and Macquarie University is the first of its kind to research melanism in marine species. Melanism is caused by […]

Climate change and ocean warming threaten coral reefs globally with more frequent and deadly coral bleaching events. But a new study, using 20 years of Reef Check data, finds that corals now can withstand higher temperatures before bleaching than they could a decade ago. The study was published March 20, 2019 in the journal Nature Communications. […]

Plastic concentrations are as high as the Pacific Garbage Patch in Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary Monterey Bay has a reputation as one of America’s most pristine ocean environments: It’s a national marine sanctuary and far away from heavy industry. But a groundbreaking study published Thursday has found levels of plastic pollution in the water […]

Coral reefs worldwide are threatened by a variety of human impacts. Fishing is among the most pressing threats to reefs because it occurs on most reef systems and fundamentally alters food webs. Meanwhile, observing coral reefs, particularly remote, hard-to-access locations such as the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands (NWHI), remains notoriously difficult and expensive. But a University […]

The wreck of World War II aircraft carrier USS Wasp has been discovered in the Coral Sea more than 70 years after the ship was sunk during the Guadalcanal campaign. Wasp was spotted on the seabed by experts from the vessel RV Petrel, which is part of a research organization set up by the late billionaire Paul […]

A new survey of remote islands off the coast of Australia found mountains of plastic weighing as much as a blue whale. “Welcome to paradise,” beckons the Cocos Keeling Islands’ Visitor Center. The island chain is popular with vacationing Australians, and it’s easy to see why. Photos from the chain of 27 islands, of which only two […]

The Reef-World Foundation – the international coordinators of Green Fins – with the support of Professional SCUBA Schools International (PSS), has announced the launch of the Green Fins Dive Guide e-Course. Green Fins is the only internationally recognized environmental standard for dive and snorkel operators, established through a partnership between UN Environment and the Reef World Foundation. Green Fins’ approach to conservation […]