Archive

The Twilight Zone… No, it is neither the name of a fancy new Disneyland attraction nor the sequel of a famous teenage vampire movie. It is actually the unscientific way of referring to a very peculiar place in our Oceans. It’s a transition area, where the natural sunlight is heavily dimmed as the depth increases. […]

Corals in the Maldives are showing some resilience, adaptability and even recovery from climate-change effects, according to marine biologist Dr Jean-Luc Solandt, following a reef-monitoring diving expedition, the latest in a series undertaken over each of the past nine years. Biosphere Expeditions sets up the “citizen-science” dive trips to survey reefs in the central Maldives […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

It is fair to say that there might not be that many underwater-specific spells, curses, potions or lotions. There may also be a distinct lack of any Nifflers, Nogtails, or Mooncalfs to see when we submerge and go diving. However, while we often look beyond the confines of our own world for enchantment and excitement, […]