Mark 'Crowley' Russell in Wakatobi

Mark 'Crowley' Russell - Senior Correspondent

Crowley (known to his mum as Mark) began diving in 2000 in Sharm El Sheikh, before quitting a 10-year IT career and moving to Thailand to take his PADI IDC in 2005. He moved from Thailand to Australia and Curaçao before returning to Sharm as an instructor in 2009. He managed a Nusa Lembongan dive centre between 2013-14 before hanging up his instructor booties and returning to the UK. Crowley started writing a regular column for DIVE in 2010, and now looks after DIVE's daily online content and writes regular features for the print magazine. In his spare time, Crowley is an enthusiastic guitar player, devoted motorcyclist, dedicated gamer, and door-opening expert for two cats.


Buying your first dive equipment – BCDs

Buying your first dive equipment – BCDs

DIVE's advice on buying your first BCD as an entry-level diver, with a guide to the large range of options on todays scuba diving market
Scuba diving in the breathtaking beauty of St Lucia

Scuba diving in the breathtaking beauty of St Lucia

Saint Lucia’s iconic Piton Peaks The Caribbean island of Saint Lucia is a picture-perfect, scuba diving paradise, with plenty to…

DIVE Magazine Spring 2024 preview

DIVE Magazine Spring 2024 preview

DIVE’s Spring 24 print issue is here, and this spring, we've made a magazine with bite! Subscribe now with our £1 for 3 months trial offer!
ai generated image of people exploring a wreck in VR

Montenegro’s Laboratory of Maritime Archaeology to expand Wrecks4All project

Montenegro's Laboratory of Maritime Archaeology (LabMA) is to expand its Wrecks4All project, bringing more of the Southern Adriatic's historical shipwrecks to life
possible new species of squid discovered by NIWA

100 new ocean species discovered in New Zealand

Scientists from New Zealand's NIWA may have discovered 100 species new to science during an expedition to the nearby Bounty Trough,
Houthi rebels sink phosphate-laden bulk carrier MV Rubymar in Red Sea

Houthi rebels sink phosphate-laden bulk carrier MV Rubymar in Red Sea

A UK-owned bulk carrier containing approximately 21,000 metric tonnes of ammonium phosphate fertiliser has sunk in the southern Red Sea
Reef-World wins Drops In The Ocean environmental fund

Reef-World wins Drops In The Ocean environmental fund

The Reef-World Foundation makes a splash with a monumental £335,000 win in Ocean Outdoor's Drops In The Ocean environmental fund
Solo orca kills great white shark in under two minutes

Solo orca kills great white shark in under two minutes

The orca known as Starboard has been witnessed killing and surgically removing a great white's liver - by himself - in under two minutes
#whycoexist 2023 winner Emma Batty recounts her experience

#whycoexist 2023 winner Emma Batty recounts her experience

#whycoexist 2023 competition winner, Emma Batty, shares her amazing Seychelles experience and her progress towards a career in marine conservation
a picture of the ships bell from the USS Jacob Jones after it was recovered

Bell of WWI shipwreck, USS Jacob Jones, recovered

The bell of the USS Jacob Jones, the first US Navy destroyer to be sunk by enemy action, has been recovered from the ship's resting place near the Isles of Scilly.
Atlantic humpback dolphin protected by US Endangered Species Act

Atlantic humpback dolphin protected by US Endangered Species Act

The Critically Endangered Atlantic humpback dolphin has been granted protection under the US Endangered Species Act.
Last chance to vote in the MPB Geographical Better World Video Awards

Last chance to vote in the MPB Geographical Better World Video Awards

The MPB Geographical Better World Video Awards has attracted some fantastic ocean-themed videos, and there are still a few days left to make your vote count
Aggressor Adventures partners with Mares

Aggressor Adventures partners with Mares

Premier scuba diving liveaboard operator, Aggressor Adventures, has announced a new partnership with dive and snorkel equipment specialist Mares
Andrea Marshall in intensive care after stroke

Andrea Marshall in intensive care after stroke

Andrea Marshall, 'Queen of Mantas' and co-founder of Marine Megafauna Foundation, is in intensive care after suffering a near-fatal stroke
Reef Renewal Foundation Bonaire expands coral restoration plans

Reef Renewal Foundation Bonaire expands coral restoration plans

Reef Renewal Foundation Bonaire has announced it is to expand its network of resilient coral nurseries and Bonaire and Klein Bonaire
Underwater Photographer of the Year winners announced

Underwater Photographer of the Year winners announced

A freediver discovering whale skeletons beneath ice has been judged World's Best Underwater Photograph of 2024
A satellite photo from the Allen Coral Atlas showing a shallow coral reef off Exmouth, Western Australia

The world has more coral reefs than first thought

Scientists say there is more coral reef area across the globe than previously thought, according to a detailed satellite mapping project
Scuba diving the wrecks of the Florida Keys

Scuba diving the wrecks of the Florida Keys

There are thousands of shipwrecks across the Florida Keys - here are some of the best to dive to complete the official Florida Keys reck Trek'
Wakatobi: at the forefront of Ocean stewardship

Wakatobi: at the forefront of Ocean stewardship

While some call for plastic bans and government regulations, Wakatobi has been leading the way in ocean cleanups since 1995
pod of orcas trapped in sea ice near Japan

Orcas trapped in Japan ice free themselves

A pod of orcas filmed trapped in a tiny break in the ice floe off the coast of Japan have released themselves, according to reports.
paul humman with one of his most famous fish id books

Reef Fish Identification’s Paul Humann dies aged 86

The co-founder of one of the world's most highly regarded fish identification books has passed away peacefully at the age of 86
a black drum fish

Mating fish keep Florida residents awake at night

A mystery noise that has kept residents of Tampa, Florida, awake at night may be the sound of fish enjoying their evenings making baby fish
Curaçao divers call for national Green Fins recognition

Curaçao divers call for national Green Fins recognition

Dive operators in Curaçao are calling for the island's authorities to adopt the Reef-World Foundation's Green Fins program nationwide
wide angle collection of coral and sponges

Capturing the scope of Wakatobi’s reefs through wide-angle imagery

Wide-angle photography is an important part of an underwater photographer's repertoire - and Wakatobi is a great place to try it out
First ever recorded sighting of baby great white shark

First ever recorded sighting of baby great white shark

The first ever footage of what might be a newborn baby great white shark has been filmed off the coast of Southern California
World’s largest deep-sea coral reef system discovered in Atlantic ocean

World’s largest deep-sea coral reef system discovered in Atlantic ocean

Huge mounds of Desmophyllum coral cover the deep Atlantic sea floor (Photo: NOAA Ocean Exploration) A collaborative effort between organisations…

Pipeline diver tragedy ‘corporate manslaughter’ – report

Pipeline diver tragedy ‘corporate manslaughter’ – report

An inquiry into the deaths of four divers trapped in a Trinidad oil pipeline has said the owner, Paria, be tried for corporate manslaughter
Close-Up Photographer of the Year competition showcases stunning underwater images

Close-Up Photographer of the Year competition showcases stunning underwater images

The Fifth Close-Up Photographer of the Year competition has showcased some magnificent underwater shots - check out the best of them here
Aggressor expands portfolio with land-based ‘Signature Lodges’

Aggressor expands portfolio with land-based ‘Signature Lodges’

Premier liveaboard operator, Aggressor Adventures, announces its new 'Signature Lodges' land-based safari brand
The best action cameras for scuba divers in 2024

The best action cameras for scuba divers in 2024

There is a host of top quality action cameras on the market - here's some of the best action cameras for scuba diving available today
Night diving – both beautiful and nerve-wracking

Night diving – both beautiful and nerve-wracking

Night diving can by turns be exhilarating, luminous, beautiful – and panic-inducing. Mark 'Crowley' Russell explains why
DIVE’s Big Shot Cephalopods photo competition

DIVE’s Big Shot Cephalopods photo competition

Enter DIVE's Big Shot Cephalopods underwater photography competition to win an Aggressor Adventures Red Sea liveaboard trip
norwegian coastline and deep sea

Norway opens the door to deep-sea mining exploration

Norway has approved the exploration of an area of its deep sea floor for rare earth minerals - but what does that mean for the environment?
MMF’s research pivotal in establishing new IUCN shark and ray protections

MMF’s research pivotal in establishing new IUCN shark and ray protections

The Marine Megafauna Foundation's decades-long research has been pivotal in establishing new Important Shark and Ray Areas for the IUCN
river and boat in gdansk poland

Fourth Element opens post-Brexit base in Poland

Fourth Element has announced it will be opening a post-Brexit office and warehouse in Gdańsk, Poland to service its European customers
group of sperm whales at the surface looking like they are having a meeting

Sperm whales make consensus, democratic decisions – but slowly

Sperm whales appear to make communal, democratic decisions - but take a long time discussing and disagreeing before they do
gradutates of the scuba diving safety degree course

First Diving Safety Management degree graduates honoured in Malta

The first graduates of the first Bachelor of Science in Diving Safety Management degrees honoured at a ceremony in Malta.
shearwater tern and tern tx dive computers

Shearwater officially releases Tern and Tern TX

Following positive industry feedback at the recent DEMA Show, Shearwater has 'officially' launched the new Tern and Tern TX dive computers
Marine Curios #6 – Ambystoma mexicanum, axolotl or Mexican walking fish

Marine Curios #6 – Ambystoma mexicanum, axolotl or Mexican walking fish

The strangest fish in all of Mexico - the axolotl - isn't a fish at all, but that's just the least of Ambystoma mexicanum's issues
healed dorsal fin of a silky shark

Silky shark displays amazing dorsal fin regeneration

The first known example of fin regeneration in silky sharks (Carcharhinus falciformis) has been documented by a scientist in Florida
galapagos san cristobal airport

Ecuador and Galápagos travel update

Ecuador's president has declared a 60-day national emergency, but is it still safe to travel to Ecuador and onwards to the Galapagos Islands?
Green Fins adopted by Sandals and Beaches Caribbean resorts

Green Fins adopted by Sandals and Beaches Caribbean resorts

The Caribbean’s all-inclusive Sandals Resorts and Beaches Resorts become the first to attain a portfolio-wide Green Fins membership
The best dive computers for 2024

The best dive computers for 2024

Dive computers are essential scuba diving kit. Here's some of the best on the market, from entry-level to advanced tech and rebreathers
Fourth Element launches new, redesigned Arctic undersuit range

Fourth Element launches new, redesigned Arctic undersuit range

Fourth Element has unveiled its latest evolution in thermal protection with the launch of a redesigned range of its popular Arctic undersuit
First ever find of a megalodon tooth in-situ on the sea floor

First ever find of a megalodon tooth in-situ on the sea floor

A megalodon tooth has, for the first time, been discovered in-situ on the deep ocean floor, 3.5 million years after it fell there
MCS’s 2024 trends helping to save the seas

MCS’s 2024 trends helping to save the seas

From sustainable tinned fish, upcycling clothing and ocean style inspiration, the Marine Conservation Society rounds up some of the best ocean trends for 2024. 
2023 – DIVE’s year in review

2023 – DIVE’s year in review

Another event-filled year from the underwater world with exciting scientific discoveries, beautiful environmental stories, tragedy and loss.
Historic England Protected Wrecks documentary

Historic England Protected Wrecks documentary

Filmmaker Michael Pitts provides a fascinating insight into some of the UK's protected wrecks and the volunteers that helped to uncover their secrets
william winram after his world record breaking dive in sharm

William Winram smashes freediving world record

Canadian freediver William Winram, has broken the CMAS world record for the Variable Weight, No Fins freediving discipline by almost 30m.
Mexico’s Manatees – the Sirens of the Caribbean

Mexico’s Manatees – the Sirens of the Caribbean

Probably fewer than 1,000 of the bulky but graceful manatees survive in Mexican waters but divers are sometimes lucky with a sea cow encounter
Last-minute Christmas gifts for scuba divers

Last-minute Christmas gifts for scuba divers

Stuck for last-minute gifts for your favourite scuba divers? Here's a handful of stocking fillers from Amazon that should get to you before Christmas Day!
orca pair spotted in scapa flow by the crew of RNLI Longhope

RNLI spots orca pod in Scapa Flow

A volunteer crew from RNLI Longhope enjoyed an amazing encounter with a pod of orcas during a training session in Scapa Flow
romeo manatee in small and dirty tank

The rescue of Miami Seaquarium’s forgotten manatees

Two of the oldest manatees alive have been rescued from the same Seaquarium where Lolita (Toki) the orca died earlier this year
Sleeping grey reef sharks rewrite shark science

Sleeping grey reef sharks rewrite shark science

An encounter by divers with grey reef sharks in Seychelles might have just transformed the science of sharks as we know it.
Marine Curios #4 – Glaucus atlanticus, or blue angel/dragon sea slug

Marine Curios #4 – Glaucus atlanticus, or blue angel/dragon sea slug

There's very little angelic about Glaucus atlanticus, the blue angel sea slug - it can pack a very dangerous sting, depending on what it had for lunch
Pregnant megamouth shark washes ashore with seven pups

Pregnant megamouth shark washes ashore with seven pups

The discovery of a pregnant megamouth shark and her unborn pups has deepened scientific understanding of the elusive creature's life cycle
Dominica to create first sperm whale marine reserve

Dominica to create first sperm whale marine reserve

Dominica has announced that the world’s first marine reserve for sperm whales will be established in the Caribbean island nation’s waters
Barings completes acquisition of Aqualung group

Barings completes acquisition of Aqualung group

Barings has announced that it has completed its acquisition of the Aqualung Group, one of the best-known manufacturers of scuba equipment
Northern Diver’s Christmas sale is on!

Northern Diver’s Christmas sale is on!

Premier UK kit manufacturer Northern Diver's Christmas sale is on, with some great deals for your favourite dive buddies (or yourself!)
A closer look at the Garmin Descent Mk3 and Mk3i

A closer look at the Garmin Descent Mk3 and Mk3i

A closer look at the newly released Garmin Mk3 and Mk3i smartwatch-style computers and their myriad diving and non-diving features
Blue Marine Foundation’s Ocean Awards 2024

Blue Marine Foundation’s Ocean Awards 2024

The Blue Marine Foundation has opened the nominations for its 2024 Ocean Awards, to celebrate those making extraordinary efforts to save the oceans
Studland Bay awarded £186,000 for new eco-moorings

Studland Bay awarded £186,000 for new eco-moorings

The project to protect the important seagrass meadows of Studland Bay, UK, has been receieved funding for 57 more eco-moorings
indo siren liveaboard on fire

Indo Siren liveaboard destroyed by fire in Raja Ampat

Luxury Indonesian liveaboard Indo Siren has been destroyed by fire while on a cruise around Raja Ampat. No injuries reported.
The entrance to St Helena airport

Direct flights from Cape Town to St Helena to resume in 2024

SA Airlink is to resume flights to St Helena from Cape Town in December 2024 to complement its existing flights from Johannesburg
Petition launched to ban captive cetaceans in the UK

Petition launched to ban captive cetaceans in the UK

There are no captive cetaceans in the UK - but its not illegal to keep them. Marine Connection has launched a petition to change that
Orcas sink yet another boat in the Mediterranean

Orcas sink yet another boat in the Mediterranean

The Straight of Gibraltar orcas have sunk another boat - but are they seeking revenge, or just having fun?
hmas toowoomba frigate sailing into Perth harbour

Australian Navy divers injured by ‘unsafe’ Chinese sonar

Divers from the Australian Navy have been injured by the 'unsafe and unprofessional' use of active sonar by a passing Chinese warship
Colombia’s ‘Holy Grail’ of shipwrecks – the San José – to be raised

Colombia’s ‘Holy Grail’ of shipwrecks – the San José – to be raised

The wreckage of the San José contains the most valuable salvage ever known to history, but perhaps its treasures should be left where they are
a juvenile Periphylla periphylla or crown jellyfish

Marine Curios #1 – Periphylla periphylla, or helmet jellyfish

From DIVE's Miscellany of Marine Curios - Periphylla periphylla - the helmet jellyfish - a vertical migrator with a very rare reproductive
Stranded fin whale found dead on Cornwall beach

Stranded fin whale found dead on Cornwall beach

A 16.5m-long fin whale, the second largest species of animal in the world, has been found dead on Fistral Beach in Cornwall, UK
garmin descent mk3 and t2 transceiver

New Garmin Descent Mk3 to feature diver-diver messaging

Garmin announces new Descent Mk3 series watch-style dive computers with forthcoming diver-to-diver underwater communication system
New Garmin Descent G1 Solar – Ocean Edition made with recycled ocean plastic

New Garmin Descent G1 Solar – Ocean Edition made with recycled ocean plastic

Garmin announces a new version of its Descent G1 Solar - the Ocean Edition - with parts made from recycled ocean-bound plastic
OceanShot invites PADI to COP28 underwater panel

OceanShot invites PADI to COP28 underwater panel

PADI has been invited to join the founders of coral restoration project OceanShot for a panel at the Global Citizen Forum, set to take place at COP28
Jerry Boylan, Conception liveaboard fire disaster captain, found guilty

Jerry Boylan, Conception liveaboard fire disaster captain, found guilty

Jerry Boylan, captain of the MV Conception liveaboard that caught fire in 2019, with the loss of 34 lives, is found guilty of seaman's manslaughter by a Los Angeles court.
philippines aggressor liveaboard dive yacht

Philippines Aggressor II launching in April 2024

Aggressor Adventures has announced a second Philippines Aggressor liveaboard dive yacht will join the fleet from April 2024
Fascinating facts about the great white shark

Fascinating facts about the great white shark

An introduction to the ocean's largest and most notorious predatory fish - the great white shark - and why we need to learn not to fear them
New reefs and seamounts discovered in Galápagos

New reefs and seamounts discovered in Galápagos

Scientists create detailed high-resolution maps of newly discovered deep coral reefs in the Galápagos marine reserve
Ten weird and scary fish for Halloween!

Ten weird and scary fish for Halloween!

There are some weird and scary looking fish down there in the dark; things you definitely don't want to bump into on a night dive...
Horrible natural histories – the bobbit worm

Horrible natural histories – the bobbit worm

There are few critters that give a diver the heebie-jeebies based on looks alone, but the Bobbit worm is definitely one of them
hatch of the lost second world war submarine hms thistle

Wreck of British WWII submarine HMS Thistle located off Norway

The wreckage of British Second World Way submarine, HMS Thistle, has been located more than 80 years after its sinking
Scuba diving skills – visualisation

Scuba diving skills – visualisation

Visualisation can be used to practice skills without being physically present, but is often overlooked as part of recreational scuba diving
Conception liveaboard fire disaster captain on trial

Conception liveaboard fire disaster captain on trial

The captain of the Conception liveaboard, which burned to the waterline in 2019 with the loss of 34 lives, is standing trial in Los Angeles
Featured Photographer – Jan Leya

Featured Photographer – Jan Leya

A great portfolio from the Red Sea and Indonesia by Nat Geo Germany's award-winning newcomer and Greenpeace photographer, Jan Leya
a scuba diving instructor swimming with his student not wearing a mask

Getting comfortable with mask removal, replacement and clearing

Top of the panic-inducing skills while learning to scuba dive is removing, replacing and clearing a mask underwater - here's how to prevent that from happening
DAN VOIP hotline details

DAN Europe lauches Internet hotline

DAN Europe has launched a new VOIP service, enabling its members to call its emergency hotline via the Internet if mobile reception is poor
scubapro luna 2.0 air integrated dive computer

New Scubapro Luna 2.0 dive computer with air integration

Scubapro launches the Luna 2.0, the second generation of it's easy-to-use dive computer, now available in with wireless air integration.
New Fourth Element Seeker dive mask

New Fourth Element Seeker dive mask

Fourth Element launches new 'Seeker' mask, designed to offer an 'unparalleled' field of vision and a universal fit for divers of all levels.
Laurent Ballesta's winning photograph for Wildlife Photographer of the Year is a golden horseshoe crab accompanied by trevallies

Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2023 winners announced

Laurent Ballesta's photo of golden horseshoe crab wins the Natural History Museum's Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2023 competition
Oceanic+ v2.0 adds freediving capability to iPhones

Oceanic+ v2.0 adds freediving capability to iPhones

Updated Oceanic+ v2 app for Apple Watch Ultra & iPhone with Oceanic+ housing adds freediving mode and dive planner with real-time dive data
TDI co-founder Bret Gilliam dies aged 72

TDI co-founder Bret Gilliam dies aged 72

Tech diving pioneer Bret Gilliam, co-founder of Technical Diving International (TDI), has died after suffering a stroke earlier this year
Record-breaking diver Brett Hemphill dies in Texas cave

Record-breaking diver Brett Hemphill dies in Texas cave

Brett Hemphill, holder of the deepest US underwater cave dive, died during a dive more than a mile into Phantom Springs cave system, Texas
New Fourth Element Argonaut 3.0 drysuit

New Fourth Element Argonaut 3.0 drysuit

Fourth Element launches new Argonaut 3.0 Drysuit - enhanced design, greater flexibility and more options for personal customisation
Ocean-themed photos up for comedy wildlife awards

Ocean-themed photos up for comedy wildlife awards

A flying seal, daydreaming puffin and a batfish with legs are all up for this year's Comedy Wildlife Photo Awards
Marine Megafauna Foundation announces new Socorro research expedition

Marine Megafauna Foundation announces new Socorro research expedition

MMF is offering scuba diving citizen scientists the chance to join an expedition to the Revillagigedo Archipelago in January 2024
DIVE’s Big Shot Kaleidoscope photo gallery

DIVE’s Big Shot Kaleidoscope photo gallery

Check out the gallery of awesomely colourful images from DIVE's Big Shot Kaleidoscope underwater photography competition.
Li'i, the pacific white-sided dolphin and former tankmate of Tokitae

Tragic Lolita’s dolphin tankmate relocated to Texas

Miami Seaquarium criticised for moving Li'i, the Pacific white-sided dolphin tank-mate of Tokitae (aka Lolita) to SeaWorld San Antonio
Deep Dive Dubai showcases humanoid OceanOneK robot explorer

Deep Dive Dubai showcases humanoid OceanOneK robot explorer

Deep Dive Dubai hosts a public display of Stanford University's groundbreaking OceanOneK humanoid robotic underwater explorer
a diver excavating a statue at Thonis Heracleion

Sunken temple found off Egypt’s Mediterranean coast

An ancient Egyptian temple and a Greek sanctuary have been discovered with their treasures in the ancient sunken city of Thonis-Heracleion
Nudibranchs & Whales: an extract from Helen Scales’ Around the Ocean in 80 Fish

Nudibranchs & Whales: an extract from Helen Scales’ Around the Ocean in 80 Fish

Extracts from Helen Scales’ beautifully illustrated Around the Ocean in 80 Fish & Other Sea Life, featuring two of its most iconic ocean creatures
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