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.
Dive into the Great Shark Snapshot 2025
The Shark Trust's Great Shark Snapshot citizen science initiative returns for 2025. Time to get diving and snorkelling for sharks and rays!
Body of Wales quarry diver was found 85m underwater
An inquest has opened into the death of a 60-year-old diver who died at Dorothea Quarry in North Wales on 31 May.
New survey confirms wreck of San José sunken treasure galleon
A new expedition to the wreck of San José finds a collection of coins that positively identify the 'Holy Grail of shipwrecks'
Winners of the United Nations World Ocean Day photo competition
The winners of the UN World Ocean's Day photo competition have been announced to celebrate this years's sustainability theme.
Diver arrested for looting ancient shipwreck
A scuba diver has been arrested, still wearing his wetsuit, for looting the remains of a 2,000 year-old Roman shipwreck in Mallorca
Deep sea expedition reveals detailed images of lost WWI-era submarine
A deep-sea expedition by a multi-disciplinary team of researchers has revealed the first pictures of the WWI-era submarine, the USS F-1
Donald Trump pardons divers convicted of theft for freeing sharks
Two divers convicted of theft for freeing sharks from a longline have been pardoned by President Donald Trump
Scuba diver dies in North Wales’ Dorothea Quarry
A scuba diver has died in Dorothea Quarry, a disused slate mine used for technical diving in Gwynedd, North Wales
DIVE’s Big Shot Living Together – win a liveaboard trip to Raja Ampat
Enter DIVE's Big Shot Living Together underwater photography competition to win an Aggressor Adventures liveaboard trip to the Similan Islands
Penida dive instructor rescues entangled manta – again!
Blue Corner Dive Penida manager Jason Fondis rescues an entangled reef manta ray off the island of Nusa Penida - for the second time.
Shearwater expands Journeys Edition line with Perdix 2
Shearwater Research has announced the latest in its Journeys series of dive computers with the debut of the Perdix 2 Journeys Edition.
Tributes for diver who died off Wirral coast
The family of a Liverpool diver found dead near Burbo Bank wind farm off the Wirral coast have paid tribute to his memory
NHS England to close four more hyperbaric chambers
The British Divers Safety Group has revealed NHS England is to reduce the number of hyperbaric chambers to just three - all in the south
Painting with light – an interview with Catherine Holmes
Catherine Holmes talks about her journey from amateur snapper to award-winning underwater photographer - and being bitten by a crocodile!
Diver dies during Bayesian yacht recovery operation
A commercial diver has died during operations to recover the superyacht Bayesian, which sank off the coast of Sicily in August 2024
Chinese diver dies off Indonesia’s Kakaban Island
A 30-year-old woman has died after drowning while attempting to recover a dropped camera off Kakaban Island, East Kalimantan, Indonesia.
Aggressor Adventures launches three new liveaboards
Aggressor Adventures' three new liveaboards are launching this week with itineraries in Komodo, the Bahamas, and Egypt's Deep South
Diving Wreck Week in the British Virgin Islands
The British Virgin Islands is known for its beautiful beaches, secluded islands, vibrant culture - and fascinating shipwrecks!
Liveaboard safety – how divers can change it and when to walk away
Mark 'Crowley' Russell on how we, as scuba divers, can force change in the world of liveaboard safety - read before you book your next trip
Thailand bans entry-level divers from using cameras underwater
The Thai government has introduced a ban on cameras for entry-level divers, part of a raft of measures to better protect the nation's reefs
Israeli shark mauling victim may have been spearfishing
Reports in the Israeli press suggest a man mauled to death by sharks off Israel's Mediterranean coast may have been spearfishing at the time
Choosing the right breathing air compressor for scuba diving
Breathing air compressors for filling scuba diving tanks are a big investment - here are some tips to make sure you get the right one
Missing diver was ‘caught in vortex’, inquest told
Emily Sherwin, who went missing during a dive off Old Harry Rocks was 'caught in a vortex', according to an inquest into her disappearance.
Divers, crew evacuated as Red Sea liveaboard Firebird strikes reef en route to Dahab
Passengers and crew evacuated as Egyptian Red Sea liveaboard MV Firebird strikes a reef and suffers 'significant damage'.
DIVE’s Big Shot Portraits – THE WINNERS!
Check out the winning and highly commended images from our Big Shot Portraits underwater photography competition!
Basking sharks: 10 things everybody should know
Basking sharks are the second-largest species of shark, but unlike tabloid reports about 'monster fish', they're not terrifying at all.
Nudis like to show off their colours by daylight
Nudibranchs and sea slugs that are active during daylight hours are more brightly coloured and patterned than their nocturnal counterparts
Divers and crew abandon ship in Thailand liveaboard fire
A Thai liveaboard is destroyed by fire while moored overnight near the Boonsung wreck of the coast of Khao Lak
Aqualung Group to be sold to HEAD
HEAD Group has announced it is in talks to acquire Aqualung Group just over a year after Aqualung was bought by Barings
Sea Story survivors speak out – Part 4: The ‘interrogation’
Survivors of the Sea Story liveaboard disaster recount how they were pressured into giving statements just hours after being rescued
Marine Curios #20 – Sailor’s Eyeballs, Valonia ventricosa
They look like unremarkable polished stones but sailor's eyeballs are actually one of the most unique organisms on the planet
Miami Seaquarium parent company files for bankruptcy
The Mexican owners of Miami Seaquarium, last home of tragic Lolita the orca, has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in the US
Shark trust launches new shark photography competition
The Shark Trust has launched its new photography competition, with prizes for the best shots of sharks, rays, skates, chimaeras and eggcases
DIVE Magazine Spring 2025 preview
You don't want to miss our Spring 2025 issue and our interview with top photographer Cathy Holmes, plus our in-depth guide to liveaboard safety
Six dead, nine injured as Egyptian tourist submarine sinks
An Egyptian tourist submarine has sunk of the coast of Hurghada killing at least 6 of its passengers and seriously injuring others.
Australian woman dies; two injured as Bali snorkel boat capsizes
An Australian woman has died and two others seriously injured after their snorkel boat capsized off the south coast of Nusa Penida, Indonesia
Review: Treasures, Shipwrecks and the Dawn of Red Sea Diving, by Howard Rosenstein
A review of Treasures, Shipwrecks and the Dawn of Red Sea Diving, by Howard Rosenstein, published by Dived Up - now available in paperback
Diver dies, two rescued in Florida’s Twin Caves system
A diver has sadly died after getting into difficulty in the Twin Caves system of Merritt's Mill Pond, Marianna, Florida
Great white shark makes rare Nusa Penida appearance
A group of divers has a once-in-a-lifetime encounter with a great white shark around the island of Nusa Penida, Bali
British woman still missing after Koh Tao dive boat fire
A 26-year-old British woman from London is still missing after fire broke out on board a dive boat in Koh Tao, Thailand
Emperor Seven Seas liveaboard destroyed by fire in Port Ghalib
Popular scuba diving liveaboard Emperor Seven Seas has been destroyed by fire while docked in Port Ghalib, Egypt
Ocean Census announces discovery of 866 new species
The Ocean Census collaborative effort to accelerate the discovery of marine life has announced the discovery of 866 new marine species.
How to become a better diver: never stop learning
Former instructor Mark 'Crowley' Russell on why continuing education programmes are essential for both divers and dive businesses.
Wrecks4all maritime archaeology training programme
Montenegro's Wrecks4All project is hosting a 5-day training programme for budding marine archaeologists from Montenegro and Albania.
Sea Story survivors speak out – Part 3: Trapped
DIVE talks to Swiss diver Michael Miles, who spent more than 36 hours trapped in his cabin after the Egyptian liveaboard, Sea Story, capsized
Russian divers die after being swept away off Verde Island, Philippines
Two Russian divers have died in the Philippines after being swept away by currents. One man was reportedly being mauled by a shark when found
New ‘true colour’ images of Shackleton’s Endurance
New colour-corrected images of the wreck of Ernest Shackleton's Endurance show how the ship would have looked above the water
Reconnect Private Island Resort: discover uncharted dive sites in Central Sulawesi
Reconnect Private Island Resort is an untouched scuba diving paradise on Buka Buka Island, a gateway to the Togean Islands at the heart of the Coral Triangle
Underwater Photographer of the Year 2025 winners announced
Check out the stunning winning images from each category in the 2025 Underwater Photographer of the Year competition
Whale song shares complex similarities with human language
Scientists find humpback whale song has striking similarities to human languages, implying it is 'culturally transmitted' between generations
Inquiry rules British diver’s death in Indonesia was IPO
Inquest into the death of retired Royal Navy officer and experienced diver Robert Bolton finds he likely suffered Immersion Pulmonary Oedema
Sea Story survivors speak out – Part 2: the rescue
Survivors of the Sea Story liveaboard disaster speak out about life rafts that were not fit for purpose and a lack of action by authorities
Genetic evidence proves orcas predate on Australian great white sharks
DNA taken from the carcass of a great white shark in Australia shows it was killed by orcas in the same manner as seen in South Africa
Egyptian tourist boat sinks off Hurghada
Another Egyptian liveaboard has capsized - the same day the UK government issued a warning over Red Sea dive boat safety.
UK Government issues safety bulletin for Egyptian liveaboards
Marine Accident Investigations Branch identifes multiple safety failures in structure, equipment, training and briefings on Egyptian liveaboards
Divers rescued after Komodo liveaboard sinks
Reports are surfacing that 17 people have been rescued by the Indonesian Navy after the liveaboard Putri Papua sank off the coast of Sorong
Pitcairn’s Ducie Atoll and Henderson Island recognised as Important Shark and Ray Areas
Pitcairn's Henderson Island and Ducie Atoll named Important Shark and Ray Areas by the IUCN - critical sites for shark conservation.
Manta Trust launches ‘Volunteer Time Off’ expeditions for businesses
The Manta Trust has launched a new initiative aimed at getting businesses involved in manta ray conservation through volunteering expeditions
Ross Merrin on training as a BDMLR Marine Mammal Medic
Musician, author and now a British Divers Marine Life Rescue volunteer, Ross Merrin talks to DIVE about training as a Marine Mammal Medic
Sea Story liveaboard survivor tells her story
DIVE talks to Dr Sarah Martin, survivor of Egypt's most deadly liveaboard disaster about her escape and rescue after Sea Story capsized
Review: The Diver and the Cook by Lasse Spang Olsen
The remarkable tale of how a ship's cook was rescued by commercial divers after spending three days trapped inside a wrecked tugboat
The best action cameras for scuba divers in 2025
There is a host of top quality action cameras on the market - here are some of the best action cameras for scuba diving available today
Cave diver dies in Spain’s Cueva del Agua
A 37-year-old woman has died in Spain's Cueva del Agua, a popular but dangerous warm-water cenote near Cartagena
Survivors speak of Sea Story liveaboard sinking cover up
Survivors of the Sea Story liveaboard sinking say they were told so sign waivers absolving the boats owners of responsibilty for the tragedy
Scuba divers who suffer IPO should not dive again – report
A joint statement by world's most eminent hyperbaric physicians advises survivors of immersion pulmonary oedema to never dive again
Whale shark mating behaviour recorded at Ningaloo Reef
Scientists in Australia have witnessed whale shark mating behaviour at Ningaloo Reef, in what is believed to be the first…
New Bahamas Aggressor II arrives in May
Aggressor Adventures announces a second scuba diving liveaboard for the Bahamas - itineraries begin in May 2025
The best scuba diving regulators for 2025
Regulators are the most important part of a diver’s equipment - here's some of the best scuba diving regulators on the market today
Egypt liveaboard crews call for grace period over regulatory enforcement
Egyptian liveaboard operators have called for a grace period before new regulations concerning crew qualifications are enforced.
Take a dive with Insta360 X4: The best waterproof 360° action camera
Insta360's groundbreaking 360° camera has received a much-anticipated update to 8K resolution with the launch of the new Insta360 X4
DIVE Magazine Winter 24/25 preview
2025 begins with the arrival of our Winter print magazine - more great writing and underwater photography from across the world.
Dive instructor jailed for filming female customer in shower
A Taiwanese scuba diving instructor has been jailed for secretly filming a woman in the shower at the dive centre where he worked
Red Sea liveaboards are being cancelled – here’s why
A regulatory clampdown in the wake of the Sea Story disaster has seen Egyptian liveaboards held in port or cancelled
Cargo ship VSG Glory sinks off El Quseir reef
The freighter that struck an El Quseir reef in November was unable to be recovered and has sunk outside the Mövenpick Hotel
British divers warned over Red Sea liveaboard safety
The UK Government's Marine Accident Investigation Branch registers the UK as an interested party in Red Sea liveaboard disaster investgations
Body of missing North Wales diver found
The body of a diver who went missing off the coast of North Wales has been found, just over a week after he disappeared
Alex Mustard appointed president of the British Society of Underwater Photographers
Dr Alex Mustard MBE has been named as the new President of the British Society of Underwater Photographers
British diver’s 2019 death in Australia may have been IPO linked to alcoholism
An inquest in New South Wales hears the death of British music producer Karl Bareham may be attributed to Immersion Pulmonary Oedema
Tributes paid as body of missing Cornwall diver found
The family of a diver who went missing off the coast of Cornwall in September has paid tribute to him after his body is found 11 weeks later
Shark and ray populations halved by overfishing in last 50 years
A new study finds that overfishing has caused populations of sharks, rays and chimaeras to decline by half since 1970.
Scuba diving tragedy as 42-year old man dies in Tenerife
A 42-year-old man has died while scuba diving off the coast of southern Tenerife, according to reports in local media
Christmas books for scuba divers
Ten books about diving and ocean-related themes that make the ideal gifts for scuba divers and their favourite dive buddies
PADI celebrates inaugural Adaptive Diving Week
PADI has been celebrating its inaugural Adaptive Diving Week to encourange divers with physical and mental diabilities to take up scuba diving
The orcas hunting whale sharks in the Gulf of California
A new study suggests that a pod of orcas in the Gulf of California has developed specialised techniques for hunting whale sharks.
Police appeal for information in search for missing North Wales diver
North Wales Police have issued a press release asking anybody who might have seen a missing diver in North Wales to get in contact.
Shark and Jolanda Reef – Howard Rosenstein on the day it all began…
An extract from Howard Rosenstein's book Treasures, Shipwrecks And The Dawn Of Red Sea Diving, detailing the day Jolanda struck Shark Reef
Are work-for-training scuba diving internships worth it?
Some dive centres offer 'free' training in return for work - but what does this mean and are they really worth it?
DIVE’s Biggest Shots of 2024
Have your say on DIVE Magazine's best underwater photographer of the year in our Best of the Big Shots 2024 poll
Sea Story liveaboard survivors found trapped in cabins
Five passengers rescued from the Sea Story sinking on Tuesday were found in their cabins after 24 hours breathing from trapped air pockets
52 Assignments: Underwater Photography with Alex Mustard
Alex Mustard's 52 Assignments: Underwater Photography is packed with tips to improve your technique - here are 3 to get you started
Cargo ship grounded in El Quseir, Egypt
In an incident that provides some context into the sea conditions that may have sunk the MV Sea Story, a…
Divers and crew missing after Red Sea liveaboard Sea Story sinks
Search resumes for 16 passengers still missing after Red Sea liveaboard Sea Story sank off the coast of Marsa Alam on Monday
New species of bioluminescent pelagic nudibranch described by MBARI scientists
MBARI Scientists describe a new species of nudibranch, so different it represents an entirely new genus and family of sea slugs.
An Island of Hope – St Helena’s extensive MPA
Charged with looking after an MPA twice the size of Great Britain, the isolated island of St Helena takes marine conservation very seriously
Garmin launches Descent X50i large-format dive computer
Garmin launches its first large-format dive computer, the Descent X50i, with a 3" colour touchscreen and underwater diver-to-diver messaging.
New Zealand diver killed in ‘great white shark’ attack
A 24-year-old commercial diver has died after being mauled by a shark – believed to be a great white –…
World’s largest coral colony discovered in Solomon Islands
The world's largest single coral colony has been discovered in the Solomon Islands during a National Geographic Pristine Seas expedition
‘Russian spy’ beluga whale Hvaldimir was not shot dead
An autopsy has concluded that Hvaldimir - the beluga whale thought to have been trained as a Russian 'spy' - was not killed by gunfire
New Red Sea Aggressor V to explore Egypt’s Deep South
The Red Sea Aggressor V will offer two new itineraries to the Deep South of the Egyptian Red Sea from March 2025
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