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.
Urgent warning over full-face mask drowning risk
US safety regulators have warned snorkellers to stop using OUSPT full-face snorkel masks after reports of breathing problems that could…
Appeals court upholds Conception captain’s manslaughter conviction
A US federal appeals court has upheld the conviction of Jerry Boylan, captain of the scuba diving liveaboard Conception, when…
Full Circle – a return journey through 25 years of Sharm El Sheikh
After a long absence from the water, DIVE’s Editor Mark ‘Crowley’ Russell makes a return to diving in Sharm El…
Hollis 200LX second stage regulator recall notice
Huish Outdoors has issued a recall notice for its Hollis 200LX second-stage regulators, after reports that some of the regulators’…
Student diver dies during training dive in Golfo Nuevo, Argentina
Argentine authorities have recovered the body of a 23-year-old diver who went missing during a training dive at an artificial…
New shark-repellent hook could cut longline bycatch by more than 60 per cent
A new shark repellent fishing hook developed by researchers at Florida Atlantic University (FAU) may significantly reduce shark bycatch in…
Perth dive operator fined after leaving divers behind
A Western Australian dive operator has been fined after leaving two of its divers behind in open water off Perth…
Aggressor Adventures announces upgraded Red Sea Aggressor IV
Aggressor Adventures has announced an upgrade to its Red Sea Aggressor IV liveaboard, which will transition to a newer, larger…
New documentary spotlights endangered sicklefin devil rays of the Azores
The Manta Trust has released a new, 13-minute short documentary exploring the lives of the endangered Sicklefin devil rays (Mobula…
DIVE’s Big Shot Light and Shadow – win an Aggressor Adventures liveaboard trip
Enter your best pictures utilising light and shadow in their composition for the chance to win an Aggressor Adventures liveaboard…
Dylan Harrison instructor charged over her death
The dive instructor who was conducting Dylan Harrison’s training programme when the 12-year-old disappeared and drowned has been arrested and…
The waters of Wakatobi are an artists’ muse
Dive professionals at Wakatobi are turning to watercolour as a source of creativity, calm and personal renewal, drawing inspiration directly…
Dylan Harrison’s family to sue PADI and NAUI over 12-year-old’s death
The family of Dylan Harrison, the 12-year-old who died during a scuba training dive in Texas in August last year,…
Crown-of-thorns outbreak developing in northern Great Barrier Reef
Scientists are responding to an emerging outbreak of crown-of-thorns starfish (COTs) on the Great Barrier Reef, warning it could develop…
Six bodies recovered in search for missing Philippines divers
Six bodies have now been recovered in the ongoing search for passengers and crew of the motorbanca MBCA Amejara, according…
Huge Search and Rescue operation underway for missing Philippines divers and crew
Fourteen people, including 11 divers and three crew, are still missing almost five days after the motor boat MBCA Amerjara…
British Antarctic Survey opens applications for Antarctica jobs
British Antarctic Survey has opened applications for a new round of jobs at its research stations in Antarctica, offering roles…
12-year-old shark attack victim ‘unlikely to survive’
The 12-year-old boy who suffered severe injuries following a shark bite in the waters of Sydney, Australia, is unlikely to…
One rescued, 14 missing after boat capsizes off Davao Occidental, Philippines
One person has been rescued by the Philippine Coast Guard Search and Rescue teams as 14 remain missing after a…
Review – Garmin Descent Mk3i smartwatch-style dive computer
Garmin’s Descent Mk3i dive computer has been touted as something of a game-changer for its messaging capability – but does…
Pioneering maritime archaeologist Robert Grenier dies at 88
Robert Grenier, the Canadian underwater archaeologist best known for leading the discovery of the 16th-century Basque whaling ship San Juan…
Woman dies after suspected shark attack while snorkelling in St Croix
A 56-year-old woman has died after losing her arm in a suspected shark attack while snorkelling off Frederiksted in the…
British diver who died in Malta suffered pulmonary barotrauma – inquest
A British scuba diver who died while diving the wreck of the P29 off Ċirkewwa, Malta, in October 2024 died…
World’s largest medieval cog discovered off Copenhagen
Maritime archaeologists from Denmark’s Viking Ship Museum have revealed the discovery of what they describe as the world’s largest ‘cog’,…
Tragedy strikes as Australian diver dies off Tulamben, Bali
An Australian tourist has died while scuba diving off the coast of Tulamben in eastern Bali, according to local police…
All guests and crew evacuated after Maldives liveaboard fire
All passengers and crew aboard the Maldives scuba diving liveaboard Yasawa Princess were safely evacuated after a major fire broke…
Insta360 X5 action camera dive bundle review
8K video, replaceable lenses and an improved ultra-low light mode – Insta360’s X5 flagship is an excellent social media action…
DIVE Winter 2026 print issue
Issue # 40: Changing Seas In our Winter ’26 magazine we take a look at the circle of life, from…
AIMS trials large-scale coral restoration during Great Barrier Reef spawning
Scientists from the Australian Institute of Marine Science (AIMS) have led one of the world’s largest experimental coral restoration trials,…
Aggressor Adventures marks 42 years in business
Aggressor Adventures has marked its 42nd year in business, tracing its origins back to the launch of the original MV…
The best action cameras for scuba divers in 2026
Cameras have become almost essential dive gear, and in the world of 4K social media streaming, the action camera is…
Garmin Descent S1 communications buoy review
‘This will change the way you dive,’ Patrick Danko, Garmin Dive Product Manager, told the assembled scuba diving press, and…
Northern Diver raises the bar with its Odyssey Full Face Mask
Northern Diver has once again raised the bar for diving equipment with the launch of the Odyssey Full-Face Mask. Designed,…
Diver bitten while freeing entangled shark off Hawaii Island
A diver was bitten by a shark while attempting to free the animal from entangling fishing gear off the coast…
Camel Dive launches Red Sea storytelling contest for underwater creators
Sharm El Sheikh’s famous Camel Dive Club has launched a new creative competition inviting divers, photographers and filmmakers to submit…
Ancient Egyptian pleasure barge discovered in submerged harbour of Alexandria
Archaeologists have uncovered a remarkably well-preserved 2,000-year-old shipwreck off the coast of Alexandria — believed to be one of Egypt’s…
Conception liveaboard fire captain appeals manslaughter verdict
The captain of the Conception liveaboard, which burned off the coast of California in 2019 killing 34 people, has asked…
New global dive-travel platform Scubago set to launch in 2026
A new online marketing and reservation platform for the diving industry is set to launch early next year. Scubago, developed…
DIVE’s Biggest Shots of 2025
This poll is now closed – the winners will be announced in our forthcoming Winter 25/26 magazine – subscribe here!…
Mantas and devil rays receive maximum CITES protection
All ten species of manta and devil rays have been granted the highest level of protection under the Convention on…
Oceanic whitetips uplisted to CITES Appendix I
Oceanic whitetip sharks have been granted the highest level of protection under CITES after Parties at the Convention’s 20th Conference…
Florida diver dies on Key West’s Vandenberg wreck
A Florida diver has died while exploring the USNS General Hoyt S Vandenberg, one of the Florida Keys’ most popular…
Don’t shop – dive! ‘Blue Friday’ celebrates its fifth birthday
Divers swap shopping bags for scuba tanks as a grassroots alternative to the Black Friday shopping madness starts to spread…
Suunto launches new Nautic & Nautic S dive computers
Finnish dive computer pioneer Suunto has announced the launch of two new dive computers, the Suunto Nautic and Suunto Nautic…
Generations Below – a father-son team working to build a global underwater treasure hunt
Jeff Johnson is a 42-year-old Texas native who fell so deeply in love with scuba diving that he left a career…
Eyewitness speaks out about Dylan Harrison’s death
A student participating in the scuba diving training session during which 12-year-old Dylan Harrison drowned on 16 August has come…
Thomas Kenny’s family launches fundraiser for inquest into his death
The family of a scuba diver from Liverpool who died earlier this year while diving in Liverpool Bay has started…
BSAC Annual Diving Incident Report 2024 published
The British Sub-Aqua Club (BSAC) Annual Diving Incident Report for 2024 has been published, with a total of 239 incidents and 12…
Missing Wales diver died using surface-supplied ‘hookah’ system
The scuba diver who died off the coast of Gwynedd, Wales, in November 2024 was using a surface-supplied ‘hookah’ system…
Howard Rosenstein’s Dawn of Red Sea Diving is heading for Hollywood
Howard Rosenstein’s personal history of his journey as a Red Sea scuba diving pioneer, as told in his fantastic book…
Jellyfish blooms on the rise amid shifting wildlife patterns
Jellyfish sightings across the UK and Ireland reveal changing patterns in the country’s coastal ecosystems, according to the Marine Conservation…
Ten weird and scary fish for Halloween!
There are plenty of weird and scary, strange-looking fish and critters underwater that – even if they’re perfectly harmless – most people…
Dylan Harrison instructor resigns as Assistant Chief Deputy
The scuba diving instructor who was teaching the class in which 12-year-old Dylan Harrison died has resigned from his position…
Missing Wales diver died due to ‘unsuitable’ equipment
A scuba diver who died off the coast of Gwynedd, Wales, last year likely died due to his use of…
Egyptian Liveaboard Royal Evolution grounded at Abu Dabbab
Update Monday 27 October 3pm – Royal Evolution has been freed from the reef. A YouTube video posted by German…
Dylan Harrison instructor ‘permanently suspended’
The Texas-based instructor conducting the scuba diving course in which 12-year-old Dylan Harrison died has been ‘permanently suspended’ by the…
Lookout failure and improper DSMB use caused Scapa diver’s death – MAIB
The 2023 death of an experienced diver killed by a boat strike was likely caused by the boat captain’s failure…
Dive computer data ‘lost’ following death of 12-year-old Dylan Harrison
Critical dive computer data has been ‘lost’ in the aftermath of the death of a 12-year-old girl during a training…
Miami Seaquarium, former home of Lolita the orca, permanently closed
Florida’s Miami Seaquarium, brought into the spotlight for the appalling manner in which its captive cetaceans were being held, has…
Green turtles downgraded to ‘Least Concern’ by IUCN Red List
Green turtle populations have recovered so successfully that their official status has been downgraded from ‘Endangered’ to ‘Least Concern’ by…
New Huawei Watch Ultimate 2 features underwater messaging
Chinese tech giant Huawei has launched an updated version of its Watch Ultimate smartwatch-style dive computer, which now features underwater…
Canada’s Marineland park threatens to euthanise 30 beluga whales
The Ontario, Canada-based Marineland theme park has threatened to euthanise its 30 remaining captive beluga whales if the Canadian government…
Michael ‘M2’ Menduno dies following stroke
Pioneering technical diver and journalist, Michael ‘M2’ Menduno, has died after suffering a stroke in early September. The news has…
DPG Masters Underwater Imaging Competition 2025 announced
The Dive Photo Guide has just announced that entries are now being accepted for its DPG Masters Underwater Imaging Competition…
Shark Trust launches Indian Ocean sharks campaign
The Shark Trust has launched a new campaign expanding its Oceanics Programme to include sharks in the Indian Ocean, a…
Swiss police diver dies during Limmat rescue operation
A diver from the Zurich Cantonal Police in Switzerland has died during a search for a person seen in distress…
Quadriplegic Egyptian naval officer sets third world record
Captain Walaa Hafez – also known as the ‘Egyptian Whale‘ has made history by becoming the first ever quadriplegic man…
New Garmin Descent X30 wide screen dive computer
Garmin has announced a new addition to its scuba diving lineup with the Descent X30, an easy-to-read, large-format dive computer with an…
DIVE Autumn 2025 print issue
Issue # 39: Blue corridors In our Autumn ’25 magazine we explore pygmy blue whales, the amazing properties of sound…
Ten fascinating facts about sperm whales
Sperm whales are one of the largest creatures on the planet, and one of the most complex. Here are ten…
DV Tenacious team discovers ST Seiner steam trawler
A 96-year-old mystery surrounding the disappearance of a First World War-era steam-powered fishing trawler off Connecticut in 1929 has been…
Oil is leaking from Chuuk Lagoon’s Rio de Janeiro Maru shipwreck
Governor Alexander R Narruhn of the State of Chuuk has declared a State of Emergency after oil was seen leaking…
Orcas sink one boat, damage another, off coast of Portugal
One boat has been sunk and a second damaged by a pod of orcas (killer whales) off the coast of…
Great British Beach Clean 2025 is almost here!
The Marine Conservation Society’s annual Great British Beach Clean takes place this year between 19 and 28 September. The marine…
Help save mantas for the chance to win a Maldives liveaboard trip!
In honour of next week’s World Manta Day (17 September), the Manta Trust is offering supporters the chance to win…
Mark World Manta Day 2025 with the Manta Trust’s events
World Manta Day returns on 17 September 2025, and the Manta Trust is marking the occasion with a series of…
James Ferrera crowned winner of Underwater Awards Australasia
James Ferrera’s striking shot of an open-mouthed leopard seal has been voted as the winner of the Underwater Awards Australasia…
Synthesising crown-of-thorns starfish ‘scent’ may aid GBR outbreak management
Scientists in Australia and Japan have potentially discovered a new way of controlling outbreaks of crown-of-thorns starfish (CoTS) on coral…
Taiwanese scuba diver and instructor die in Okinawa cave
A Taiwanese scuba diver and his instructor, also from Taiwan, have died in a cave in Okinawa, Japan. The two…
South Australia installs bubble curtains to protect giant cuttlefish
The Australian government is investing AU$700,000 to install a ‘bubble curtain’ which will protect South Australia’s giant cuttlefish from a…
Maldives to lift shark fishing ban for gulper sharks
President of the Maldives, Dr Mohamed Muizzi, has announced the lifting of the nation’s shark fishing ban this coming November.…
‘Rays of Hope’ – an Interview with Karen Fuentes, founder of the Manta Caribbean Project
The Manta Caribbean Project is doing vital work to catalogue and protect giant manta rays off the Caribbean coast of…
UK swimmers warned to keep clear of Reggie the dancing dolphin
Swimmers encountering a wild bottlenose dolphin in waters off the south coast of England, believing it to be ‘friendly’, have…
DIVE’s Big Shot Patterns & Textures – win an Aggressor Adventures liveaboard trip
Enter your best pictures of patterns and textures in our latest Big Shot underwater photography competition for the chance to…
New Scottish MPAs protecting Scapa Flow and Queen of Sweden wreck
The Scottish government has announced the introduction of two new Historic Marine Protected Areas to protect the shipwrecks of Scapa…
Shark Trust and Rapanui launch limited edition clothing range
Rapanui and Shark Trust campaign to protect sharks – 10 per cent of profits from every sale to support shark…
Florida prop death captain sentenced to eight years
The captain of a Florida dive boat has been sentenced to 100 months in prison for the 2020 death of…
Kissing killer whales caught on film!
Two orcas (Orcinus orca, aka killer whales) have been recorded demonstrating what appears to be kissing-like behaviour for the first…
Great British Beach Clean returns with call for public to take more responsibility
To mark the return of the Marine Conservation Society’s Great British Beach Clean, which will run this year from 19 to 28 September, the…
Featured Photographer: Bella Zandoná
Hi! My name is Isabella Zandoná, and I’m a marine biologist and underwater photographer. I was born in São Paulo,…
Great Barrier Reef coral cover declines sharply from record high
Hard coral cover across the Great Barrier Reef (GBR) has declined sharply from its previous record high, according to the…
Wreck-hunter Joe Mazraani dies during Atlantic steam ship expedition
Renowned technical diver and wreck-hunter Captain Joe Mazraani has died off the coast of Cape Cod during an expedition to…
Chinese diver survives five days trapped in cave
A Chinese diver has reportedly been found alive after spending five days and nights trapped in an underwater cave system…
AIMS developing technologies to monitor reef health by its sound
A noisy reef is a healthy reef – and many divers will be familiar with the constant sounds of popping…
Wreck of WWI cruiser HMS Nottingham found 110 years after her sinking
An international team of technical divers has located the wreck of Royal Navy warship HMS Nottingham, 110 years after she…
Diver suffers serious decompression injuries at Germany’s Kreidesee
Two scuba divers were hospitalised, one with a serious case of decompression sickness (DCS), following a dive at the Kreidesee,…
Snap Happy – why Thailand’s banning of cameras for entry level divers is a good thing
Thailand has banned entry-level divers from using cameras near reefs – former full-time instructor Mark ‘Crowley’ Russell explains why the…
It’s official – there are three species of manta ray!
The third manta ray species, Mobula yarae has been formally described by scientists, 15 years after its existence was predicted…
Review: The Adriatic Affair: A Maritime Hit-and-Run off the Coast of Nantucket
A review of The Adriatic Affair: A Maritime Hit-and-Run off the Coast of Nantucket By Jennifer N Sellitti, published by…