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.
Nitrogen Narcosis – beware the Rapture of the Deep
Nitrogen narcosis is often thought of as slightly comic, but scuba divers are often unaware of the potential severity of its impact
Marine Conservation Society’s open letter to political leaders
Help drive change in UK political commitment to the oceans by signing the Marine Conservation Society's petition
Marine conservationists among prestigious Whitley Award winners
Papua New Guinea marine biologist Naomi Longa and Cameroon manatee expert, Aristide Kamla, declared prestigious Whitley Award winners
MV Conception tragedy captain’s appeal rejected
The captain of the Conception liveaboard convicted for the manslaughter of 34 people when it caught fire has had his appeal for a new trial denied
British snorkeller’s death attributed to Immersion Pulmonary Oedema
The death of a British snorkeller in Dahab in February this year has been attributed to Immersion Pulmonary Oedema (IPO)
Alessia Zecchini sets new CMAS freediving world record
Italian freediver Alessia Zecchini breaks her own freediving world record at the Philippines' Camotes Freediving Challenge
Featured Photographer – Rowan Dear
Check out some of the stunning shots from award-winning photographer, Rowan Dear, originally from Wales, UK, now living in Australia
‘Secrets of the Octopus’ – a brilliant new Nat Geo docu-series
A new three-part docu-series is coming to Nat Geo LIVE this Earth Day - a fantastic glimpse into the lives and behaviours of octopuses
Scientists confirm fourth global mass coral bleaching event
Scientists from NOAA have announced that the a global mass coral bleaching event is underway, the second in the last ten years
Gas tanker runs aground in Sharm El Sheikh
A Libyan-flagged gas tanker has been seized by Egyptian authorities after running aground at Ras Nasrani in Sharm El Sheikh.
SECORE International’s Caribbean-wide coral restoration success
SECORE International‘s coral seeding programme is hailed a great success, with its reef restoration initiative present in nine Caribbean nations
Jared Hires’ cause of death – DAN preliminary report
The Divers Alert Network has issued a preliminary report into the death of Jared Hires, who died in Norway's Plura cave system on 3 April
Scuba diver fined for pulling whale shark tail in Thailand
A scuba diver has been fined by Thailand's Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation for touching a whale shark's tail
Dive Rite’s Jared Hires dies in Norway’s Plura cave system
Cave-diving expert and Dive Rite General Manager, Jared Hires, has died while diving Norways's popular Plura cave system
Marine Curios #11 – order Xiphosura, or horseshoe crabs
Horseshoe crabs are living fossils threatened by a unique usefulness to human science (and they're not related to crabs)
Citizen shark scientists required!
The Shark Trust is asking divers and snorkellers to help with shark sightings during Global Citizen Science Month
MCS recommendations for more sustainable seafood shopping
The Marine Conservation Society recommends swapping some fish for more sustainable options, based on the latest Good Fish Guide updates
Aqualung Group sells US Divers brand
Aqualung Group has sold its US Divers brand to focus on scuba diving gear production, and supplying military and professional divers
MMF records first-ever sighting of mimic octopus in Mozambique
Marine Megafauna Foundation scientists' report the surprise discovery of the shape-shifting mimic octopus in Mozambique
Citizen Science Month: How you can help save our seas
The Marine Conservation Society shares ideas for how to get involved with National Citizen Science Month this April
Dutch diver dies; 17 rescued off Ċirkewwa, Malta
Strong winds and high seas led to the tragic death of a 45-year-old scuba diver at the popular Ċirkewwa reef, off the coast of Malta
Oceans: Life Under Water podcast – E01: The Water Planet
A new 12-part podcast in association with Greenpeace UK is exploring life below the waves, with BBC presenter, Hannah Stitfall
Scientists find more than 100 new species off the coast of Chile
An international team of experts explores Chile's deep-sea ecosystems and discovers more than 100 species never-before observed by scientists
Wreck of 18th-Century warship HMS Tyger identified in Florida Keys
The remains of an 18th-century shipwreck discovered in the Florida Keys have been positively identified as those of HMS Tyger
Fifth Great Barrier Reef mass bleaching since 2016
AIMS scentists have said the fifth mass bleaching event on the Great Barrier Reef since 2016 is currently taking place
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
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!
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
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
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
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
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 competition winner, Emma Batty, shares her amazing Seychelles experience and her progress towards a career in marine conservation
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
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
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
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, '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 has announced it is to expand its network of resilient coral nurseries and Bonaire and Klein Bonaire
Underwater Photographer of the Year 2024 winners announced
A freediver discovering whale skeletons beneath ice has been judged World's Best Underwater Photograph of 2024
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
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'
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.
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
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
Dive operators in Curaçao are calling for the island's authorities to adopt the Reef-World Foundation's Green Fins program nationwide
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
A collaborative effort between organisations has resulted in the discovery of an expanse of deep, cold-water coral off the coast of Florida
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
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’
Premier liveaboard operator, Aggressor Adventures, announces its new 'Signature Lodges' land-based safari brand
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
Enter DIVE's Big Shot Cephalopods underwater photography competition to win an Aggressor Adventures Red Sea liveaboard trip
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
The Marine Megafauna Foundation's decades-long research has been pivotal in establishing new Important Shark and Ray Areas for the IUCN
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
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
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 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
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
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
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
The Caribbean’s all-inclusive Sandals Resorts and Beaches Resorts become the first to attain a portfolio-wide Green Fins membership
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
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
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
Another event-filled year from the underwater world with exciting scientific discoveries, beautiful environmental stories, tragedy and loss.
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 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
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
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!
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
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
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
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
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 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 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!
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 newly released Garmin Mk3 and Mk3i smartwatch-style computers and their myriad diving and non-diving features
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
The project to protect the important seagrass meadows of Studland Bay, UK, has been receieved funding for 57 more eco-moorings
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.
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
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
The Straight of Gibraltar orcas have sunk another boat - but are they seeking revenge, or just having fun?
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
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
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
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
St Helena Island recognized as Mission Blue ‘Hope Spot’
Sylvia Earle’s Mission Blue Foundation has named the South Atlantic island of St Helena Island a Hope Spot, in support…
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
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
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, 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 II launching in April 2024
Aggressor Adventures has announced a second Philippines Aggressor liveaboard dive yacht will join the fleet from April 2024
Master Liveaboards acquires Blue O Two brand
Master Liveaboards has announced that it will be taking over the operation of Blue O Two's Red Sea and Maldives liveaboards
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
Scientists create detailed high-resolution maps of newly discovered deep coral reefs in the Galápagos marine reserve
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