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.
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? Orcas…
Australian Navy divers injured by ‘unsafe’ Chinese sonar
Australian Deputy PM criticises the ‘unsafe and unprofessional’ conduct of a Chinese warship ignoring warnings to stay clear of divers…
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…
Marine Curios #1 – Periphylla periphylla, or helmet jellyfish
The first in DIVE’s Miscellany of Marine Curios – Periphylla periphylla, the helmet jellyfish The helmet jellyfish (Periphylla periphylla), is…
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…
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 has announced the arrival of its new Descent Mk3 series watch-style dive computers – the Mk3 and Mk3i –…
New Garmin Descent G1 Solar – Ocean Edition made with recycled ocean plastic
Launched together with its new Descent Mk3, Garmin has announced a new version of its Descent G1 Solar all-in-one dive…
OceanShot invites PADI to COP28 underwater panel
The Professional Association of Dive Instructors (PADI) has announced it has been invited to join the founders of coral reef…
Jerry Boylan, Conception liveaboard fire disaster captain, found guilty
Jerry Boylan, captain of the MV Conception scuba diving liveaboard that caught fire in 2019, killing 34 people on board,…
Philippines Aggressor II launching in April 2024
Aggressor Adventures has announced that a second Philippines liveaboard dive yacht will be joining its fleet exploring the Visayan and…
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…
Fascinating facts about the great white shark
If there’s one shark that everybody knows – and many fear – it’s the great white shark. Here’s an introduction…
New reefs and seamounts discovered in Galápagos
Scientists create detailed high-resolution maps of newly discovered deep coral reefs in the Galápagos marine reserve Scientists from the Schmidt…
Horrible natural histories – the bobbit worm
There are, sometimes, things you don’t ever want to see. Not because they go bump in the night, not because…
Wreck of British WWII submarine HMS Thistle located off Norway
The wreckage of a Second World War British submarine, HMS Thistle, has been located in its North Sea resting place…
Scuba diving skills – visualisation
Visualisation can be used to learn and practice skills without being physically able to do so, but is regularly overlooked…
Conception liveaboard fire disaster captain on trial
The captain of the MV Conception liveaboard, which burned to the waterline in 2019, killing 33 passengers and one crew…
Featured Photographer – Jan Leya
At 33 years of age, I still count myself among the younger underwater photographers within the industry and yet I…
Getting comfortable with mask removal, replacement and clearing
Of all the skills that cause the most problems and panic underwater, removing and replacing a mask is top of…
DAN Europe lauches Internet hotline
The Divers Alert Network (DAN) Europe has launched a new Voice-Over-IP (VOIP) service, enabling DAN Europe members to call its…
New Scubapro Luna 2.0 dive computer with air integration
Scubapro has launched the second generation of it’s easy-to-use Luna dive computer, now available in two versions – the Luna…
New Fourth Element Seeker dive mask
Fourth Element has announced the launch of its new Seeker mask, designed to offer an ‘unparalleled’ field of vision and…
Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2023 winners announced
Laurent Ballesta’s photo of a horseshoe crab escorted by golden trevallies wins the Natural History Museum’s Wildlife Photographer of the…
Oceanic+ v2.0 adds freediving capability to iPhones
Oceanic – which recently launched a new housing to turn iPhones into smart dive computers – has updated the Oceanic+…
TDI co-founder Bret Gilliam dies aged 72
Technical diving pioneer Bret Gilliam, the co-founder of Technical Diving International (TDI), has passed away at his home in Maine,…
Record-breaking diver Brett Hemphill dies in Texas cave
Brett Hemphill, president of Karst Underwater Research (KUR) and holder of the record for deepest underwater cave dive in the…
New Fourth Element Argonaut 3.0 drysuit
Fourth Element has announced the launch of its new Argonaut 3.0 Drysuit, for which it claims an enhanced design, greater…
Ocean-themed photos up for comedy wildlife awards
The Comedy Wildlife Photo Awards has published the shortlisted images and videos from its 2023 competition, with some cracking ocean-themed…
Marine Megafauna Foundation announces new Socorro research expedition
MMF is offering scuba diving citizen scientists to join an expedition to the Revillagigedo Archipelago – aka Socorro – in…
DIVE’s Big Shot Kaleidoscope photo gallery
Some great photos were entered into #DIVEsBigShotKaleidoscope – check out the gallery with some of the best entries here Our…
Tragic Lolita’s dolphin tankmate relocated to Texas
Miami Seaquarium criticised for not releasing Li’i, the Pacific white-sided dolphin tank-mate of Tokitae (aka Lolita) into the wild Li’i,…
Deep Dive Dubai showcases humanoid OceanOneK robot explorer
Deep Dive Dubai, the world’s deepest dive pool, recently hosted a public display of Stanford University’s groundbreaking OceanOneK humanoid robotic…
Sunken temple found off Egypt’s Mediterranean coast
An Ancient Egyptian temple and Greek sanctuary containing a wealth of treasures have been discovered off the coast of Alexandria…
Nudibranchs & Whales: an extract from Helen Scales’ Around the Ocean in 80 Fish
Helen Scales’ beautifully illustrated new book, Around the Ocean in 80 Fish & Other Sea Life, reveals much about the…
UK Govt expands sewage plan to England’s protected seas
The UK government has confirmed that its Storm Overflows Discharge Reduction Plan – a programme to reduce the spillage of…
HEPCA opens three new Hurghada dive sites
Three new dive sites have been established off Hurghada to relieve pressure on natural coral reefs following a surge in…
Everything you need to know about coral reefs
Coral reefs are the reason many of us love to go diving, but despite many years of research, there’s still…
Avatar 2 dive mask wins Australia’s Good Design Award
The Avatar Dive Mask – a full-face mask designed for the underwater actors in James Cameron’s Avatar 2: Way of…
Ocean Art 2023 open for entries
The 2023 Ocean Art Underwater Photo Competition, the 12th iteration of the annual contest, has announced it is accepting entries…
Featured Photographer – Tony Reed
Award-winning photographer, Tony Reed, has been diving since 2009 and into the photography side of diving since 2011. He concentrates…
Speaking Up – voicing your predive worries
Small problems can rapidly escalate into very big problems underwater – so it’s essential that you raise any concerns you…
Cape Cod’s thriving great white sharks
Cape Cod, off the eastern coast of Massachusetts, has been confirmed as a hot spot for a thriving population of…
The GoPro Hero12 Black is here…
The king of the content creators, GoPro, has announced the launch of its new HERO12 Black camera, which it says will be…
Scubapro turns 60 with Anniversary Edition regulator and computer
Scubapro, one of the world’s most iconic scuba kit manufacturers is celebrating its 60th anniversary with a limited-edition release of…
Freediver Andrea Zuccari missing, presumed dead in Egypt
The freediving community has been left in shock as record-breaking freediver Andrea Zuccari is missing, presumed dead after failing to…
New DEEP sea underwater habitat announced
DEEP Sentinel underwater habitat system will bring humans a permanent base underwater by 2027 A new deep-sea habitat project has…
New study suggests narrowing habitat for Galápagos tuna
A new study suggests a potential narrowing habitat for tuna, with ripple effects on global fisheries and conservation An international…
Russian diver missing after Hurghada deep dive
A female Russian diver is missing, presumed dead near Giftun Island, offshore from Hurghada, after diving to more than 120m…
Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2023 preview
The Natural History Museum has provided a sneak peek at some of the most outstanding photographs submitted to this year’s…
Oceanic+ Dive Housing for iPhone is here
The news that millions of divers worldwide have been waiting for: the Oceanic+ Dive Housing that converts iPhones into a…
New Scubapro Galileo G3 dive computer
Scubapro has announced the launch of its Galileo G3 dive computer, replacing the classic – but slightly clunky – G2…
Apex Boats – the best RIBs in the world
Apex Boats, a boat-builder and rigid inflatable boat (RIB) specialist, was founded in 1986 by Roger Dherlin after 12 years’…
Movie review – The Dive
The complex relationship between scuba diving sisters is explored in indie thriller, The Dive, although experienced divers may have to…
New DJI Osmo Action 4 action camera
Drone tech specialist DJI has launched the latest model in its action camera range, the Osmo Action 4, with an…
Video: orcas hunting dolphins in San Diego
Some stunning footage has emerged of a pack of orcas hunting dolphins off the coast of San Diego, USA. Not…
Lolita the orca dies after 53 years in captivity
Tokitae – also known as Lolita – the second-oldest orca in captivity, has died aged 57 in her tank at…
Future of deep-sea mining put on hold
The future of deep-sea mining remains uncertain as talks between member states of the International Seabed Authority (ISA) have failed…
Great Barrier Reef coral recovery pauses
The Australian Institute for Marine Science (AIMS) has reported that there has been a slight decrease in coral cover across…
Ghost Fishing UK recover 1500kg of lost fishing gear from Shetland waters
Volunteer divers from award-winning charity Ghost Fishing UK (GFUK) have cleared more than 1.5 tonnes of abandoned, lost or discarded…
New species of feather star found in Antarctic
A new species of comatulid crinoid – better known as feather stars – dubbed the Antarctic strawberry feather star, has…
Big Shot Megafauna – THE WINNERS!
The Winner and most Highly Commended images from DIVE’s Summer ’23 Big Shot Megafauna underwater photography competition Our Big Shot…
DIVE Magazine Summer 2023
Issue # 31: To The Limits DIVE’s Summer 2023 magazine is out now, and this summer we are heading to…
The best scuba diving fins of 2023
Substance, style or streamlining? Here’s a look at some of the best scuba diving fins – from entry-level to technical…
Mars’ ‘Big Build’ mass coral restoration success
Mars, Incorporated – better known for its chocolate bars – has recently completed ‘The Big Build’, which it claims is…
Northern Diver – much more than drysuits….
Northern Diver is the UK’s most comprehensive scuba diving equipment manufacturer and distributor, and – with no pun intended –…
UN operation to remove oil from decaying Yemeni tanker
A UN operation to remove oil from the FSO Safer, a rusting tanker moored off the coast of Yemen in…
DIVE’s Big Shot Megafauna photo gallery
Big Shot is Back! DIVE has once again teamed up with Aggressor Adventures for the chance to win a liveaboard…
Ghost fishing heads to Shetland to tackle ‘nightmare nets’
Award-winning charity Ghost Fishing UK has announced that a team of volunteer divers will be heading to Shetland in August…
The best places to dive with sharks according to PADI
Almost every diver wants to see them, so here are some of the best places in the world to dive…
Basking sharks discovered to be warm-blooded
A new study led by scientists at Trinity College, Dublin, Ireland, has found that the slow-moving, filter-feeding basking shark (Cetorhinus…
Are there ‘cocaine sharks’ off Florida’s coast?
The Discovery Channel’s Shark Week 2023 starts on 23 July (Shark Week in the UK) and a new documentary, ‘Cocaine…
Panama police seize six tonnes of shark fins
Police in Panama have seized more than six tonnes of illegally traded shark fins, reportedly destined for the Asian markets.…
The future of deep-sea mining is being decided this week
Deep-sea mining could be a prime source of minerals for the future of the green energy transition – or an…
Dr Adel Taher – Let There Be a Red Sea…
Dr Adel Taher – the highly respected and much-loved director of the diving medical clinic in Sharm El Sheikh –…
New ‘Oceanic 31’ Shark Trust art exhibition
The Shark Trust has announced the launch of its new ‘Oceanic 31‘ art exhibition, a collection of work by a…
UK shark fins ban bill moves forward for Royal Assent
A ban on the trade in shark fins is set to be signed into law, as a bill introduced to…
How the Marine Megafauna Foundation makes sustainability sustainable
Mark ‘Crowley’ Russell talks to Dr Andrea Marshall and Dr Simon Pierce, co-founders of the Marine Megafauna Foundation, about the…
More eco-moorings for Studland Bay seagrass meadows
The Studland Bay Marine Partnership (SBMP) has announced that it has almost completed the installation of 21 new eco-moorings designed…
Defra consultation response to MCS legal action over sewage
The Marine Conservation Society says it is ‘delighted’ to see a new consultation launched by the Department for Environment, Food…
Three dead in Red Sea liveaboard MV Hurricane fire
It has been confirmed that three British divers missing after fire broke out onboard the Red Sea scuba diving liveaboard…
Russian man killed in Hurghada shark attack
A 23-year-old Russian man has been killed in an ‘attack’ by a tiger shark while snorkelling off the coast of…
Great white shark population ‘booming’ – scientists
Great white shark populations are ‘booming’ off the Atlantic coast of North America according to scientists at Ocearch, which has…
Chinese ship detained for desecrating British war graves
Malaysian authorities have detained a Chinese salvage vessel suspected of looting and desecrating the wrecks of HMS Prince of Wales…
‘Megalodon-tooth’ necklace found in Titanic debris
A gold necklace said to have been made with the tooth of a megalodon shark has been located on the…
Visit Adriatic shipwrecks with new WRECKS4ALL app
A new free-to-use app, WRECKS4ALL, showcasing the wrecks of Montenegro, Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina has been launched by The…
Buying your first dive equipment – wetsuits
A wetsuit is very personal to the individual diver – we are all different shapes and there is definitely no…
Scuba diving Curaçao – a Caribbean gem
Despite its Caribbean charm, clement weather and beautiful diving, Curaçao has remained somewhat under the radar of many dive travellers.…
Buying your first dive equipment – fins
Like all dive gear, there are many different options when it comes to buying your first set of fins, but…
Deep sea pioneer Phil Nuytten dies at the age of 81
Canadian inventor and deep sea explorer, René Théophile ‘Phil’ Nuytten, has died at the age of 81. Nuytten was widely…
Ecuador protections for Galápagos with world’s biggest blue-bond swap
The Ecuadorian government has announced a new strategy to exchange part of its national debt in favour of conservation for…
Buying your first dive equipment – masks and snorkels
When it comes to buying a mask for scuba diving, making sure it fits comes first and foremost – but…
The best travel BCDs for 2023
A lightweight travel BCD makes the perfect choice for warm-water recreational diving. Here are some of the best travel BCDs on…
DIVE Magazine Spring 2023
Issue # 30: Thinking Big DIVE’s Spring 2023 magazine is out now, and this spring we are thinking BIG. Big…
Buying your first dive equipment – the basics
If you’ve come to a point where you’re thinking of buying your first dive equipment, there’s a few questions you…
Red Sea liveaboard Carlton Queen capsizes
Details are emerging of a Red Sea liveaboard, the MV Carlton Queen, having capsized in the northern Red Sea near…
Endangered sicklefin devil ray found off the US Atlantic coast
By Madeleine Pierce, Marine Megafauna Foundation A new study led by Jessica Pate of the Marine Megafauna Foundation (MMF), has…
Montevideo Maru wreck found after 81 years
The wreck of the Montevideo Maru, a Japanese passenger vessel sunk during the Second World War while carrying a reported…
Dive Curaçao launches new one-stop dive vacation platform
Curaçao dive tour operator, Dive Curaçao, has launched a new ‘one-stop dive vacation platform’ with guides to the best dive…