X-Ray Mag

February 2019

The maze that the crabs in the study had to get through.

Study reveals crabs' spatial learning skills

5 years ago By Catherine GS Lim

Many studies about spatial learning in animals have focused on land animals, and less so in marine animals, possibly due to the difficulty in following them around.

This new study, led by Swansea University marine biologist Ed Pope and master’s student Ross Davies, gives a glimpse into the European shore crab’s level of spatial learning ability.

First, the team constructed a special maze that measured 75cm by 50cm. A single crushed mussel was placed at the end of it.

Revisiting Deep Air Diving

Words
Michael Menduno
Images
aquaCORPS
The “Flag Room” (360ft/110m) at Diepolder II (Sand Hill Ranch Scout Reservation, Hernando County, Florida, USA) discovered by Dale Sweet in 1979 on one of the first successful mix dives using trimix. Believing it was the end of the cave, Sweet placed a flag there (not shown), hence the name. Sheck Exley dived to the room on air in 1981 in his famous “Salute The Flag” dive. Dustin Clesi placed that guideline shown nearly three decades ago.
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Today, the practice of “deep air” diving, and to a large extent, air diving itself has been related to the annals of sport diving history. Nitrox has become near ubiquitous as the diving gas of choice for shallow-water diving, and the trend, as pioneered by Global Underwater Explorers (GUE) is for divers to switch to helium mixes for dives beyond about 100ft/30m.

World Shootout Announces 2018 Winners at BOOT Dusseldorf

5 years ago By Matthew Meier

On Saturday, January 26th, the festive World ShootOut 2018 award winning ceremony took place at the boot Dusseldorf. Competition participants from all over the world arrived especially for the event, including photographers from South East Asia and USA. Prizes worth more than $70,000 were awarded to the winners of the 9 categories, as well as a fair share of cash prizes.

David Doubilet, Jennifer Hayes and William Tan announced as speakers for the Underwater Tour 2019

5 years ago By Juliette Myers

Australia, 19 February 2019

Get ready for an evening of inspiration, adventure and discovery. Joint founders of the annual Underwater Tour, Juliette Myers and Tim Hochgrebe have curated a stellar international line-up of underwater photographers for this year’s nationwide touring speaker event series across Australia.

LIVE on stage 9-14 May, David Doubilet, Jennifer Hayes and William Tan will showcase extraordinary images and share stories of discovery from behind the lens.

Diver Error Highlights the Lethality within the System

Words
Gareth Lock
Images
Gareth Lock
Debriefing allows lessons to be learned—successes and failures. Photo by Gareth Lock.
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Diving is not without risk—there is always a chance of death. There is always a latent or potential lethality within the “system”—where system is defined as the equipment, people and the physical, social or cultural environment. We cannot make diving 100 percent safe despite what anyone tells you. We can make things safer, but we cannot make diving safe.