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There are two subspecies of West Indian manatees: the Antillean manatee (Trichechus manatus manatus) and the Florida manatee (Trichechus manatus latirostris), the latter of which is shown above. In the United States, manatees are protected under the Marine Mammal Protection Act, which prohibits the take (i.e., harass, hunt, capture or kill) of all marine mammals.

Manatees up for protection

6 months ago By Catherine GS Lim

Federal wildlife authorities are re-evaluating the classification of manatees, a move prompted by mounting issues, most notably the devastating loss of seagrass, a critical food source for these gentle marine creatures.

A Long-Overdue Review

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service recently announced its intention to revisit the categorization of manatees, contemplating a return from “threatened” to “endangered.” This potential reversal would overturn the 2017 decision to reclassify manatees.

Pemuteran Sea Turtle Hatchery

Words
Claudia Weber-Gebert
Images
Claudia Weber-Gebert
Juvenile sea turtles feeding on small fish
Juvenile sea turtles feeding on small fish
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A sea turtle hatchery in Pemuteran, Indonesia, established by Reef Seen Divers’ Resort founder, Chris Brown, has provided a sanctuary for endangered baby turtles to hatch and grow large enough to be released into the sea with better chances of survival. Claudia Weber-Gebert has the story.

Nuttlar Slate Mine

Words
Kurt Storms
Images
Kurt Storms
Diver explores the Nuttlar slate mine in Bestwig, Germany
Diver explores the Nuttlar slate mine in Bestwig, Germany.
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Nestled in the mountainous area of Bestwig in western Germany is the Nuttlar slate mine, which offers divers an intriguing opportunity to step into the past. Kurt Storms gives us a glimpse of the underwater passages in the mine.

Portfolio: Alan Williams

Words
Interview by G. Symes
Images
Alan Williams
Polypus, by Alan Williams
Polypus, 130cm wide, by Alan Williams. Made from 90% motorbike parts, 10% threaded bar and found objects.
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Alan Williams, a British artist based in Brighton, creates astounding and intricate sculptures of marine life from found and upcycled metal objects. X-Ray Mag interviewed the artist to learn more about his creative process and perspectives.

A diver applying a protective marking solution at the Klein Hollandia wreck site.
A diver applying a protective marking solution at the Klein Hollandia wreck site.

Using innovative forensic markers to safeguard maritime artefacts

6 months ago By Catherine GS Lim

English shipwrecks, submerged for centuries off the coast, hold the secrets of history in the form of artefacts like cannons. However, organised looting poses a significant threat.

To counter this, Historic England and British specialist contractor MSDS Marine have embarked on a ground-breaking project involving underwater forensic tagging technology. This technology, developed over eight years, traces its roots to methods used to protect heritage assets on land. It is applied directly to the marine artefacts and wrecks by divers, and had been trialled on dives this summer.

Framing in Underwater Photography: Contributors' Picks

Words
X-Ray Mag contributors
Images
X-Ray Mag contributors
Photo by Kate Jonker: Using the light of a snoot to frame a subject against a black background. Horned blenny, Blousteen, Gordon’s Bay, South Africa. Gear: Canon R5 camera, Canon 100mm macro lens, Marelux MX-R5 housing, Inon Z-240 strobe, Marelux SOFT Pro snoot. Exposure: ISO 320, f/20, 1/200s.
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What does a “frame within a frame” look like in underwater photography? We asked our contributors to share their favorite photos that use “framing” to draw attention to the subject in the image, and they came back with a range of macro to wide-angle shots, featuring a variety of marine life, as well as divers, in wrecks and on reefs.