Dive Instructor Arrested in 12-Year-Old Student’s Death

A dive instructor connected to the death of a 12-year-old scuba student in Texas has now been arrested, according to the news outlet Fox 4, marking the first major legal development since the incident that sparked widespread concern within the diving community.

William Armstrong mugshot composite
Tech and Training

The arrest of dive instructor William Armstrong follows months of scrutiny after the young student died during a certification course in August 2025. As previously reported by X-Ray Magazine, the case raised serious questions about supervision, training standards and the handling of evidence in the aftermath of the accident. At the time, concerns were also voiced about missing dive computer data and the apparent lack of a thorough initial investigation.

X-RAY MAGAZINE FEATURE

Face-to-Face With Pregnant Bull Sharks in Mexico's Playa del Carmen

Observing bull sharks up close is a profound experience, where the safety of divers and the protection of sharks are crucial considerations. Underwater photographer Larry Cohen shares his impressions and photos of diving with pregnant bull sharks at Playa del Carmen, in Mexico.

Words:
Larry Cohen
Images:
Larry Cohen
Every year in November, pregnant bull sharks migrate to Playa del Carmen. Photo by Larry Cohen.
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Travel & Trips

Every year in November, a large number of pregnant bull sharks migrate to the Playa del Carmen coastline, where they remain until February or March. Female sharks separate from the males to protect their juveniles from being eaten. Since around 2007, dive shops and boats have been bringing divers to observe the sharks. While some shops chum the waters and feed the sharks, others believe it is more natural to see the sharks without feeding.

X-RAY MAGAZINE FEATURE

Romblon: Macro Magic in the Philippines

Romblon Island, located in the Coral Triangle in the centre of the Philippines, is home to a great diversity of marine species, many of which have only recently been identified. Here, Scott Bennett recounts his adventure to this haven for underwater macro photography.

Words:
Scott Bennett
Images:
Scott Bennett
Flower butterfly sea slug
➥ Download the full article as pdf ⬅︎
Travel & Trips

For the dedicated macro enthusiast, there are a number of locations worldwide that have gained legendary status, and the Philippines certainly has its fair share. Yet one had always eluded me: Romblon. Although I had been aware of it for years, the opportunity to visit had never arisen. My last trip to the Philippines, ten years earlier, was hampered by an international summit that closed Manila’s airport for days, thwarting a planned visit. Now, a decade on, my chance had finally come.

Tiger Shark Mating Site Found in Hawaii

After six years of tracking tiger sharks around Hawaii, scientists have identified what appears to be the first known group mating site for the species. The discovery could transform how we understand tiger shark life cycles—and how we protect them.

Tiger shark
Ecology & Science

The study describes how researchers observed mature male and female tiger sharks showing physical signs consistent with mating at Olowalu, Maui. Even more compelling, long-term tracking revealed a strong and predictable seasonal pattern: adult sharks repeatedly gathered in the same place at the same time of year.

That kind of consistency strongly suggests this is not random. A co-author of the study, Carl Meyer, believes that it is the first group mating site for tiger sharks ever identified. 

Kiss Sidewinder 2

Sidemount closed-circuit rebreather designed for streamlined technical diving

Kiss Sidewinder 2
Technical gear
Kiss

The KISS Sidewinder 2 is the latest generation of the manufacturer’s sidemount closed-circuit rebreather platform, developed for technical and exploration divers operating in caves, wrecks and other overhead environments. Compared with the original Sidewinder, the new model introduces a number of structural and functional updates aimed at improving flexibility and endurance.

Gearopt Captain-IV Classic 50m Dive Headphones

With stable, balanced, premium audio and an ergonomic design made of liquid silicone, these bone-conduction headphones, which are water-resistant to 50m, are made for use in scuba diving, swimming or snorkelling. 

Gearopt Captain-IV Classic 50m Dive Headphones
Other
Gearopt

Designed for comfort and durability, the unit is quickly charged in one-hour and long-playing, with extended battery life of up to 30 days. It features a 220mAh battery capacity, with a pogo pin charging method, JL7006F8 chip, operating frequency of ISM 2.402-2.480GHz, 32GB microSD storage card and Bluetooth 6.0. Measuring 127mm x 101mm x 42mm, with a weight of 27g, the headphones are CE and TUV certified, with a waterproof rating of IP68. Available in Orange and Ocean Blue, they come with a 90-day, risk-free trial and a two-year warranty. 

Gearopt Captain-IV Classic 50m Dive Headphones

Heinrichs Weikamp OSTC Nano dive computer

Milled from solid material and hard-anodised, impact-resistant glass, the OSTC Nano is very compact and lightweight, depth-rated to 120m, and easy to operate, even with thick gloves. 

Heinrichs Weikamp OSTC Nano dive computer
Dive Computers
Heinrichs Weikamp

The device uses the Bühlmann ZH-L16+GF decompression algorithm and allows up to five adjustable gases. It features a 2in (51mm) IPS LCD monitor with adjustable, continuous illumination, a 170° viewing angle and 320x240 pixel resolution.

Vada Nyx Rebreather

Vada Nyx is an eCCR/mCCR rebreather with a cutting-edge, multi-innovative system designed for enhanced performance, offering effortless breathing as well as more autonomy and reliability.

Vada Nyx Rebreather
Technical gear
Vada

It has an innovative CO2 filtration system with an Unwrapped Radial Scrubber design, ensuring smoother, more consistent gas flow, significantly reduced breathing resistance, and increased scrubber capacity, extending runtime with fewer filter material replacements needed. Features include wide, efficient gas-flow channels, a compact, sleek, ergonomic design with a hydrodynamic profile, which is 600m lower than most other compact units, and state-of-the-art Shearwater electronics.

Halcyon Analyser

Compact tri-gas analyser measuring oxygen, helium and carbon monoxide with Bluetooth label printing and logging

Halcyon Symbios TriSense gas analyser
Gas Analysers
Halcyon

Halcyon has introduced the Symbios TriSense, a compact handheld gas analyser designed to measure oxygen, helium and carbon monoxide in breathing gas mixtures. The unit was shown publicly at both the DEMA Show and boot Düsseldorf, where it attracted attention for its small form factor and solid construction. According to Halcyon, availability is expected in late spring or early summer 2026.

Daïve HUD

The Daïve HUD is a clip-on head-up display that turns a standard dive mask into a real-time information hub.

Head-Up Display Computer with 3 Modes
Dive Computers
Daïve

Designed with a streamlined, low-drag profile and universal fit, it moves naturally with you. The system supports Technical, Recreational, and Freediving modes and uses a dual-battery setup for redundancy and more than 20 hours of operation. It functions in temperatures from −10°C to +55°C and is depth-rated to 70m, or up to 120m in advanced setups. A full-colour optical display with adjustable brightness shows live dive metrics, ascent alerts, low-pressure and battery warnings, plus shared team updates. Paired Daïve Smart Gauges display each diver’s air pressure directly on the HUD.

Tedgix K5 Modular Underwater Scooter

This scooter from Tedgix (formerly Edge Smart Drive) is a compact, travel-friendly, airline-approved, 2-in-1 smart DPV with a 50m depth rating. 

TEDGIX (EDGE) K5 Modular Underwater Scooter
Scooters and propulsion
Edge

It is the first modular sea scooter that can power your dive and your devices, according to the manufacturer. It has a detachable smart battery that doubles as a 100W USB-C waterproof power bank. Features include three power modes, a universal camera mount with GoPro compatibility, and a powerful 550W brushless motor equipped with field-oriented control (FOC) technology for smooth, stable, low-maintenance performance.