Diving is a recreational pastime, meant to offer pleasure and respite from our hectic work schedules and the relentless flood of troubling news that seems to worsen daily.
We have always strived to write about and focus on the wonderful adventures, the beauty of the underwater realm, and to provide educational infotainment that enhances our experiences and appreciation of what lies beneath the surface.
Many Undercurrent readers will be familiar with the issues surrounding Wetpixel, its travel programme and its owner, Adam Hanlon.
Concerns about the knock-on impact of its popular community forum were never addressed. New members were not being approved, guest access was closed off and its front page was not updated for some months.
As a result, a small group of long-term members have got together and developed a new underwater photography forum called Waterpixels!
The fate of coral atolls amidst rising sea levels has been a subject of intense debate and concern. Recent studies and ecological restoration efforts suggest that these unique island formations might have the potential to grow at a rate that could outpace sea level rise, offering a glimmer of hope for their future.
(TOP BANNER IMAGE: Samuel Scott / Wikimedia / public domain)
The San José, a three-decked galleon approximately 150ft long and armed with 64 guns, sank during a battle with British ships in 1708. It is believed to contain 11 million gold and silver coins, emeralds and other precious cargo from Spanish colonies. Researchers have identified bronze cannons, ceramic and porcelain vases, and personal weapons among the artefacts, confirming the wreck’s identity.
The competition invited submissions to seven image categories and one video category, with entries evaluated by a panel of award-winning photographers: Stephen Frink, Renee Capozzola, Scott “Gutsy” Tuason, Allison Vitsky Sallmon, Matty Smith and Amanda Cotton.
In the waters of Malta, an island nation that sits in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea, there are deep historical shipwrecks dating back to ancient times, to the First and Second World Wars, and up to the present day. Michael Salvarezza and Christopher P. Weaver share their exploration of some of Malta’s wrecks and reefs.
The event was held at the Cozumel Island Museum and was attended by more than 80 people.
The discovery was made near Capri’s famous Blue Grotto, a site historically used as a private bath by Roman emperors. Divers from the Naples Police Headquarters’ underwater unit located the wreck, which contained obsidian core material at a depth of around 40m. One of the cores, showing clear traces of chiselling and carving, measures approximately 28 x 20 x 15 cm and weighs almost 8kg.
The Egyptian Red Sea offers divers beautiful reefs with plentiful marine life as well as wrecks to explore and photograph. Brandi Mueller takes us on a liveaboard safari that starts in Hurghada.
A Caribbean island nestled in the Leeward Antilles, warm and sunny Bonaire is a diver’s paradise with lots of shore diving and easy-to-reach fringing reefs, attracting divers at all levels who wish to explore and enjoy its beautiful reefs and marine life. Matthew Meier shares his adventure there.
In a move impacting tech enthusiasts and divers alike, Apple has announced the cessation of sales for its Apple Watch Series 9 and the dive computer-equipped Ultra 2 models in the United States. This decision, effective from December 21st, 2023, arises from a patent dispute with medical device maker Masimo.
