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A variety of Acropora corals at Lighthouse Reef in Palau where researchers from CSIRO, UQ and PICRC saw rapid coral recovery with the release of dormant coral “seed banks” after a super typhoon in 2012.

Corals store dormant 'seed banks' like forests do

Initially slow, the recovery puzzled scientists in the study, led by marine ecologist Dr Christopher Doropoulos and research co-lead Dr George Roff, together with team members from the University of Queensland and Palau International Coral Reef Center, who expected regeneration to follow traditional patterns, driven by coral spawning events. These events involve the synchronized release of eggs and sperm into the water, leading to the dispersal of coral larvae that settle onto impacted reefs.

Pairs & Companions: Contributors’ Picks

Photo by Anita George-Ares
Photo by Anita George-Ares. Thorny seahorses, Dumaguete, Philippines. Gear: Canon EOS Rebel SL1 camera, Canon EF-S 60mm f/2.8 macro USM lens, Ikelite housing, two Ikelite DS161 strobes. Exposure: ISO 200, f/11, 1/160s

We asked our contributors to share their favorite photos that show pairs and companions, or two of a kind, and they returned with a range of macro to wide-angle shots, featuring a variety of marine life large and small from around the world.

It’s a Gas, Gas, Gas… Nitrox in Sport Diving: How It All Began

Scuba diver on nitrox at Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary in the northwestern Gulf of Mexico. (Credit: G.P. Schmahl / NOAA / NOS / NMS/ CC BY 2.0 DEED)

This article is an abridged version of an early chapter in Simon Pridmore’s history of the early days of technical diving, Technically Speaking—Talks on Technical Diving, Volume 1: Genesis and Exodus. The nitrox saga would end up as the subject of vitriolic debate and bitter division in the sport diving community for half a decade. This is its origin story.

Party with DAN at DEMA Show 2023

You are cordially invited to join the DAN team and your dive industry colleagues at The Sugar Mill (just across the street from the convention center) from 6:00 to 9:00 p.m. on Tuesday, November 14. 

We’ll raise a glass to you — and all who help divers safely explore our underwater world. From food to music, there will be plenty of local flavor, so come ready for a taste of New Orleans. 

Master Liveaboards introduce 3 new vessels and 2 new destinations

From Tuesday October 31 onwards, Master Liveaboards will be taking over both operations and sales of Blue Horizon and Blue Melody in the Egyptian Red Sea, as well as Blue Voyager in the Maldives.

Blue O Two has been operating these award winning vessels for many years and on the ground, the same great team will be waiting for customers, both old and new.

Ryukyuan Pygmy Squid, photographed in the wild.

Meet two new species of pygmy squid

The deep, emerald waters surrounding Japan's Okinawa Islands are a haven for marine life, and is one of the most biodiverse ecosystems on the planet. Within this vast biodiverse haven, scientists have discovered two new species of pygmy squid lurking beneath the surface: the Ryukyuan Pygmy Squid and Hannan's Pygmy Squid.

These two species have now been described and catalogued, with names that connect them to Japan's cultural heritage. Findings have been published in the Marine Biology journal. 

DAN announces DEMA party, seminar schedule and more

As your dive safety organization, we’ll raise a glass to all who work tirelessly to promote safe diving. We hope you’ll join us on Tuesday, November 14, 6:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. at the Sugar Mill (right across the street from the convention center).

Meet With DAN

If you’re planning to be at the show, make an appointment to meet with us and learn what DAN can do for your dive business.

Southern Resident killer whale holding in its mouth a harbour porpoise calf that was eventually drowned

Why are orcas killing porpoises?

A comprehensive study published in the journal Marine Mammal Science analysed over 60 years of recorded interactions between Southern Resident killer whales (SRKW) and porpoises in the Salish Sea. This endangered population of orcas, known for their fish-based diet, particularly Chinook salmon, has been involved in numerous incidents of porpoise harassment, leading to the deaths of many porpoises.

Possible explanations

The study proposes three main reasons for this behaviour:

Diving Emergencies: New service allows free calls over the internet

We have introduced a new service allowing DAN Europe Members to call the emergency hotline also via the Internet.

This makes it now possible to contact our Alarm Center even when cellular signal reception is poor.

It also allows long-distance calls to be made without incurring excessive costs.

We remind you that you can contact the Alarm Center through the following channels: