Australia

Second Underwater Awards Australasia Imaging Competition Launching in June 2025

The competition will culminate in an exhibition at Go Diving Show ANZ in September 2025—the second Australian edition of the hugely successful Go Diving Show in the UK. 

The prestigious judging panel comprises photo judges Tobias Friedrich, Jayne Jenkins, Matty Smith, Tanya Houppermans, Scott Portelli and William Tan; and video judges Philip Hamilton and Ross Long.
 

The Dutch ship Koning Willem de Tweede sank in a storm off Robe, in South Australia’s southeast, in 1857. (Photo courtesy of Maritiem Museum Rotterdam via press release)

The Wreck of a Dutch Ship Found off Australia Nearly 170 Years After Disaster Struck

Marine archaeologists have confirmed the discovery of the Koning Willem de Tweede, a Dutch merchant ship that sank off the coast of Robe, South Australia, in June 1857. The 800-ton, 140-foot vessel was located approximately 400m offshore in Guichen Bay, submerged at depths between 4 and 6 metres. 

Dutch WWII Submarine Located off Australia

The wreck was found 40 metres deep, approximately 7.8 nautical miles south of Rottnest Island, by divers investigating a sonar anomaly on 1 January 2025.

A historic vessel

Built in 1925 for the Royal Netherlands Navy, K XI was one of the first submarines designed for long-range patrols in the Netherlands East Indies (NEI). During World War II, the vessel was relocated to Fremantle, Australia, where it played a role in Allied submarine operations in the Pacific theatre.

The great hammerhead shark (Sphyrna mokarran) is listed as endangered by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature

NSW protects threatened hammerheads

In response to scientific and community concerns, the NSW Government has listed the great hammerhead as vulnerable and the scalloped hammerhead as endangered under the Fisheries Management Act 1994.

"Formally recognizing that these two shark species are threatened is a significant step forward to protect some of our most vulnerable marine wildlife. We congratulate the NSW Government for taking a proactive approach to conserving these magnificent sharks, which are swimming against the tide of extinction," said Tooni Mahto, AMCS Marine Campaigns Officer.

Aerial image of Scott Reef

Connectivity Enhances Coral Reef Resilience

Coral reefs are among the planet’s most vital ecosystems, yet they face increasing threats from climate change, including bleaching events and destructive storms. A new study by the Australian Institute of Marine Science (AIMS) sheds light on the crucial role of connectivity between coral communities in helping reefs recover and adapt to environmental challenges.

The Strawbery-clawed Hermit, with its vivid red claws and walking legs.

New Species of Hermit Crab Discovered

A new species of hermit crab, distinguished by its striking crimson claws, has been described by scientists at Queensland Museum. 

The discovery was described by Queensland Museum Honorary Peter Davie and Queensland Museum Collection Manager Dr. Marissa McNamara. It places the hermit crab in relatively deep waters, between 120 and 260 meters, off southeastern Queensland. 

Shark nets in New South Wales
Shark nets in New South Wales (Photo: Sam Hood / Wikimedia / public domain)

Unintended Deaths Soar in NSW Shark Net Program

According to the findings, more than half of the 208 non-target species ensnared in the nets over the past eight months met a grim fate, with 134 animals, including critically endangered grey nurse sharks and leatherback turtles, among the casualties. The figures, made public as the nets were removed for the season, highlight the significant toll the program exacts on marine biodiversity.

Hawaiian Triggerfish on Ningaloo Reef
Hawaiian Triggerfish on Ningaloo Reef

Coral Catastrophe on Ningaloo Reef

An ecological disaster

Furthermore, the abundance of healthy coral colonies experienced a sharp decline from 3,452 individuals in 2018 to just 153 in 2022. The abundance of coral genera also took a significant hit, falling by 84.61% from 26 genera in 2018 to just four in 2022. Dominant genera such as Acropora, Montipora and Echinopora were eradicated from the study sites.

The SS Nemesis disappeared during an intense storm in July 1904 as it was transporting coal from Newcastle to Melbourne, Australia.
The SS Nemesis disappeared during an intense storm in July 1904 as it was transporting coal from Newcastle to Melbourne, Australia.

SS Nemesis Wreck Uncovered: Solving a 120-Year Maritime Mystery

The discovery, which resolved over a century of mystery surrounding the ship's location, occurred during a standard environmental survey.

The SS Nemesis, constructed in 1873, was a cargo steamer that encountered its premature demise during a ferocious storm in 1901. Since that time, the wreck's position had remained an enigmatic puzzle, baffling historians and the crew's descendants alike. Its unveiling not only concludes a historical narrative but also heralds a new chapter in Australia's extensive maritime legacy.