X-Ray Mag #131

The 19th Malaysia International Dive Expo (MIDE) is set to make waves from 13-15 June 2025 at the Malaysia International Trade and Exhibition Centre (MITEC) in Kuala Lumpur. With this year’s theme “Explore, Connect & Conserve the Ocean’s Enigma”, it is a must-attend event for divers, watersports enthusiasts and industry professionals. MIDE continues to be a global hub for the underwater world.

Archaeologists have uncovered a shipwreck near Malindi, Kenya, believed to be the São Jorge, a vessel from Portuguese explorer Vasco da Gama's final voyage in 1524.

Divers exploring near Kalpeni Island in the Lakshadweep archipelago have uncovered the wreckage of a European warship, believed to date back to the 17th or 18th century.

The 5th-century vessel, Gela II, discovered near Gela, Sicily, is set for recovery, offering insights into ancient maritime trade and the enigmatic metal orichalcum.

A French marine park, Marineland, has shut its doors for good following a 2021 law that banned shows featuring marine mammals. This closure marks the end of a controversial chapter for the park, which had long been home to two orcas—Wikie and Keijo—the last remaining orcas in captivity in France. Yet, while the public bid farewell to the park with a final show featuring the orcas, it is crucial to remember the grim reality these animals have faced for most of their lives.

Coral reefs, vital to marine ecosystems, face increasing threats from extreme events like marine heatwaves and cyclonic storms. The aftermath of these disturbances—particularly the legacy of dead coral skeletons—may significantly affect the ability of coral reefs to recover.

Recent research highlights how local larval dispersal strengthens coral reef networks, aiding recovery from bleaching and environmental stresses.

In a groundbreaking discovery, scientists tracked a juvenile shortfin mako shark in the Mediterranean Sea, revealing both its impressive mobility and the dangers it faces. The shortfin mako shark, known for its remarkable speed, is now classified as Endangered worldwide and Critically Endangered in the Mediterranean as a result of decades of overfishing, especially factory fishing, combined with poor management.

Nadi's state-of-the-art hyperbaric chamber strengthens diver safety and boosts medical tourism in the South Pacific.

Researchers have developed a novel hydrogel that effectively preserves waterlogged wooden artefacts, such as shipwrecks, by neutralising harmful acids and preventing microbial decay.

While surveying the seabed in Trondheimsfjorden, the Norwegian Navy found the wreck of the legendary flying boat Blohm & Voss BV 222 Wiking, which was sunk on 10 October 1945. They also found a Heinkel He 115.

In the deep, cold waters of the North Atlantic and Arctic Oceans, an extraordinary creature has quietly evaded the typical rules of ageing. 

Egyptian authorities thwart an attempt to trade artefacts dating back to the Greek and Roman eras.

Dolphins have long fascinated humans with their intelligence, complex behaviours, and remarkable social structures. Now, with advanced techniques for analysing intelligent actions, communication researchers are finding that dolphins are not only one of the most intelligent animals, but that they may actually talk to each other!