Don Silcock returns to Anilao in the Philippines to experience blackwater diving. He offers insights and tips to divers and underwater photographers on how to get the most out of this unique experience.
Cover image by
Don Silcock
X-Ray Mag #133
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Feature articles in this issue with stand-alone pdfs
Photo by Don Silcock
Photo by Francesco Turano
In Italy, there is a beautiful stretch of coastline in Calabria between Bagnara and Palmi that offers stunning vistas both above and below the waves, where divers can explore rich, colourful reefs with diverse marine life and underwater caves. Underwater photographer Francesco Turano takes us on a tour of some of the best dive sites in the area.
Illustration by Peter Symes - AI
Ocean clean-up projects show limited reach as new data and emerging technologies point to prevention and coastal action as more viable long-term strategies.
Photo by Stefan Pape
Dragon’s Breath Cave is located in the mountainous region of northern Namibia. Parts of this mysterious cave have yet to be mapped. Technical diver and underwater photographer Stefan Pape tells of his adventure exploring the cave with the Scapehander team.
Photo by Tim Rock
For many divers, Palau is a bucket list destination, thanks to the pioneering efforts of maverick Palauan Francis Toribiong. Simon Pridmore has the story.
Photo by Peter Symes
Arlindo Serrão is the founder of Portugal Dive and Diving Talks, the annual international dive conference in Portugal. Peter Symes interviewed the trailblazer to learn more about his perspectives and experiences in the dive world.
Photo by Pierre Constant
Situated in the Windward Islands of the West Indies in the Lesser Antilles, Saint Lucia is an island country with a unique history and culture, beautiful nature and endemic species both above and below the waves. Pierre Constant tells us about his adventure there.
Photo by Kate Jonker
We asked our contributors to share their favorite underwater images that show sunny or citrus colors such as lemon, lime, orange and grapefruit, and they returned with an exuberant collection of macro to wide-angle shots featuring a variety of marine life.
Photo by Dave Gration
The waters around Malta are renowned for their historic wrecks. Ally Wybrew tells the story of her dives on a couple of the wrecks during a wreck diving course she took in Malta.
Other articles and news in this edition
Video content is increasingly sought after and prioritised by social media algorithms. It also adds a very nice touch to posts on websites and as snippets embedded in online magazines. For dive travellers, land photography and associated kit may not take first priority, so what are the options to consider when travelling light is a concern?
Camera batteries can fail or deteriorate without prior warning, so make sure you check each one before you travel to a remote destination where replacements are hard to come by.
The Malaysia International Dive Expo (MIDE), returning to the Malaysia International Trade and Exhibition Centre (MITEC) from 13-15 June 2025, is ready to bring together divers and dive professionals, ocean lovers and conservationists, adventurers and the global dive industry under one roof to celebrate everything under the waves.
John Fhær Engedal Nissen - National Museet
Two shipwrecks discovered in shallow waters off the coast of Costa Rica in the 1970s have now been definitively identified as Danish slave ships from the early 18th century. The breakthrough came from advanced wood analysis and the discovery of distinctive yellow bricks.
AI illustration of a frightened shark
New findings are changing the way we understand shark bites—usually dramatised by the media as "shark attacks!"—and what it means for divers and fishers at sea. While self-defence behaviour has been well documented in birds and land mammals, scientists have now observed it in sharks for the first time.
Hagainativ CC BY-SA 3.0
When a ship slips beneath the waves, it does not just vanish into the blue—it begins a whole new chapter as an artificial reef, a cultural time capsule and, increasingly, a scientific goldmine. From coral-covered steamships to cargo holds teeming with fish, shipwrecks offer more than haunting beauty and thrilling dives—they are living laboratories for studying microbial decay and marine life colonisation.
Kevin Lino NOAA NMFS PIFSC ESD - CC BY 2.0
New research suggests that some shark bites are driven by survival instinct rather than predatory behavior.
Illustration by Peter Symes - AI
Google DeepMind has announced the development of DolphinGemma, an experimental artificial intelligence model designed to decode the vocal patterns of dolphins.
Marko Dimitrijevic - CC BY-SA 2.0
Recent research has revealed that certain great hammerhead sharks (Sphyrna mokarran) exhibit a preference for remaining within specific locales, challenging the traditional view of these creatures as wide-ranging ocean wanderers.
Photo by Paul Caiger
Researchers have recorded sharks making deliberate clicking sounds, challenging the belief that sharks are silent and opening up new paths for marine communication research.
izhar-ahamed - Pixabay license
Carry-on rules seem to change constantly. Understanding the latest restrictions on size, weight and contents can help travelers avoid surprise fees or having to check bags at the gate. Here are some key changes.
LeeRosario - Pixabay license
Traveling to Europe in 2025 will come with new rules, fees and procedures that will affect nearly all international visitors. Travelers may find benefits in more efficient check-in and border controls.
Wrecksploration ©The Western Australian Museum
Maritime archaeologists have confirmed the discovery of the Dutch submarine HNLMS K XI, which was scuttled off Western Australia in 1946.
Holobionics CC BY-SA 4.0
As climate change accelerates coral bleaching worldwide, some scientists are proposing a controversial strategy: introducing non-native, heat-tolerant coral species to replace those dying in overheated waters.
John Turnbull CC BY-NC-SA 2.0
New research reveals underwater seaweed forests export vast quantities of carbon to the deep sea, making them critical to long-term climate regulation.