A coral reef off the south coast of Cuba, previously reported by Robert Osborne in August 2023 to experience a bleaching event, has shown a remarkable recovery in 2025.
Cover image by
Andy Murch
X-Ray Mag #136
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X-Ray Mag Global edition ~50 Mb
Feature articles in this issue with stand-alone pdfs
Photo by Robert Osborne
Photo by Carlo Roncoroni
At Lake Cama, in Switzerland, a fish repopulation project, conceived and implemented by the Hunting and Fishing Office of Graubünden, introduced trout and char into the lake, with the aim of preserving biodiversity and combating the invasion of alien species. Project participant, technical diver and underwater photographer Carlo Roncoroni reports.
Photo by Pierre Constant
Milne Bay in Papua New Guinea is renowned for its beautiful reefs but also for its phenomenal muck diving, where a plethora of regional and endemic critters can be found. Pierre Constant has the story.
Ananda Ellis - NOAA - news release
Rising ocean temperatures endanger coral reefs, fish and entire ecosystems. Misinformation campaigns stall climate action. However, reducing emissions and protecting habitats can still prevent catastrophic biodiversity loss and ensure a sustainable marine future. Ila France Porcher separates the myths from the facts about the oceanic crisis and global warming.
Photo by Anita George-Ares
We asked our contributors to share their favorite underwater images that showcase subjects found on the sea bottom, including sandy seafloor, reefs, seagrass beds and wrecks and they returned with an intriguing selection of macro to wide-angle shots featuring diverse subjects, from camouflaged species and slumbering sharks to crocodiles and ancient artifacts.
Photo by Peter Symes
A routine dive trip ended in tragedy for a newly certified, inexperienced diver. The novice did not die from illness or extreme conditions, but from a series of preventable oversights, misplaced assurances and long-standing assumptions about what beginners can safely manage. Simon Pridmore debunks these myths and offers practical advice on how to avoid such casual negligence.
Photo by Mary O'Malley
In this rare and illuminating conversation, we speak with a wildlife artist and ethologist who, after moving to Tahiti, embarked on what would become one of the only long-term underwater studies of shark behaviour ever conducted. Her journey—from curious painter to groundbreaking researcher and author of several books on wildlife behaviour—challenges everything we think we know about sharks.
Photo by Pierre Constant
Cave diving is a challenge in the best of circumstances, but managing fear after a few unnerving experiences can plague even seasoned cave divers. Pierre Constant shares his insights and perspectives on the mindset in cave diving.
Øvrige nyheder og omtale i denne udgave
Muography may revolutionise shipwreck detection, using cosmic muons to map wrecks buried under sediment.
Cosmic particle imaging may revolutionise non-invasive shipwreck exploration.
Archaeologists have uncovered rare weapons on King Hans’ 15th-century flagship, shedding light on early naval warfare.
New material dissolves in seawater within days, without leaving microplastics behind.
Science shows big marine reserves are more effective in conserving biodiversity, ecosystems and climate resilience.
Study reveals mislabelled seafood products include meat from critically endangered species, raising conservation and consumer concerns.
FishEye - news release
Using 360° video with spatial audio, researchers can now link reef noises to specific species, unlocking a new method for monitoring ocean health.
Flinders University - Use with this news release
New materials show promise in reducing injuries, but experts stress no suit is shark-proof.
The red hind (Epinephelus guttatus), which is also known as the koon or lucky grouper in Caribbean vernacular, is found in the Western Atlantic.
A decade of sound recordings helps scientists track spawning behaviour and shifting patterns in Atlantic groupers.
Photo by Ila France Porcher
Sharks are some of the most fearsome predators in the ocean—but it is not just their bite that makes them deadly. With hundreds of razor-sharp teeth, arranged in rows and constantly being replaced, sharks have evolved one of nature’s most efficient feeding tools. Some species, like the bull shark, can have up to 300 teeth at a time, and they are continuously losing and regrowing them.
Photo by Ila France Porcher
Divers know the ocean can be a disorienting place. Once you lose sight of the bottom or the surface, it is easy to feel unmoored. Yet sharks glide through this vast, blue wilderness with astonishing precision, often travelling hundreds or even thousands of kilometres—and somehow finding their way back to the very same reef or stretch of coastline.
Illustration by Peter Symes - AI
Scientists suggest that Iberian orcas may be engaging in playful cultural behaviour, rather than deliberate aggression.
Illustration by Peter Symes - AI
A quarter of a million European citizens urge binding ship speed limits to cut underwater noise, collisions, and emissions.
Illustration by Peter Symes - AI
With 60 ratifications, the landmark UN agreement will take effect in January 2026, safeguarding life in international waters.
Tamara Thomsen - Wisconsin Historical Society
Citizen scientists confirm the wreck of the schooner lost in 1883, ending a 142-year mystery.
Greek MInistry of Culture - via press release
Divers have brought up objects from HMHS Britannic for the first time, offering rare insights into the ship’s history and life on board.
Ryan Goehrung - CC BY-SA 4.0
For divers exploring Western Australia’s reefs, the underwater world has changed dramatically. A record-breaking marine heatwave—the “longest, largest and most intense” ever documented in the region—has left vast stretches of coral bleached or dead, from the World Heritage-listed Ningaloo Coast all the way to the remote Ashmore Reef.
Illustration by Ila France Porcher - AI
For as long as humans have ventured onto the sea, sailors have spoken of strange sounds rising from the depths—eerie moans, distant booms, and unearthly whistles that seem to come from nowhere. In the modern age, as scientists have turned their hydrophones to the ocean, we have discovered that the deep is far from silent. It is, in fact, full of voices. But what exactly is the ocean saying?
H Mitsuyasu of the RV Cape Henlopen - CC BY 4.0
For centuries, sailors have whispered tales of monstrous waves—towering walls of water that rise from the sea without warning, swallowing ships whole and leaving nothing but legends in their wake. These are rogue waves, the ocean’s most unpredictable and terrifying phenomena. Long dismissed as maritime folklore, science now confirms their existence, and researchers are piecing together what makes these giants tick. So, what causes rogue waves, and why do they strike with such stealth? Let’s dive into the mystery.
Photo by Ila France Porcher
The octopus displays a remarkable intelligence. Its complex behaviours emerge from a decentralized nervous system, and survival depends on a delicate balance of exploration, fear, and adaptability.