Nurse shark
Nurse shark

Some sharks return to the same sites to breed for decades

Scientists with the New England Aquarium found that nurse sharks, Ginglymostoma cirratum, returned to the waters off the Dry Tortugas, 70 miles (113km) from Key West, to mate for up to 28 years. The Dry Tortugas has been known as a courtship and mating site for nurse sharks since 1895.

A 30-year (1992–2021) study documented long-term site fidelity to this area, with data from 137 adult sharks.

Nate Wilson Portfolio

Banggai Cardinalfish Shoal, 36in x 24in, watercolor by Nate Wilson
Banggai Cardinalfish Shoal, 36in x 24in, watercolor on paper by Nate Wilson

American artist Nate Wilson creates beautiful and enchanting watercolor paintings of marine life with great attention to the unique characteristics of each species. X-Ray Mag interviewed the artist to find out more about his artwork and creative perspectives.

Ear Problems in Diving – Part 3: The Inner Ear

Diagram of the ear
Figure 1. Diagram of the ear, showing the anatomy of the inner ear. (Image source: Wikimedia / CC BY 2.5. Labels: Dr Michael Rothschild)

Many people suffer from ear problems during and after diving. Technical rebreather diver and underwater photographer Dr Michael Rothschild is an ear, nose and throat specialist in New York City. In this series, he walks us through some of the common causes of dive-related ear problems, and how to treat and prevent them.

Showing Scale: Contributors' Picks

Three large, female tiger sharks approaching the feeder, Tiger Beach, Bahamas
Photo by Matthew Meier: Three large, female tiger sharks approaching the feeder, Tiger Beach, Bahamas. Gear: Nikon D810 camera, Sigma 15mm fisheye lens, Subal housing, two Sea&Sea YS-250 strobes. Exposure: ISO 200, f/8, 1/100s

In underwater photography, "scale" can mean a couple of things: how big or small a thing is or the myriad of tiny plates on the skin of a fish. We asked our contributors what their favorite underwater photos were that showed scale. And playing on the pun, they came back with a creative mix of macro, wide-angle and close-up abstract images.