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When the trumpetfish swims alongside another species, it either remains hidden or is not recognised as a threat due to its altered shape
When the trumpetfish swims alongside another species, it either remains hidden or is not recognised as a threat due to its altered shape.

The trumpetfish's unique hunting strategy

The trumpetfish, with its long, slender body, shadows non-threatening species like the parrotfish. This allows it to get closer to its prey, such as damselfish, without being detected. Dr Sam Matchette, a leading researcher from the University of Cambridge, explains that when the trumpetfish swims alongside another species, it either remains hidden or is not recognised as a threat due to its altered shape.

Newly hatched loggerhead sea turtles
Newly hatched loggerhead sea turtles

Record number of Loggerhead Turtle Nests in Florida

Loggerhead Marinelife Center (LMC) is a non-profit education and ocean conservation facility located on the Atlantic Ocean in Palm Beach County, Florida.

The research team at LMC monitors a 9,5-mile stretch of beach from Juno Beach up to Jupiter Island between March and October. Juno Beach is one of the world's most densely nested sea turtle beaches in the world!

As of the end of July, the research team documented record-breaking nesting numbers, now totalling 22,469 nests to date this season on local beaches.

Variations on the Theme of Opposites: Contributors' Picks

Photo by Anita George-Ares: Moray eels, Maldives. Gear: Canon EOS Rebel SL1 camera, Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS STM lens (at 26mm), Ikelite housing, two Ikelite DS161 strobes. Exposure: ISO 200, f/8, 1/160s

We asked our contributors to share their favorite underwater images showing variations on the theme of “Opposites,” and they came back with a diverse range of color and black-and-white photos featuring marine life from large whales to tiny nudibranchs and fellow divers on reefs and wrecks, in caverns and cenotes as well as open waters.

A Chinese Coast Guard ship allegedly obstructs the Philippine Coast Guard vessel Malabrigo as it provided support during a Philippine Navy operation near Second Thomas Shoal in the disputed South China Sea, June 30, 2023
A Chinese Coast Guard ship allegedly obstructs the Philippine Coast Guard vessel Malabrigo as it provided support during a Philippine Navy operation near Second Thomas Shoal in the disputed South China Sea, June 30, 2023

Are Rising Tensions in the South China Sea Affecting Dive Operators?

Manila has repeatedly accused the Chinese coastguard of blocking resupply missions to its troops on The Second Thomas Shoal, which lies within the Philippines' exclusive economic zone, as it did on 5 Aug when it sprayed a Philippine vessel with a water cannon.

The South China Sea dispute involves territorial claims by multiple nations, including China, Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia, Brunei, and Taiwan. It centres around control of islands, reefs, and waters in the South China Sea. 

seaweed
Seaweed at a North-Atlantic coast.

Unraveling the enigma of the Atlantic's seaweed blobs

Seaweed in the Atlantic

These sprawling masses of seaweed, often stretching for miles, have been observed in the Atlantic over the past few years. While such occurrences are not entirely new, their increasing frequency and size have raised concerns about their potential environmental impacts.

A recent in-depth exploration by BBC Future sheds light on the phenomenon, unraveling the complex factors behind the enigmatic seaweed blooms.

Grace Marquez Portfolio

Circling, acrylic on canvas, 1.2 x 1.5m, by Grace Marquez
Circling, acrylic on canvas, 1.2 x 1.5m, by Grace Marquez

Artist and technical diver Grace Marquez, who is based in Canada, creates dynamic paintings of sublime underwater scenes, with a keen eye for how to capture on canvas what it is like to dive on wrecks, reefs and in caves and caverns. X-Ray Mag interviewed the artist to learn more about her creative process and how technical diving has influenced her artwork and perspectives.

Researchers found Muusoctopus nursery grounds on a low-temperature hydrothermal vent off the shore of Costa Rica. The octopuses hang on to the rocks in inverted positions in order to protect their eggs.

Octopus nursery discovered in Costa Rica

The team, aboard the Schmidt Ocean Institute's research vessel Falkor, located the nursery nearly 2,800 meters below the ocean's surface. The expedition's footage, captured by the underwater robot ROV SuBastian, showcased breathtaking marine life, including octopus hatchlings, tripod fish, and vibrant coral gardens.

Ancient Roman shipwreck reveals a trove of preserved glassware

Underwater archaeologists recently discovered the remains of an ancient Roman cargo ship off Rome's coast. This significant find goes beyond merely finding another shipwreck; it offers an intriguing glimpse into the complexities of ancient Roman seafaring, trade practices and the far-reaching influence of Rome's maritime network.

The Capo Corso 2 wreck was discovered in 2012 at a depth of around 350 metres between Sicily's Capo Corso and the island of Capraia which lies off Tuscany, Italy.

Great Barrier Reef at the Whitsunday Islands, Australia.
Great Barrier Reef at the Whitsunday Islands, Australia.

Great Barrier Reef narrowly escapes UNESCO World Heritage downgrade

Australia's Great Barrier Reef, a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1981, narrowly avoided a downgrade to the "in danger" status during a recent meeting of the World Heritage Committee. The decision was made despite the repeated warnings by experts about the escalating impact of climate change on the world's largest coral reef system.

The humble sea cucumber is a marine delicacy loved across Asia, but may be also a key ingredient in preventing diabetes, according to new research from the University of South Australia
The humble sea cucumber is a marine delicacy loved across Asia, but may be also a key ingredient in preventing diabetes, according to new research from the University of South Australia

How sea cucumbers could help combat diabetes

Considered a marine delicacy in Asia, sea cucumbers are widely known for their anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. Now, new research from the University of South Australia (UniSA) suggests that they might be a crucial ingredient in the fight against diabetes.