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Mexico's Sardine Run: Marlins & More in Magdalena Bay

Striped marlin and sea lion chasing sardines, Mexico
Striped marlin and sea lion chasing sardines, Mexico

Although striped marlins (Kajikia audax) are slower than some of their billfish cousins, their 50-mph speed was plenty fast for me. I tried to swim alongside this stealth bomber of the sea as it worked a baitball to separate individual sardines from the silvery mass. Amos Nachoum has the story.

Smögen Photo Week in Sweden in July

Grand Prize, Dive Environment category: Rikard Godlund
Grand Prize, Dive Environment category: Rikard Godlund

A new photo competition has taken root on the western coast of Sweden, where local and international participants enjoy an exciting week of shooting underwater in Smögen, competing for attractive prizes. One of the contest’s organisers, Annika Malmberg, shares the story of the event, from the initial idea to the final result, as well as plans for its future.

Blücher Wreck: WWII German Cruiser in Norway

Blücher
Historical photo of the WWII German cruiser Blücher

A joint group of GUE divers from Norway, Sweden and Finland, led by project leader Gunnar Midtgaard, documented the wreck of the Blücher in Norway, and its condition, during the summers of 2011 and 2012. Mattias Vendlegård, who served on the photo team during the project, has the story.

Luzon to Visayas: Liveaboard Adventure in the Philippines

Fantastic soft corals, Bobby’s Wall, San Miguel Island, Ticao
Fantastic soft corals, Bobby’s Wall, San Miguel Island, Ticao

Once a year, the Solitude One liveaboard makes the 800km journey from Anilao down to Surigao in the Philippines, stopping at Verde Island, Romblon, Ticao, Malapasqua and Southern Letye on the way. On this dive cruise, one can dive with whale sharks, thresher sharks and manta rays, or do super-macro underwater photogra­phy and even black water dives. Mattias Sellin shares his adventure.

New Caledonia: Jewel in the Southwest Pacific

Light show in the cave, Grottes de Gadj
Light show in the cave, Grottes de Gadj

Considered the longest continuous and second largest in the world, the reef systems of New Caledonia have some of the most diverse concentrations of reef structures on the planet, providing a home for a vast diversity of species, including 2,328 fish species. It is an important site for nesting green sea turtles, and there are also large populations of dugongs and humpback whales. Pierre Constant shares his adventure.

DecoStop Q&A: Simon Pridmore

Author Simon Pridmore at a book signing of his books
Author Simon Pridmore at a book signing of his books. Photo courtesy of Simon Pridmore

In this edition, we meet dive professional, technical diving expert, accomplished writer and X-Ray Mag columnist Simon Pridmore, to find out his motivations for writing his Scuba series of dive books, and how his books are different from other dive books on the market.

Interview with John Moyer: Deep Diver of the Andrea Doria Wreck

John Moyer. Photo courtesy of John Moyer
Archival photo of John Moyer coming up from the Andrea Doria wreck with a bag of dishes. Photo courtesy of John Moyer

Legendary American explorer John Moyer has dived many wrecks along the North American eastern seaboard. But his name is synonymous with the Andrea Doria wreck, on which he made over 120 dives in the '80s and ‘90s, salvaging artifacts, and conducted in-depth research. In this interview by Andrea Murdock Alpini, we gain insight into his life and deep relationship with the Andrea Doria.

A cog typical of Hansa ships in the 13th century. Illustration by Willy Stöwer after impressions from a seal of the city of Elbing
A cog typical of Hansa ships in the 13th century. Illustration by Willy Stöwer after impressions from a seal of the city of Elbing

Rare centuries-old wreck found on Sweden’s western coast

Interview and text by Mimo Moqvist

Translation edited by G. Symes

“Yes, it is actually a slightly special story. We were really looking for a completely different wreck, from the 16th century. As early as 2005, I got in touch with a man whose father had found a wreck outside Dyngö when he was fishing for trout,” said von Arbin.

The father who found the wreck was no longer alive, but the son tipped off von Arbin about the find and told him that he had material that von Arbin and his team could see.

Painting of a pinnace by Cornelis Verbeeck, 1625
Historical sources refer to the Sparrow-Hawk as a small pinnace. This 1625 painting by Cornelis Verbeeck shows a Dutch pinnace in rough seas (Wikimedia Commons/public domain)

Study reveals more clues to New England shipwreck of 1626

Based on where the timbers were found, it was long believed that they were from the 12-meter (40ft) ship. The Sparrow-Hawk is the oldest known shipwreck in English Colonial America. Until now, there has always been some uncertainty about its true identity.