Call us biased, but some of the most beautiful galleries in the world lie hidden in the ocean. From mermaids to submerged saints and 400-figure-strong communities, some statues just look better underwater. But beauty is only skin deep, and these enchanting galleries also serve an important…
Groupers are a giant juxtaposition. They're the largest fish on the reef, yet the masters of camouflage. They prefer solitude, but will gather en masse during a full moon, and, despite being introverted, are privy to social climbing. They also love divers, and with their cartoonishly big…
The disco balls of the sea, bait balls (or baitballs), are densely packed groups of small fish formed either voluntarily or as a means of survival. South Africa's annual Sardine Run - often featured in Attenborough-narrated nature documentaries - is perhaps the planet's most famous bait…
Seaweed is found throughout the world's coastal regions, but what exactly is it? The name is misleading as it's not a 'weed,' but a prolific form of sea vegetation that is vital to life. Collectively, seaweed supplies a large proportion of the world's oxygen and plays a vital role in…
For DiCaprio, it was Titanic. For Scarlett Johansson, it was Lost in Translation. Since 2003, when Pixar cast a clownfish in the lead role of one of its blockbuster animated films, dive guides and instructors the world over have been inundated with requests to 'find Nemo.' Luckily, these…
Marine Protected Areas are a beacon of hope in the wild west of the high seas. Safeguarding marine ecosystems from ever-looming human threats (think: overfishing, habitat destruction and pollution), is critical to the long-term sustainability of our oceans. Unsurprisingly, they also have…
Dive travel planning takes finesse, patience and a lot of research. Navigating weather, route to destination and what bucket list creatures should be in the area at the time, all while trying to avoid throngs on other tourists as well, can be daunting to say the least. And, what often…
From the bright red Spanish dancer to Hopkins's rose nudibranch, neon green leaf sheep nudibranch - otherwise known as 'Shawn the Sheep' -, and the orange-peel Doris nudibranch, fabulously coloured nudibranchs have amassed a cult-like following among divers. Hailed as the 'Jewels of the…
From Alaska to the Amazon Rainforest, Costa Rica to the Serengeti, the world's topside treasures are regularly touted for their extraordinary biodiversity. Yet despite covering a whopping 70% of the planet, the ocean rarely gets a shoutout. In fact, 80% of the world's life is found in the…
From hairy to warty, psychedelic to shaggy, few fish are stranger in appearance than the frogfish. But make no mistake, these camouflaged critters are dressed to kill. From masquerading as coral to boasting the fastest strike in the ocean, frogfish are the masters of aggressive mimicry. So…