Author: John

Diving with sharks is high up on many divers’ bucket lists, but they don’t exactly have the greatest of reputations. Attacks on surfers are common news, but what about scuba divers? Do sharks attack divers and should we be scared to get into the water with them? Let’s have a look at the statistics and what the experts are saying.

The largest and most advanced Apple watch has recently been unveiled. Divers will be happy to know that the Apple Ultra Watch was designed for water sports and can be used as a dive computer as it can withstand great depths and rugged conditions.

Three years after the discovery of what – up until recently – everyone thought was the deepest shipwreck in the world, the USS Johnston, the U.S. Navy confirms the discovery of an even deeper wreck.

Thanks to the exhaustive historical research and innovative technology, the teams at Caladan Oceanic and EYOS Expeditions have successfully located one of the most famous ships of World War II deep in the Philippine Sea near Samar Island.

Also known as “Sammy B,” the vessel was a John C. Butler-class destroyer escort of the United States Navy that served in World War II. The ship sunk in the Battle off Samar (the centermost action of the Battle of Leyte Gulf) in October 1944.

As military ships go, the USS Samuel B. Roberts was a rather small destroyer. Nonetheless, it defended against the superior Imperial Japanese Navy force warships, fighting three Japanese battleships and two heavy cruisers before eventually going down.

Of the 224-man crew, 89 were killed and 120 were saved, including the commanding officer, Lieutenant Commander Robert W. Copeland. Sammy B’s last known survivor died in March 2022.

“It was an extraordinary honor to locate this incredibly famous ship, and by doing so, have the chance to retell her story of heroism and duty to those who may not know of the ship and her crew’s sacrifice.  In difficult times, it’s important to reflect on those who sacrificed so much, so willingly, in even more difficult times to ensure our freedoms and way of life,” said undersea explorer Victor Vescovo.

Some additional pictures from the Sammy B, highlighting the caution needed when diving military wrecks. You can spot the white-tipped rounds in the loading rack of the forward 40mm gun, as well as a depth charge still in its rolling launcher. She also rests on a steep slope. pic.twitter.com/5PgwNLiBCn

— Victor Vescovo (@VictorVescovo) June 28, 2022

A submersible filmed, photographed, and surveyed the ship during a series of dives over eight days. Lying at a depth of 6,895 meters (22,621 feet), some 400 meters deeper than the USS Johnston, the USS Samuel B. Roberts can be seen lying broken in two but relatively intact, with its two pieces just 10 meters (33 feet) apart.

In the imagery captured by the submersible Limiting Factor, which is the first submersible to reach the deepest points of all five oceans, it’s possible to see the hull structure, guns, and torpedo tubes. The ship showed punctured holes from the Japanese troops, and it appears that it also took a massive hit in the stern quarter.

All data, including sonar maps, video, and photographs of the USS Samuel B. Roberts will be donated to the U.S. Navy and its Heritage and History Command.

Australia’s new dive attraction is set to open to the public on Wednesday, June 8. The huge artificial reef is found just ten minutes by boat from the Gold Coast Seaway and is expected to attract more than 16,000 divers each year. The $5 million attraction was funded equally by the Gold Coast City Council and the state government and has been secured in a 50-year seabed lease.

More than 100 years after its demise, one of the most legendary shipwrecks in the world is discovered in pristine condition below the icy waters of Antarctica. Its story is indeed one of endurance.

One of the largest coral reefs growing in the mesophotic zone has recently been discovered off the coast of Tahiti. The reef, which lies at depths of between 30 meters and 65 meters, seems to be untouched by climate change. Its depth could explain why it has remained protected from the effects of the warming ocean.

The Philippines has once again been voted as the world’s premier diving destination at the 28^th edition of the prestigious World Travel Awards, which revealed its winners on December 16, 2021. This is the third year in a row that the island nation has secured its gold medal in this award category.

For those living in the Northern Hemisphere, winter is settling in with its cold temperatures and windy, snowy days. While some would be contempt with spending their free time all wrapped up in a blanket next to a cup of tea, we know there are still plenty of adventure-seekers out there. If you’re looking for a sunny break or just a place where you can still find good diving conditions, check out the best winter scuba diving destinations for the holidays or the beginning of a new exciting year.

Diving is a fun, exciting activity, and divers themselves are generally cheerful individuals who love to have fun in any shape or form. For some, having a drink or two around the time of the dive with their buddies is one of those social interactions that aren’t given too much thought. However, there is a potentially serious risk involved in drinking and diving.

As of October 2021, scuba divers fascinated by historical wrecks can enjoy exploring several ships resting beneath the waters of the Gallipoli peninsula in the Çanakkale province of Turkey. The area was the battleground of the First World War Gallipoli campaign, an Anglo-French military campaign against Turkey.