The COVID-19 pandemic has not only dramatically affected the lives of many people worldwide but also impacted the environment in negative ways, including marine ecosystems and their conservation and management. 

Although the stringent measures taken to control the spread of the virus, like limitations on movement, have also generated some short-term positive effects on the environment – such as reduced air pollution, we’ll be exploring the issues that still require immediate action.

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We don’t need to tell you what a hammerhead shark looks like, because they’re probably the easiest shark to identify. But you may, however, not know about the best places to dive with hammerhead sharks. Check out these top diving destinations where the chances of spotting them are as high as they can get:

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So, you plan on getting married or you’ve already made the big step but couldn’t decide on a place to spend your honeymoon yet. Don’t worry – we know all about the most jaw-dropping honeymoon destinations for scuba divers. Plus, they’re also some of the best places to get a diving certification, in case one of you hasn’t (literally) taken the plunge yet.

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Sculpture parks are opening the ocean up for a different kind of art lover: scuba divers. The trend of underwater museums has reached the shores of France, with plans to open not one but three aquatic museums this fall.

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In 2018, a typhoon destroyed nearly 80% of the corals in Hoi Ha Wan bay off Hong Kong’s Sai Kung peninsula. The strongest-known storm the city has ever experienced left behind broken coral skeletons and few surviving species. It will most likely take decades for the corals to regrow to their former state, but efforts are made to help them become self-sustaining.

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Fabien Cousteau, an oceanographic researcher and grandson of renowned conservationist and innovator Jacques Cousteau, recently announced his ambitious project called Proteus, after the shape-shifting Greek god whom Homer calls the “Old Man of the Sea.” The state-of-the-art research lab is expected to give rise to scientific breakthroughs not only in the field of ocean conservation but also in areas such as sustainable energy, medical and drug development, genetics, and food cultivation.

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Can humans creatively influence climate change? With coral reefs in decline due to climate change, ocean acidification, pollution, run-off, development, overfishing, and disease, it’s our duty to find effective solutions to these pressing issues. Socio-ecological artist Colleen Flanigan has come up with a unique way to raise the general population’s awareness about environmental matters.

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An international, multidisciplinary team of marine scientists has identified 30 new species of marine invertebrates in the Galapagos waters, the archipelago’s national park authorities recently announced. This discovery includes eleven species of sponges, ten of bamboo corals, four of squat lobsters, three of octocorals, one of giant cup coral, and one of brittle starfish. The exploration also unveiled a series of underwater communities such as coral gardens, cold-water coral colonies, and crystal sponge gardens.

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Have you ever considered that the sunscreen you wear may negatively impact coral reefs and wildlife? Not all sunscreens are made the same, but the vast majority do contain harmful UV-blocking chemicals that researchers have deemed harmful to aquatic life. Let’s dive into what reef-safe sunscreen means and what ingredients you should steer clear of to protect the environment.

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The Museum of Underwater Art (MOUA) finally opened on August 2 after months of delay caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Australia’s first underwater museum is located on the ocean floor of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park’s John Brewer Reef, about two hours off the coast of Townsville. Two installations are currently open to visitors: Coral Greenhouse and Ocean Siren.

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