Section

Diving

Scuba, freediving and the people who go under: safety, training, incidents and the water itself.

Page 5

Diving

Freediving's 2026 Pool Season Ran Twice, in Two Rulebooks

Budapest and Novi Sad staged world championships nine days apart under rival federations. Four AIDA world records fell, then CMAS records fell again, often to the same athletes.

Aug 4, 2026/4 min read

Lane lines running the length of an indoor competition swimming pool seen underwater

Diving

Enchante Gallardo Ties the Women's Free Immersion Record at 106m

At the Asian Freediving Cup in Panglao, the Hawaii-based American pulled herself to 106 metres and back on one breath, matching a mark Natalia Zharkova has held alone until now.

Aug 3, 2026/4 min read

A freediver descending a vertical line into deep blue open water

Diving

Before Booking a Liveaboard, Ask These Safety Questions

DAN warns that remote liveaboard incidents rose sharply in 2024-2025. Divers can reduce risk by checking oxygen, drills, charging rules, exits and evacuation plans before sailing.

Aug 2, 2026/2 min read

Divers receiving a detailed safety briefing aboard a liveaboard vessel

Diving

Aqaba Is Building a September Meeting Point for the Middle East's Blue Economy

Aqaba Blue: Ocean Future in Action runs September 9-12 with diving, conservation, marine technology and tourism. Its value will depend on turning networking into regional practice.

Aug 2, 2026/2 min read

Scuba divers exploring the coral-rich Red Sea coast near Aqaba

Diving

Technical Divers Are Rebuilding Corals Where Sunlight Barely Reaches

NOAA teams outplanted corals at 66 meters during a 2026 Gulf mission. The work shows how advanced diving and laboratory science can restore difficult deep habitats.

Aug 2, 2026/2 min read

A technical scientific diver carefully restoring coral on a deep reef

Diving

Scientists Are Taking a 30-Day Health Check of the Pacific Coast

NOAA's seventh West Coast ocean-acidification survey is tracking chemistry and marine life during unusual Pacific conditions. The findings matter to reefs, fisheries and divers.

Aug 1, 2026/2 min read

Marine researchers deploying ocean sensors from a vessel above a living coastal ecosystem

Diving

Is Scuba Diving Safe? A Beginner's Honest Answer

Scuba has real hazards, but recreational diving within training and conditions is a managed-risk activity, not the extreme gamble suggested by rare accident headlines.

Jul 25, 2026/4 min read

A scuba instructor calmly guiding a new diver during an open-water training session

Diving

Mohamed Mahudhee and the Duty Carried by Maldives Rescue Divers

One Maldivian military diver died in the Vaavu Atoll mission. His service deserves gratitude, while the unanswered questions surrounding his death still demand scrutiny.

Jul 25, 2026/3 min read

Diving

Italy Honours the Finnish Divers Who Finished the Maldives Recovery

Sami Paakkarinen, Jenni Westerlund and Patrik Grönqvist received Italian state honours for a recovery mission defined by preparation, restraint and humanity.

Jul 25, 2026/4 min read

Finnish specialist divers Sami Paakkarinen, Jenni Westerlund and Patrik Grönqvist after the Maldives recovery mission

Diving

Gozo Makes a Strong Case for Europe's Most Practical Dive Week

Compact geography, shore access, wrecks and a new six-person hyperbaric unit make Gozo an unusually practical Mediterranean base for a mixed-experience dive trip.

Jul 25, 2026/3 min read

A scuba diver entering clear blue Mediterranean water beside the limestone coast of Gozo

Diving

Raja Ampat in 2026: Extraordinary Reefs, Real Currents and New Pressure

Raja Ampat remains one of diving's richest destinations, but current, season, permits and mounting pressure from tourism and mining belong in the booking decision.

Jul 25, 2026/3 min read

A diver moving above a dense and colorful coral reef in Raja Ampat, Indonesia