
The Scribbled Leatherjacket (Aluterus scriptus)
by Ivana and Janez - 6th February 2023
Scribbled leatherjackets can be found in the lagoons and reefs of subtropical seas all over the world. Even though some…

The unfortunate fate of the Salem Express
by Ivana and Janez - 31st January 2023
In the early nineties, the tame waters of Safaga became the stage for one of the biggest maritime tragedies in…

Discover the Triggerfish!
by Ivana and Janez - 12th January 2023
Triggerfish or balistoids (from the family Balistidae) are mostly rhomboid shaped fish, almost circular, with eyes that can rotate independently…

Looking at life from a Cassiopea’s perspective – Upside down
by Ivana and Janez - 20th December 2022
Upside-Down Jellyfish live resting on the sea floor, making them look like they are upside-down. They are found in coastal waters,…

The white-spotted octopus (Callistoctopus macropus)
by Ivana and Janez - 1st December 2022
The white-spotted octopus lives predominantly in the shallow waters of the Mediterranean and Caribbean Seas, but can sometimes be found…

Flying gurnard (Dactylopterus volitans)
by Ivana and Janez - 1st November 2022
Flying gurnards roam the Atlantic and can be found along the coasts of Canada, the US and the Gulf of New…

The Mediterranean lobster
by Ivana and Janez - 13th October 2022
The Mediterranean lobster, Palinurus elephas, was named after the Roman seaport of Palinurus, known today as Palinuro, in southwestern Italy,…

The Triton Snail
by Ivana and Janez - 7th October 2022
In Greek mythology, Triton, son of Poseidon and god of the sea, is often depicted blowing a horn/shell that looks…

Planting Corals
by Ivana and Janez - 1st September 2022
The importance of corals and coral reefs for life on our planet is well-known, that's why it's not surprising that the…

Eagle Rays (Myliobatidae)
by Ivana and Janez - 17th August 2022
Eagle rays are a group of cartilaginous fish (fish that have skeletons made out of cartilage instead of bones), closely…

Discover Starfish!
by Ivana and Janez - 29th July 2022
Famous not only on the TV thanks to cartoon character Patrick the Star, these animals are actually not fish, but…

Ragged-tooth shark (Carcharias taurus)
by Ivana and Janez - 18th July 2022
The Ragged Tooth Shark lives in oceans and seas around the world, and has different names in different regions. Around…

Pinnipeds – Marine Acrobats
by Ivana and Janez - 13th July 2022
Pinnipeds, commonly known as seals, are a group of semi-aquatic carnivorous mammals of 34 species living across the world’s oceans.…

Run…Sardine Run
by Ivana and Janez - 20th June 2022
I am well aware of how privileged we are to be doing this job. This time, our passion for scuba…

The Crocodilefish (Papilloculiceps longiceps)
by Ivana and Janez - 16th June 2022
In Egypt, you can take wonderful boat rides on the Nile and admire the mighty crocodiles, but did you know…

‘Bigrene’ bathtubs of Stopića Cave
by Ivana and Janez - 12th May 2022
This winter we carried out some research on Zlatibor Mountain in Serbia. One of the biggest attractions in this region, Stopića Cave,…

El Mina – From warship to tourist attraction
by Ivana and Janez - 4th May 2022
Egypt is a country where diving is one of the most popular tourist activities, and Hurghada is currently the most visited city…

Get to know the Batfish
by Ivana and Janez - 15th April 2022
True batfish belong to the order Platax, coming from the Greek word 'Platys', meaning 'flat', due to their distinct body…

The orange colours of Ribnicko Lake
by Ivana and Janez - 8th April 2022
At the start of this year, Mares Ambassadors Ivana OK and Janez Kranjc embarked on an icy adventure on Zlatibor mountain in central Serbia... It has been about…

Shark Behaviour on the Alimatha Reef – Capturing the photo
by Ivana and Janez - 10th February 2022
Nature’s behaviour surprises us every day... Alimatha reef, which is famous for the large number of sharks that live in…

Vasa – The ship and museum
by Ivana and Janez - 12th January 2022
History tells us of many grand endeavours that ended ingloriously. The story of the fate of the royal ship 'Vasa' is well-known,…

Tiger Sharks
by Ivana and Janez - 15th December 2021
Tiger Sharks are one of the largest predatory sharks, shadowed only by the Great White. Female Tiger Sharks are larger…

Spanish Dancer
by Ivana and Janez - 29th November 2021
Hexabranchus sanguineus, commonly known as the Spanish dancer, is a colorful marine mollusc belonging to the Gastropoda (Snails and Slugs) class…

Archeological Giants
by Ivana and Janez - 18th November 2021
When we talk about 'underwater archeology', most of us think, at first, of sunken ships and amphorae. This ancient form of packaging, which…

The bearded fireworm
by Ivana and Janez - 25th October 2021
Bearded fireworm, Hermodice carunculata (Pallas, 1766) The bearded fireworm is a marine bristle worm that lives throughout the tropical coastal waters of…

Hammerhead Sharks
by Ivana and Janez - 13th September 2021
Sharks have a bad reputation and are the most feared marine species, even though attacks on humans are rare, with…

The mystery of the sunken treasure of the SS Carnatic
by Ivana and Janez - 26th August 2021
When departing from Hurghada, heading towards Sinai, one must pass by the Sha’ab Abu Nuhas reef. Until the construction of…

It’s a job to save the Napoleon fish!
by Ivana and Janez - 16th August 2021
The Napoleon fish is a humphead species of wrasse living in the Indo-Pacific and Red Sea coral reefs, also called…

The Hidden City – Zabargad
by Ivana and Janez - 2nd August 2021
After diving on Daedalus and Rocky Island I thought that was it, we had seen the best on this safari. However,…

Inside ‘Monk Seals Cave’
by Ivana and Janez - 1st June 2021
Dalmatia is one of the most beautiful regions of the Adriatic. The islands of Hvar, Brač, Vis, Biševo and many…

The locomotives of the Thistlegorm
by Ivana and Janez - 27th May 2021
The Thistlegorm is undoubtedly one of the most famous wrecks in the world. Many books and newspaper articles have been…

Saving the Turtle
by Ivana and Janez - 7th May 2021
Once again it has been proven that every dive is unique! On a recently ended liveaboard cruise on the Red Sea's north route, we…

Alimatha – Shark Paradise
by Ivana and Janez - 23rd April 2021
The Maldives are undoubtedly among the most beautiful dive destinations in the world. The Island of Alimatha Faru is part…

The gentle giants
by Ivana and Janez - 2nd April 2021
Whale sharks are on many diver's bucket lists. I envy any diver that has been lucky enough to see one while diving.…

Guitar sharks, anyone?
by Ivana and Janez - 22nd March 2021
I love many things about diving, but what I love the most is the fact that it means constant learning. There…

In Search of Ice
by Ivana and Janez - 22nd February 2021
"Legend says that it will be possible to dive under the ice in Serbia in January 2021 ..." We decided…

Most loved marine mammals
by Ivana and Janez - 15th January 2021
Everyone loves dolphins, and it is probably the dream of most divers to dive with dolphins, the most loved cetaceans.…

Totonno – the jewel of the southern Adriatic
by Ivana and Janez - 24th December 2020
The Italian steamer 'Totonno' was built in 1899 in the shipyard Rijekee & Co. in Rotterdam. During its working life,…

How Cara Lost Her Color
by Ivana and Janez - 10th December 2020
Ivana OK: What are you by profession? I’m a marine naturalist. In a complete leap of faith, I moved to…

Coral and Reef on coral reefs
by Ivana and Janez - 20th November 2020
Coral Man's model - Women's model Different water temperatures require different wetsuits. Of course, most of us feel comfortable when diving in…

Ancient shipwreck near Cavtat
by Ivana and Janez - 22nd October 2020
Amphorae have always excited the imagination of divers. Close to the small island of Supetar, near Cavtat, lie the remains…

Will the noble pen shell go extinct?
by Ivana and Janez - 8th October 2020
The noble pen shell is one of the most attractive clams of the Mediterranean. It’s a diver’s joy to stumble…

Return of the Conger Eel
by Ivana and Janez - 21st August 2020
The Vis seabed is well known all over the world. The reason for this is that it is clear, but…

Who am I? Saint Pierre
by Ivana and Janez - 3rd August 2020
When I was asked to write about the Saint Pierre fish I had no idea what it was. Then I saw…

Junkers 88 in the Adriatic Sea
by Ivana and Janez - 21st July 2020
On August 31, 2008, when a group of divers touched the sea bottom at a depth of 54 meters in…

Marine Guide to Long-term Relationships
by Ivana and Janez - 8th June 2020
Do you remember the term 'symbiosis' from your biology classes? To refresh your memory, these are interactions between organisms that…

Dive into the Center of the Earth
by Ivana and Janez - 19th May 2020
I believe that Jules Verne would not be angry that I borrowed part of his title to begin the story…

Sea Anemones
by Ivana and Janez - 4th May 2020
Sea anemones are a group of marine animals that are predatory in nature and are closely related to jellyfish and…