De Schildpadden van Playa Grandi
by Thomas Van Puymbroeck - 19th November 2018
Playa Grandi (ook wel bekend als Playa Piskado) is een klein, maar erg populair strandje aan de westkust van Curaçao.…
Fortunal – A beauty of a wreck dive!
by Ivana and Janez - 31st October 2018
When the fishing ship was given the name Fortunal, the owner had no idea it would be a bad omen.…
Dive Expedition – Mt. Treskavica Lakes
by Mares - 26th October 2018
Located thirty kilometers south of Sarajevo, the Treskavica mountain range is no doubt one of the most beautiful in Bosnia…
Mares Interviews: Underwater Photographers Ivana Orlovic Kranjc and Janez Kranjc!
by Mares - 18th October 2018
Recently we caught up with photographers and Mares ambassadors Ivana Orlovic Kranjc and Janez Kranjc. They have been representing and…
Corals are the perfect models
by Ivana and Janez - 4th October 2018
Looking at wonderful, colourful, tropical coral reefs, many people believe that the organisms responsible for these structures are plant based.…
Hermit crabs against plastic!
by Ivana and Janez - 31st July 2018
Hermit crabs are decapod crustaceans which, like other members of this order, have segmented bodies and very well developed eyes,…
So which one is it? A stonefish or a scorpionfish?
by Ivana and Janez - 24th July 2018
I often get confused between stonefish and scorpionfish and need to remind myself what the differences between them are. Both…
The Road to Vertical Blue 2018
by Samo - 18th July 2018
Vertical Blue is one of the best depth freediving competitions in the world which takes place in Dean's Blue Hole…
The best known wrecks of Jordan
by Ivana and Janez - 16th July 2018
It is in the northernmost part of the Red Sea, at the very tip of the Gulf of Aqaba, that…
The Wreck of the Brioni
by Ivana and Janez - 2nd July 2018
The wreck of the Brioni passenger and cargo ship is one of the most captivating wrecks in the Croatian part…
Octopuses – They have it all!
by Ivana and Janez - 22nd June 2018
Who doesn’t like octopuses? They have it all: beautiful, smart and unique. These molluscs are part of the ‘Octopoda’ (eight…
Mikovica Cave
by Ivana and Janez - 19th June 2018
There have been a lot of articles written about cave diving since it is arguably the most extreme type of…
The Wrecks of Karaburun
by Ivana and Janez - 15th June 2018
The small town of Karaburun is located in northwest Turkey, 650km away from Istanbul. What used to be a fishing…
My Mares equipment – Introducing Noam Kortler
by Noam - 27th April 2018
As a beginner diver who had just finished his Open Water course (back in 1995) my first set of equipment…
Primitive? Maybe. Ugly? Definitely not!
by Ivana and Janez - 26th March 2018
Featherstars are more scientifically known as crinoids – coming from a Greek word meaning ‘lily-like’- so it comes as no…
The Wobbegong Shark
by Ivana and Janez - 16th March 2018
When I first heard the name 'Carpet shark', I thought it was a joke. The name does not sound very…
Ocean acidification affects mussels in early life stages
by Herbert - 11th January 2018
Marine scientists show impact of acidification on mussel larvae Shells have a hard, calcareous shell to protect themselves against environmental…
Cuttlefish: underestimated players in the ocean
by Herbert - 9th January 2018
Squids play an important role in the food web and in the carbon cycle Squid are marine creatures with fascinating…
Sea Something, Say Something: Coral Reef Citizen Science
by Hannah - 11th December 2017
We have had a hectic hurricane season here in the Florida and Caribbean region, which can have a big effect…
EU project Nunataryuk investigates effects of permafrost thaw
by Herbert - 27th November 2017
Fragile Arctic environment threatened by retreating permafrost Permafrost makes up a quarter of the land mass in the Northern Hemisphere.…
Marine Snowfall at Equator
by Herbert - 13th October 2017
Detailed picture of biological particle flow to deep sea along the equator Animal excrement and parts of dead organisms constantly…
Increase in melting sea ice may lead to higher food supply in Arctic
by Herbert - 26th September 2017
In the Arctic, melt ponds are formed every year when snow and sea ice melt at the end of winter.…
Try Something Different – Scuba Diving and Stand Up Paddle Board
by Predrag - 28th August 2017
Before I traveled to the Cayman Islands I knew what to expect; I had been there so many times for…
‘Expect the unexpected’ – Underwater archaeological research around the island of Mozia, Sicily
by BGfU - 22nd August 2017
In July 2017, scientific divers of the Bavarian Society for Underwaterarchaeology (BGfU) and the Philipps University Marburg were invited by…
What do whales have to do with homeopathy?
by Herbert - 18th August 2017
EU prohibits whaling, but not trade in whale productsIf we think of sperm whales, we think of Moby Dick, and…
The Fourth Walensee Apnea Festival: 5th – 6th August 2017
by Rene Trost - 10th August 2017
Sincere thanks to all participants, to our sponsor's Mares, SSI, Davosa, ChrisBenz, Ivana Orlović, Samo Jeranko and Neza. The special…
Low-oxygen eddies in Atlantic produce greenhouse gases
by Herbert - 28th July 2017
International researchers discover previously unknown processes In 2014, an international research team led by the Kiel Cluster of Excellence “The…
Discovery Channel’s Shark Week finally features females
by Hannah - 21st July 2017
No doubt about it, Discovery Channel’s Shark Week gets a lot of attention with more than 2.5 million viewers in…
Freshwater sources in the sea
by Herbert - 20th July 2017
The invisible water resource In the scientific journal Earth Science Reviews, geologists Nils Moosdorf and Till Oehler from the Leibniz…
The secret beauty of Nudibranchs
by Mares - 13th July 2017
Nudibranchs come in many different colours, shapes and sizes. According to various sources, there are between 2000 - 3000 different…
Iron deficiency inhibits marine microbes
by Herbert - 26th May 2017
Scientists discover important process in nutrient cycle in tropical North Atlantic Iron has been identified as an important nutrient for…
Freediving – a tool for marine biology
by Fred Buyle - 5th May 2017
For my first Mares blog I have decided to write about one of the most exiting projects I’m involved in:…
The Scuba Diver Girls meet some curious seals!
by Scuba Diver Girls - 14th April 2017
“What is that?!” I gasped as I felt something tug my fin. I glanced over at Stephanie who was on…
Post-trip review 1 – Regulators
by MARES / SSI / rEvo Dive Expedition Team - 22nd March 2017
The Mares / SSI /rEvo Dive Expedition Team have had a few weeks to relax and now we’re back on the…
Catching fish too expensive to eat
by Mares - 9th February 2017
WWF report: Improving fishing management imperative for global food security By 2050, millions of people in the global South (in…
Sounds of the ocean
by Herbert - 2nd February 2017
Findings on background sounds in Southern Ocean published For nearly three years, using underwater recording devices, scientists have been listening…
West Antarctica experiences accelerated glacier melting
by Mares - 13th December 2016
Research will lead to better predictions about rising sea levelsThe fastest ongoing rates of glacier retreat ever recorded have been…
Another successful Manta Fest at Yap
by Herbert - 11th October 2016
Participants get photographic tips from experts at photographic scuba shoot-out The 9th Annual Manta Fest Photo Festival was held at…
Larger-sized animals at higher risk of extinction
by Mares - 22nd September 2016
Serious consequences for the marine ecosystems Uncontrolled fishing practices have given rise to a new trend that places larger animals…
White orca returns after absence of several years
by Mares - 7th September 2016
"Iceberg" the white orca has resurfaced in the Russian Far East. First sighted in early 2012, he captured worldwide media…
UK Inland Diving Locations Case Study – Stoney Cove
by Cat - 27th July 2016
The fact that the United Kingdom is an island, should mean that costal diving locations are plentiful and varied enough…
Exploring hydrothermal vents at Azores archipelago
by Mares - 23rd July 2016
Researchers investigate hydrothermal vents on research vessel's 30th anniversary cruise Welcome to the world of the hydrothermal vents, where organisms…
XR expert Florent M. Locatelli on board with the Mares blog!
by Mares - 13th July 2016
Florent M. Locatelli joined Mares & SSI in 2014; he is the “daddy” of the new MARES│XR line and now…
Fresh hope for coral reefs
by Mares - 23rd June 2016
Global study uncovers “bright spots” where coral reefs thrive Researchers have discovered certain places where coral reefs have managed to…
How stable is the West Antarctic Ice Sheet?
by Mares - 12th February 2016
Exceeding critical temperature values can lead to collapse of the ice sheet and strong rise in sea level A future…
Melting coastal glaciers cause loss in biodiversity – Seabed ecosystem affected by sedimentation
by Mares - 20th November 2015
Melting glaciers will lead to a reduction of species biodiversity among the benthos (bottom-dwelling organisms) community in the coastal waters…
Return of the blue whale?
by Mares - 16th November 2015
For several years, blue whales are more frequently being sighted in European waters, be it off the coast of England,…
Nitrous Oxide From The Sea
by Mares - 26th June 2015
Kiel marine scientists have discovered that the South-East Pacific region has been emitting more nitrous oxide levels than previously expected.…