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X-Ray Mag #89

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X-Ray Mag #89

January 16, 2019 - 14:40
Posted in:
Pages: 
90 spreads (double pages)

File size: 
55 Mb

Main features in this issue include:

Centenary of the Rossarol Wreck

December 08, 2018 - 21:31
The story is found: 
on page 6

The waters of Istria in the Adriatic Sea are littered with ships from the First World War and one of the best known is that of the Rossarol, sunk on 16 November 1918. Divers from many parts of Europe have developed a project to remember the tragic episode and safeguard the integrity of the wreck.

The Italian scout cruiser Cesare Rossarol was a Poerio-class ship built at the Gio. Ansaldo & C. shipyard in Sestri Ponente. Entered into service on 1 August 1915, the Rossarol was actually a slender destroyer, 85m long and 8m wide.

Diving the Christine Slate Mine of Germany

August 08, 2018 - 11:24
The story is found: 
on page 72

Diving is one of the most varied sports one can imagine. In the beginning, it is the colorful fish and warm waters that inspire new divers. But after some years, for many divers, this is not enough. For these divers, wreck diving and cave diving offer exciting alternatives. If you are interested in both, a whole new exciting world can also be found in mines and mine diving.

Personally, my real passion is diving deep wrecks; however, due to weather, most wreck expeditions only take place between May and October. So, some years ago, I came up with the idea of pursuing cave diving. It’s pretty nice, but for me, in the long run, it’s too boring.

Graveyard of the Atlantic: Wrecks of North Carolina's Outer Banks

August 14, 2018 - 14:48
The story is found: 
on page 34

One of the problems with the proverbial bucket list is that whenever you tick a dive trip off the list, it seems that you add at least three more destinations to it. This is exactly what happened to me. I had never considered North Carolina as a dive destination, much less one of the top wreck diving locations in the world.

Wreck diving is one of my favorite types of diving because I love the history of how the wrecks came to be underwater, and North Carolina has plenty of that.

How I Got The Shot: Backstories on Our Contributors’ Favorite Picks

January 09, 2019 - 10:39
The story is found: 
on page 77

Ever wanted to know how a photographer captured a fantastic, unique or strangely weird shot? Well, here are the favorite image picks and their backstories from several of our featured contributors, as we celebrate the new year and look back on dive adventures past.

Amanda Cotton

— Humpback Whale Calf, Vavau, Tonga

Innovations: Things to Thank Technical Divers For

December 11, 2018 - 15:01
The story is found: 
on page 68

We are all involved in the same great sport. Whether you are a recently qualified open water diver or an experienced diver who has travelled to the farthest oceans of the world, there is a bond that connects us. We are all divers.

In the automobile industry, technologies such as ABS braking, air bags and push-button ignition were originally developed for racing cars but have now found their way into family saloons.

Kristen Regan Portfolio

December 08, 2018 - 14:46
The story is found: 
on page 86

In her Plastisphere series, American artist and photographer Kristen Regan has created spell-binding photographs of plankton forms, inspired by microscopic ocean life, using repurposed plastic materials.

"We can become numb to the facts and numbers regarding plastic pollution, but visual art can allow people to see the problem in a different light. Art can facilitate a dialogue about the issue and contribute to real changes."
— Kristen Regan

North Carolina: Wrecks & Sharks

March 12, 2018 - 10:04
The story is found: 
on page 23

The waters off the coast of the US state of North Carolina are treacherous. Bad weather, rough seas, heavy current and inlets that are difficult to navigate are common. So why do underwater explorers consider this area to be a world-class dive destination? Because when you do get offshore, it is extraordinary.

Visibility varies but can be more than 30m (100ft). The best diving conditions are between June and October, with late June to early August being the best.

Sand Tiger Sharks of North Carolina

December 10, 2018 - 18:21
The story is found: 
on page 41

There I was, off the coast of North Carolina at a depth of about 20m (60ft) when the shadowy shape of the WWII wreck Caribsea came into view—but it looked almost as if it was moving! Upon closer inspection, it turned out to be a cloud of tiny bait fish completely covering the wreck. As they moved, the ship seemed to move with them; and then, out of the swarm, a massive, tank-like, gray silhouette emerged.

Sand tiger sharks (Carcharias taurus) look mean but in reality, they are quite docile. As I watched, at least 12 sharks crisscrossed the Caribsea wreck; they almost seemed to be in a perfect state of Zen.

Seeking the Dugong in Marsa Alam

December 13, 2018 - 14:29
The story is found: 
on page 48

Many years ago, whilst learning to scuba dive, I came across an article on manatees and dugongs. I was entranced. Not only were they cute, according to the article, they loved hugging divers, and once they held on to you, they did not want to let you go. The image of this human-hugging, underwater teddy bear remained with me and I was determined that one day, I would find one and hug it.

I started to research these creatures and discovered that manatees and dugongs were not actually the same animal. Although they belong to the same family (Sirenia), they are actually quite different.

The Octopus, a Friend

December 19, 2018 - 20:36
The story is found: 
on page 56

Talking about this animal is simply a pleasure, almost as much as meeting it and relating to it underwater. It is satisfying to spend some time putting my thoughts into words about the octopus, as I am a diver in love with this extraordinary creature—a mollusc that reasons.

Photography has helped me to document the life of an octopus, immortalizing many aspects of this creature’s behavior in pictures: its poses, its liveries, its ways of doing things.