The Most Important Fish in the Sea

Menhaden, also known as bunker, are forage fish that play a critical role in the ocean food web. They are a vital source of food for wildlife up and down North America’s Atlantic seaboard. But their population management ignores the importance of the food web. Learn more and what you can do.

Four fishermen grasping net of menhaden

Dragon Road, Part 1

Any animal that looks as unconventional as a seadragon must also have an unconventional sex life. Unlike most marine fishes, which reproduce by spontaneously releasing and leaving behind thousands of tiny eggs in the open ocean, seadragons brood their large eggs attached to the tails of males for a month.

A yellow seadragon is floating through kelp

Mola Molas

Mola molas, or sunfish, are some of the heaviest bony fish in the world. They are interesting creatures who dine on jellyfish.

A giant blue-gray mola mola swims through kelp

Bali’s Mola Diving

Mola molas, or sunfish, are some of the heaviest bony fish in the world. You can see these creatures firsthand in Bali.

A mola mola breaks the ocean surface and a cute bubble comes from its mouth

The Good Fortune of San Miguel Island

San Miguel Island is a tough place. It’s tough to get there, tough to stay there and tough to dive there. But, it offers some pretty sites.

A thick fog surrounds San Miguel Island.

Traveling Light

When traveling to dive, consider taking along any of your own gear that’s complex, such as your dive computer, or that enhances your personal comfort or enjoyment, such as your mask or fins.

Masks, tanks, regulators and other rental gear stand by idly waiting for wearers.

A New Mission

Force Blue involves highly skilled military veterans in marine conservation efforts. The veterans work with marine scientists on initiatives including invasive species (lionfish) removal.

Two divers extract invasive lionfish

DAN Member Profile: Cristina Mittermeier

Cristina Mittermeier has been recognized as a Sony Artisan of Imagery, one of Outdoor Photographer magazine’s 40 Most Influential Nature Photographers and a recipient of the Nature’s Best Photography Windland Smith Rice International Conservation Photographer of the Year award.

Christina Mittermeier poses on a boat while holding a large digital camera

Diving with Dinosaurs

Considered critically endangered, smalltooth sawfish are under pressure from anglers who would take their rostrums as souvenirs and from the shark-fin trade. Many divers can go their whole lives without seeing one.

Three sawfish hang out at the bottom of the ocean

Member to Member: Sunscreen and Coral

Sunscreen pollution is a serious threat to the world’s coral reefs causing fast degradation. But, divers can combat the effects of this pollution with simple steps.

Dead tissue is shown on a brain coral. The coral looks green-yellow in color