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Recommended reading

  • DIRrebreather: Nitrox Rebreather Diving
    Cedric Verdier
    This book is dedicated to Nitrox rebreather diving and the basic principles and skills that every rebreather diver should know and master. It covers some topics like balance and trim with a rebreather, risk management, and proper Nitrox dive planning.


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Articles

X-Ray Magazine article archive is currently undergoing a restructuring where articles will be placed under their right categories for a better overview.

This work is in progress so check back with us regularly.

Meanwhile use the Search function above

  • Published in X-Ray Issue:   15 - Feb 2007
    Caribbean
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    The Yucatan Peninsula is located in the south of the contiguous Mexican states. The ground here is heated by the tropical sun—35°C makes for a hot and impassable jungle. The bogs—littered with iguanas, snakes and crocodiles—are drying up. A rare trop-ical storm suddenly and unexpectedly flies up from the Caribbean Sea. Black clouds, peals of thunder, bright lighting, squalls of wind and rain last no more than 15–20 minutes and again the damp stuffy mind-melting weight of the stifling heat returns. It is not the best place to dwell for the white man. But this land saw an era over 1000 years ago, when it was occupied by a surprisingly small-in-stature, dark-skinned people—the Maya.
    Download pdf: Riviera Maya
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  • Published in X-Ray Issue:   07 - Oct 2005
    AustralAsia
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    Tasmania’s Southwest National Park and World Heritage Area is the land that time forgot, and most of the civilized world has never heard of Bathurst Harbour. It is the home of the world’s oldest living plant, Kings Holly (Lomatatia tasmanica) discovered in 1934 by the late Deny King, an environmentalist and local legend who lived in the area most of his adult life earning his living mining tin. On the banks of the Old River, bushwalkers able to penetrate the closely guarded secret location can admire a 10,500-year-old Huon Pine Tree. From the bird hide near the Melaleuca airstrip, you can watch the mating dance of a pair of orange bellied parrots, a species which breeds only in this region and has been saved from extinction by volunteers and the Tasmanian Parks and Wildlife Service. Apart from the rare flora and fauna, the landscape is as rugged and spectacular as any wilderness on earth.
    Download pdf: Black Water Diving
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  • Published in X-Ray Issue:   08 - Dec 2005
    South Africa
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    Covering an area of over 1,200,000 sq km, with nearly 3000km of rugged coastline, South Africa boasts some of the worlds most awe inspiring diving. From the Great whites of the Western Cape, to the epic Sardine Run, the pristine coral reefs of Sodwana Bay and the Ragged Tooth Sharks of Aliwol Shoal, many of the sights and experiences must ofbe seen to be believed. Since the end of apartheid eleven years ago more and more people have started travelling to South Africa, not only to experience the breath taking diving but also the spectacular scenery, vineyards, safaris, architecture, and local people that together make this destination a must for any seasoned traveller. Over the following pages we’ll take you through some of the best dives sites, as well as looking in more detail at some experiences you can enjoy there. Join us now, as we discover South Africa
    Download pdf: South Africa
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  • Published in X-Ray Issue:   22 - Mar 2008
    How to...
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    A photographer’s heart always seems to beat a little faster when it comes to taking pictures of sunken ships and aircraft. So, how do you become successful in shooting wrecks? Granted, it is not entirely straight forward, but if you take the following advice and guidelines to heart, you will surely achieve good results.
    Download pdf: Shooting Wrecks
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  • Published in X-Ray Issue:   22 - Mar 2008
    Kurt Amsler
      |  
    A photographer’s heart always seems to beat a little faster when it comes to taking pictures of sunken ships and aircraft. So, how do you become successful in shooting wrecks? Granted, it is not entirely straight forward, but if you take the following advice and guidelines to heart, you will surely achieve good results.
    Download pdf: Shooting Wrecks
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  • Published in X-Ray Issue:   12 - Aug 2006
    Mediterranean
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    The third dimension, a Bosnian experience Cave divers are like rock-face climbers; their purpose is the same, only in the opposite direction, with one difference. Cave-diving is about as extreme as it gets. It’s a very Zen experience and the next thing to absolute oblivion. You are quite literally in a parallel universe, totally removed from reality. If its peace and quiet and isolation you’re looking for, this is the place to be. Cave diving is not about discovering what there is but determining what there isn’t. In a cave you are surrounded by velvet darkness and an unnatural silence, leaving you with a distinct impression that the fish can hear your heartbeat. To a virgin cave diver, it looks somewhat frightening as this is a completely different type of diving, with different equipment. It appears somewhat dangerous too as there are no shotline attachments.
    Download pdf: The River Una
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  • Published in X-Ray Issue:   05 - Jun 2005
    WW2
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    The port of Narvik in north Norway was established around the export of iron-ore from Sweden. This was due to the very good harbour and its ice-free conditions. At the outbreak of World War II, Narvik was a strategically important harbour, and during the first few days of the war a very intense battle was fought out here between German, Norwegian and British naval forces. During this fighting several ships were sunk, both warships and civil merchant ships. Narvik harbour was transformed into a great ship cemetery, with wrecks sticking up out of the water everywhere. Several of the ships were later salvaged, but many wrecks still remained. With its high density of wrecks, Narvik is an eldorado for wreck divers.
    Download pdf: Wrecks of Narvik
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  • Published in X-Ray Issue:   23 - May 2008
    Water properties
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    The way an animal gets around in the sea and or in the air depends, fundamentally, on the density and viscosity of its milieu. Birds use the low density and viscosity of the atmosphere to fly or glide, with the range of their movement being limited only by their endurance and the height to which they can fly. This is similar to the fishes and similar marine creatures who can also move three-dimensionally within their aqueous milieu though unlike the terrestrial creatures which live on the, essentially, two dimensional surface of the earth. The latter have evolved locomotive mechanisms which are suited to movement dominated by gravity. In the case of humans, for example, a two-legged mode of locomotion suited to this situation has evolved. To a certain extent, birds may seem to be independent of gravity as they fly around in the air. However, unlike marine creatures in their aqueous milieu, if they stop flying they immediately crash to the ground – unless, of course, they can glide for a little while.
    Download pdf: Locomotion
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  • Published in X-Ray Issue:   24 - Jul 2008
    Profiles
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    Many, many divers, underwater photographers and filmmakers, when asked about the origin of their passion to go underwater, say that they were inspired by the films and books of Hans Hass. He must be a very remarkable person, interesting to listen to, not to mention, Dr Hass is the greatest celebrity in the diving world today. Is it possible to meet him, to talk?
    Download pdf: A talk with Hans Hass
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  • Published in X-Ray Issue:   23 - May 2008
    Europe
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    Global diving travel has become increasingly easy over the last decade or so, providing easy access to a growing number of tropical and exotic destinations. So, for many divers residing in cooler climates or new to the sport, it is tempting to look only towards these warm distant destinations and perhaps ignore the wealth of marine life on their own doorstep.
    Download pdf: Cornish reefs
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  • Published in X-Ray Issue:   24 - Jul 2008
    AustralAsia
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    I can’t help likening this island to a chromosome. It’s contorted shape not only looks like one, but also has its different features spread out along different points even when you zoom in. Our focal point is the northern region. On the western side of the tip, we find Bunaken national park with its majestic drop-offs, on the top of the area around Gangga Island, and on the eastern side, Lembeh, famous for its critter diving.
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  • Published in X-Ray Issue:   23 - May 2008
    Mediterranean
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    If there is any hidden secret in the Mediterranean, it is the island of Vis. For many years, it was a forbidden and restricted military area. It was not until 1991, when the iron curtain finally came down, that it was opened up for tourism and diving. On Vis, small picturesque port towns and spectacular wrecks, drop-offs and caverns are waiting to be discovered by divers.
    Download pdf: Vis - Croatia
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