The best dive destinations with no scuba tank required. Swim with whales in Norway, Tonga and Sri Lanka or grab your freediving gear and head to Australia to dive with fur seals.

Strengthen your marine-ID skills by learning how to identify the most common coral species.

Coral expert Nicole Helgason will write a regular column for *Scuba Diving* magazine helping you improve your coral identification skills.

These six daredevil dives promise the thrill of a lifetime — from shark encounters in the Caribbean to crocodiles and sea snakes in the Indian and Pacific.

Judy G's photography showcases the marine life you can expect to see underwater on the famed reefs of Mexico's largest Caribbean island, Cozumel.

Scuba divers and snorkelers can study the marine ecosystem in Cuba's Gardens of the Queen aboard the floating classroom M/V Oceans for Youth.

Lionfish use venom as a protective mechanism. When divers come in direct contact with their spines or fins, venom is injected into the skin through needlelike bristles located along the dorsal, pelvic and anal fins.

Photojournalist Jill Heinerth surveys the fragile marine habitat in the Arctic, where melting sea ice has an ecosystem hanging in the balance.

Conservation organizations are urging people to stay away from seal pups on the beach.