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Melissa Smith

Melissa Smith

Melissa Smith is a senior editor for Scuba Diving. An avid writer, scuba diver, backpacker and all-around outdoor enthusiast, she holds degrees in journalism and sustainability studies from the University of Florida. Before joining Scuba Diving, Melissa worked as the executive editor of EcoWatch and as the communications manager of The Ocean Agency, a nonprofit featured in the Emmy award-winning documentary Chasing Coral. Her work and expertise have been featured in outlets such as USA Today, The Guardian, National Geographic, Climbing magazine and MarketWatch.

Melissa Smith Articles

First Underwater Escape Room Opens to Divers

Scuba Escape in North Wales challenge requires divers to complete a sequence of tasks during two 45- to 60-minute dives and a surface interval.

Can Lab-Grown Fish Fillets Fight Overfishing?

BlueNalu, a California biotech company at the forefront of cellular aquaculture, thinks growing fish flesh in the lab could lower demand for wild seafood.

National Geographic Adds Fifth Ocean to World Maps and Atlases

Adding the Southern Ocean, which surrounds Antarctica, is the first time National Geographic has redrawn the oceans since its first maps in 1915.

Meet the Turtle Nonprofit Pushing for an MPA from Cocos Island to the Galapagos

The Turtle Island Restoration Network aims to protect migrating animals as they move through open ocean between nationally-protected waters.

Caribbean Reef Restoration Program Aims to Accelerate Coral Recovery

Ocean-Shot, a first-of-its-kind conservation program in Antigua and Barbuda, has a three-prong program it hopes will speed up coral restoration.

10 Great Citizen Science Dives

These eco-conscious dive objectives will ensure your dive has a positive impact.

Does Eating Lionfish Actually Help Fight Invasives from Overtaking?

The 'eat em to beat em' mentality of fighting lionfish may finally be delivering dividends.

200-pound Debris Dive Kicks Off 6-Month Lake Tahoe Clean Up Campaign

Divers working with local nonprofit Clean Up the Lake aim to remove underwater debris along the 72-mile shoreline. The group has collected over four tons of trash from Lake Tahoe and neighboring Donner Lake since September 2019.

Sea Sponges Have to Shed Body Parts to Move, Scientists Say

Arctic researchers documented lines of sponge skeleton along deep sea rocks, tracing sponge tracks.