Melissa Hobson
Marine science and conservation writer
Melissa Hobson, doing business as The Ocean Writer Ltd., is a marine science and conservation writer based in Hastings. She has written about the ocean for outlets including BBC Wildlife, BBC Countryfile, National Geographic, New Scientist and the Guardian. Visit Melissa’s website at melissahobson.co.uk or follow her on LinkedIn.
Recent articles by Melissa Hobson
Night diver films ‘photographer’s nightmare’ on Borneo reef
This hairy creature is almost impossible to see, making sightings incredibly rare – hence its nickname, the 'photographer's nightmare'.
Massive eel-like fish filmed in the Salish Sea. These giants can grow longer than a park bench
Wolf eels can grow more than two metres long – this videographer caught one on camera.
“Suddenly saw a massive black fin rise from the sea.” Boat operator has incredible encounter off English coast
The rare orca sighting had the whole boat “buzzing with excitement”.
Deadly box jellyfish discovered on Singapore's 'Island of Death Behind'
Researchers have discovered a new species of box jellyfish, after analysing specimens that washed ashore on Sentosa Island in Singapore.
"The pain is said to be excruciating and victims may also experience paralysis, difficulty breathing and cardiac arrest..."
This fish looks like an ugly, warty rock and spends much of its time sitting completely motionless. But touching its venomous spines by accident can be lethal
It looks like a ridiculous, cartoon duck with a massive beak – and one type is so thin it has to have its anus right up by its throat...
This deep-sea eel looks like an awkward duck, has more vertebrae than any other creature and has a very lazy way of catching prey
“Sightings remain rare” of these threatened ocean giants. But scientists have hope
After being seriously impacted by whaling, blue and fin whale populations in the southeast Atlantic Ocean may be recovering
Yellow brick road found at bottom of the ocean stuns scientists...
Think the yellow brick road is fictional? Think again. It’s real and it can be found more than 1,000 metres deep in the ocean
Platypus doing "little zoomies" is the most adorable thing you'll see all day
Footage captured in Australia shows one of the world's most peculiar animals playing in a creek.
Epic 15,000km humpback whale journey breaks world record
A humpback that moved from Brazil to Australia, more than 15,000km away, has broken the world-record for the greatest distance between sightings of an individual.
Underwater robot stalks barracuda for 10 minutes – and discovers this
Experts say footage recorded by the underwater robot will make it easier to discover and study unexplored coral reefs around the world.
Older than Stonehenge and bigger than Luxembourg, this ancient underwater realm is home to creatures thought extinct for millions of years
These unique reefs, once thought extinct, were only rediscovered around 40 years ago
“He’s just a blob.” This teeny, tiny baby bobtail squid the size of a peppercorn is the cutest thing you’ll see all day
It would be easy to miss this tiny animal, which is smaller than a fingernail.
Researchers put a big pair of eyeballs on the coast of Denmark and left them there for 46 days. Here's why
Fish-stealing seabirds can cause problems for fisheries and aquaculture companies so scientists tried to find a harmless way of putting them off their seafood feast.
“Something few people ever get to witness." Experts astonished to film incredibly rare creature hunting in Pacific Ocean
There may be fewer than 170 false killer whales in the Hawaiian Archipelago, so every sighting is precious.
.“Jeez, talk about a Dr Seuss-like landscape." Underwater robot discovered bizarre ‘forest’ full of animals all facing in the same direction. Here’s why...
The deep-sea landscape seems so odd that it wouldn’t look out of place in a cartoon
“I can’t believe I was able to film this.” Drone pilot captures astonishing shark hunt in Australia
Wildlife videographer films “extremely cryptic, rarely seen” shark hunting near Magnetic Island off the east coast of Australia.
Scientists lower camera 260m to Arctic seafloor and film strange creatures lurking in the darkness
Researchers in Greenland catch elusive deep-sea creatures and a backwards-swimming fish on camera.
“Big surprise!” Birdwatchers stunned as unexpected visitors turn up at a hide in South Africa
Wildlife photographers come nose-to-nose with a pair cheetahs, with just a pane of glass separating them.
There are more than 50 seas on the planet. But this one’s the smallest
While it has no strong currents, the Earth’s smallest sea is subject to earthquakes
Look what this underwater spy camera in Miami just filmed!
The Coral City Camera has captured all sorts of ocean animals – including these magical marine mammals.
Drone captures incredible 10-tonne whale rescue in Australia
Watch remarkable footage of rescuers freeing a stranded whale and releasing it back to the ocean.
Giant squid detected in deep-sea canyon off coast of Australia
Scientists have found evidence of giant squid and numerous other rarely seen marine creatures off the coast of Western Australia.
3 miles down, deep-sea robots discovered an incredibly hostile habitat with scorching 400°C waters, smoking black chimneys and – somehow – life...
The Beebe Vent Field in the Cayman Trough is home to the world’s deepest known hydrothermal vents
