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
This solar-powered sea slug slurps its lunch like a smoothie then does a headstand. The footage is beyond belief
When these sea slugs feed on algae, they pinch their prey's ability to photosynthesise. Now, scientists have shared remarkably rare footage of them feeding.
These people went out on the reef at night – and found walking sharks in the shallows
Epaulette sharks are famous for using their fins like limbs to help them crawl around the seabed. Now, a new study reveals that coral reefs are important nursery grounds for these curious marine creatures.
"As it touches the seafloor, it kills whatever living thing it contacts by encasing it in a tomb of ice…" Discover the finger of death
Strange and deadly brinicles form polar waters because of the difference between air and sea temperatures
Enormous apex predator filmed 430m deep in Pacific Ocean
When deep-sea researchers visited the Marshall Islands, they captured rare footage of bluntnose sixgill sharks – a species that can grow over 5m long.
Researchers hid a camera off the coast of South Africa, then a "creepy creature" appeared and attacked this shark
Shark “finds out the hard way” why it shouldn’t mess with this bizarre ocean animal.
Gigantic jellyfish caught on camera in Patagonia. This ocean titan can grow longer than a tennis court
Lion’s mane jellyfish have huge, stinging tentacles perfectly designed to help them capture tiny prey.
If you've never seen a deep-sea 'galaxy', you NEED to watch this
This galaxy siphonophore is a stunning colonial organism that glows as red as burning embers.
Submersible stumbles upon prehistoric animal 365m deep in Pacific darkness
These striped critters have been on the planet long before the time of the dinosaurs.
Drone pilot spots humpback whale acting strangely. What happens next is breathtaking
Scientists in Australia believe they have captured the birth of a baby humpback on camera – only the fourth time this intimate moment has ever been filmed.
See two huge bull elephant seals engage in a bruising fight for dominance
Coming to blows is a last resort for male elephant seals competing for dominance.
This is the largest migration on Earth (and it’s not what you think)
The largest migration actually occurs within our deep sea
"Honestly, truly beyond belief…" It was a humongous 7 miles long, 5 miles wide and made up of a staggering 100,000 individuals…
Is this the largest super pod ever seen?
When lions raided wild dog dens in Botswana, wildlife guides didn’t expect to see this
African wild dogs are an endangered species, so safari guides were saddened when they believed lions had killed an entire litter. But then this happened
“Rushing past like a freight train." Diver films unusual manta chain in Great Barrier Reef
Manta mating chains usually have several males in pursuit of one female – but this wildlife photographer saw something odd in Australia.
16ft great white shark found with perfectly circular hole in its head – scientists know exactly what caused it
The strange-looking wound was made by another predator, say experts from the California White Shark Project.
"Look at that, 5ft from the boat." Skipper spots one of the weirdest fish on the planet off the coast of England
Skipper Kurt Lander saw two sunfish in the shipping lanes off the coast of Sussex.
Polar bear pulls seal pup onto ice then backs away. The reason why is extraordinary
Mother seals usually stay close to their pups and this polar bear tried to use that fact to its advantage.
There's an island off Brazil that's a magnet for 3m-long sharks. Fresh wounds on their bodies reveal why they're there
Critically endangered sand tiger sharks use the waters around Alcatrazes Archipelago year-round to breed, gestate and raise young, according to a new study.
“Something I’d never even heard rumours of." Sea turtle emerges from water with strange creature clinging to its back
Remoras – also known as suckerfish – attach themselves to marine animals to hitch a ride, but seeing them holding on tight while out of the water is rare.
This sloth rode a ladder to the rainforest...
When a sloth found itself lost in a hotel lobby, staff used the strangest mode of transport to get it home.
Swirling barracuda 'tornado' caught on camera off Indonesian island
Dive guide films mesmerising school of barracuda several metres high while exploring the waters around Maratua Island, Indonesia.
Epic footage shows the "largest great hammerhead ever filmed in the Bahamas"
The four-metre great hammerhead shark was caught on camera in 2025.
"You may experience headaches, nausea, vomiting, chest pain, irregular heartbeat, and fluid on the lungs…" 10 deadliest animals in the Atlantic Ocean
From the extremely venomous fish to huge predatory sharks, these are some of the most dangerous animals in the Atlantic Ocean
It's as long as a stretched limo and swings its lethal chainsaw snout from side to side to slice its prey in half
Largetooth sawfish are one of the most unusual-looking creatures in the sea but their iconic snout also puts them at risk from humans
