Lembeh Photo Week 2026 Announced

Lembeh Photo Week 2026

We are happy to say that the dates for our 2026 Photo Week at NAD Lembeh Resort have officially been announced.  Our annual visit to Lembeh is one of the highlights of our year and has been for 13 years. We would love to welcome you to NAD Lembeh in July 2026 to enjoy the amazing diving the area has to offer. For 2026 we are in Lembeh for a Pre Workshop Warm Up, the Photo Workshop, and a post workshop Fun Week.

The Warm Up Week

What is a warm up week? It’s simple really, we have dedicated a few days ahead of the workshop to get back into diving without pressure. This is your way to try out some new dive gear or make sure all your kit is working correctly. Many folks feel tired after long flights and don’t want to jump straight into the learning and enjoy a few days of relaxation first. The photo coaches will be on hand during this time but will not be doing any formal presentations. However, they will answer questions or help with gear setup. They will also be diving and taking photographs during these days. The Warm Up week runs from the 18th of July until the 24th.

Lembeh Photo Week 2026 Workshop

The workshop itself officially begins on the 24th with an introductory session at 6pm and a wonderful slideshow by Sam from NAD. The diving during the workshop starts on the 25th with 3 dives per day up to the 31st when there are 2 dives scheduled. This an 8 night/20 dive schedule for the workshop itself, but of course more dives and nights can be added. The event ends on the night of the 31st with the finals BBQ and a slideshow of everyone’s images. During the workshop week the coaches don’t carry cameras and instead work with divers underwater. It’s truly a great way to learn more about underwater photography in a friendly and non-competitive atmosphere.

Photo Fun Week

The Photo Fun Week is a great way for everyone to wind down after a hard week of learning! In 2025 everyone spoke about how great it was to stay on after the workshop for a few days. After the workshop ends its a great way to relax and enjoy the company of friends while diving. Of course the coaches will continue to offer advice but they will dive with their cameras after the workshop. The Fun Week offers the perfect way to continue taking photographs while putting new techniques into practice. You will also get a chance to revisit some of your favourite subjects. Besides, who can pass up a few more days of diving at Lembeh Strait!?

We have posted a page about the workshop with more detail here: Lembeh Photo Workshop 2026.  Interested in joining us in July 2026? We still have spaces available, an 8 night/20 dive package starts at USD $2892/per person based on double/twin occupancy.

Lembeh Strait – Top Five Attractions

Top Five Reasons to Dive Lembeh Strait

The top five reasons to dive Lembeh Strait are not easy. There are so many reasons to dive there, its hard to pare it down to only five! Lembeh is one of the most famous scuba diving destinations on the planet. The wonders to be found in Lembeh are a treat for everyone including photographers and non photographers. With its unique ecosystem, the diving here is different than most popular diving destinations. What makes it such a wonderful location? Today we discuss five reasons that make Lembeh a special destination.

The Critters are Out of this World

When asked about Lembeh, knowledgeable divers will always mention the incredible number of critters to be found there. What is a critter you may ask? “Critters” is the nickname given to weird looking animals that are often found underwater. This mainly means cryptic creatures that are found only in a few special places rather than well known fish. Examples of such include frogfish, cryptic octopus, bizarre looking shrimp, and other fish that walk rather than swim. This is not a destination for diving on beautiful coral reef scenes.

A New Kind of Diving for Many

Many folks think of tropical dive trips as spending their days slowly drifting over acres of hard coral reefs. Although this may be true in many locations, there are other kinds of diving to be experienced. Lembeh is one of the originators of what is popularly known as “muck diving”. Muck diving is a term coined to describe swimming around in muddy, sandy, or otherwise barren looking environments while looking for the creatures that call it home. For those who have never experienced it, the first dive or two can seem visually underwhelming until the sharp eyed guides point out abundant hidden treasures. Many of the animals are either cryptic and hiding in plain sight or hide themselves undercover, either natural or man made.

A Guide is a Necessity in Lembeh Strait

Many people believe they are competent divers and have no need for a guide. They frequent places to beach dive or where no guides are needed and thrive in that kind of environment. However, diving in Lembeh is a different animal altogether. At first glance, many sites in the strait appear to be a barren sandy slope, however, these sites often offer the best animal encounters. The keen eyed guides who work in Lembeh have spent countless hours underwater and know the sites like no other. What may look like nothing but sand to your eyes, is a well camouflaged octopus den. Not only have they learned to spot hard to find animals, they dive the sites every day. This frequency underwater allows them to know which sites are hot and where the critters are hiding from day to day.

Diving at Your Pace

There is nothing more annoying than diving with a group of six other divers and needing to keep the pace. This is especially bothersome to photographers who love to take their time with a subject. We have all heard horror stories of passive aggressive guides who “hurry” their divers so everyone remains together. Although this may be necessary in high current areas such as Komodo or Tahiti, it’s not the norm in Lembeh. Lembeh is home to relaxed, slow paced diving with a very small group. Dive resorts such as NAD Lembeh Resort boast a 2 guests to 1 dive guide ratio in order to maximize everyone’s enjoyment. This allows divers to dive at their own pace without feeling rushed. After all, maximizing enjoyment is the main goal of any diving holiday!

Lembeh Strait – Underwater Photography Mecca

Lembeh is known as one of the top destinations in the world for underwater photographers. Photographers love the weird and wonderful wildlife that can be found here. The lack of strong currents and ample subjects in the shallows means long dives are the norm. The relaxed conditions make Lembeh a wonderful place for learning photography as well. Many photography workshops are held here year after year. The reasons for this are many, including the fact that most of the resorts cater specifically to photographers. The ease of diving, abundance of critters and calm conditions make the area a wonderful experience for learning. The best part is that many of the subjects remain still on the bottom and allow multiple photos to be taken. It’s the ideal environment for  learning!

For these exact reasons Lembeh Strait is our destination every year for our annual Photo Workshop. If you are interested in learning more about underwater photography please contact us as we still have space in July 2025. With many return guests year after year we must be doing something right. Why not join us in 2025 to find out for yourself?

Seahorses – Creature Feature

Seahorses – Charismatic Yet Frustrating

The humble seahorse is high on the list of encounters for scuba divers. Many people have fond memories from childhood of seahorses as they are a popular character in kids books and cartoons. As an adult, the chance to see a seahorse in the wild for the first time creates a true sense of childhood excitement for many. But what exactly is a seahorse? Is it a fish? Is it something else? Where can they be found and can divers encounter them?

One of the largest misconceptions of the seahorse is the fact that “yes!” it’s a fish. Due to its funny shape and behavior many people think its not a fish at all. As they are so different looking than others. The seahorse lives in a small genus called “hippocampus”, there are 46 different species included in the genus and they are found in many areas of the world. This genus includes all seahorses from pygmies to the largest species.

Seahorses mainly live in protected waters such as sea grass beds or shallow coastal shorelines. They are found in tropical and sub tropical areas but can be found in some colder areas such as southern England. They range in size from less than a centimeter in length to over 35cm. These fish are some of the only species that swim vertically through the water column. They can use their prehensile tail to attach themselves to different surfaces in order to stay in one location. This helps them stay in position to camouflage themselves or remain in place when feeding.

Seahorses in Indonesia

We encounter all kinds of seahorses in Indonesia, from the tiniest pygmy to more ordinary thorny seahorses. Popular areas to find them include Komodo, Raja Ampat, the Lembeh Strait and Bali. However, they can be found throughout the archipelago. The most common habitat for big seahorses tend to be shallow sandy slopes or rubble environments. Pygmy seahorses on the other hand are found on seagrass or seafans anywhere from 5 meters to more than 40 meters of depth. Indonesia is home to over 30 different species of these shy sea creatures.

Seahorses are one of the most frustrating subjects for underwater photographers. Shy at best and downright rude at worst, seahorses are possibly the least cooperative fish in the sea. No matter a pygmy or regular sized variety, these sought after subjects hate to look toward the camera. Every photographer who has encountered one of these charismatic creatures knows the feeling of frustration when the horse turns away. Right when you think you have snuck up and framed it perfectly, the wily fish will turn awayas you are depressing the shutter button! Seahorses certainly offer a lesson in patience but the rewards are worth it when a great photograph is taken.

(Do note that pygmy seahorses can be quite deep and divers must always be careful of bottom time when photographing them.)

Photographing Seahorses in the Lembeh Strait

Are you interested in photographing seahorses? Why not join us in the Lembeh Strait at NAD Lembeh Resort in July 2025? The straits are home to an abundance of pygmy and regular sized seahorses and they can be found on almost every dive. As an added bonus we are conducting an Underwater Photography Workshop from the 18-26th of July 2025. If you are interested in a great dive trip with a fun group of people please Contact Us today.

Blue Ring Octopus – Beautiful Yet Deadly

Blue Ring Octopus – Beautiful Yet Deadly

There are over 300 species of octopus in the ocean ranging in size up to a four meter arm span. They live in all of the world’s oceans and fill many a niche in their habitat. However, perhaps the most interesting of all species is the diminutive Blue Ring Octopus. There are four species of Blue Rings and they are only found in the Indo Pacific region.

Toxin That Packs a Punch

Of course the first question that everyone has about these octopi is “How venomous are they?” In short, very! However, it’s a bit of a complicated question as their toxicity is somewhat complicated. Unlike most venomous marine life, the blue ring has both a venomous bite as well as being toxic to consume. A pufferfish for example is only toxic if you were to eat the wrong part of it, it doesn’t have a venomous bite. The blue ring boasts a tetrodotoxin that causes paralysis to all of the bodies organs. This means it can cause death due to asphyxiation once a person is no longer breathing. Of course it’s not a common thing to be bitten by a blue ring so we suggest not getting bitten by one!

Blue Rings In Indonesia

We find these octopus throughout Indonesia. They are normally found on rubble like bottoms where they blend in very well with the background. People who encounter one for the first time are always surprised how small they are. They are typically around the size of an adult male thumb. In Bali the best place to find them is in the Padang Bai area and certain areas of Amed. Other areas of Indonesia where we find them are Lembeh Strait, Komodo, Ambon, Raja Ampat, and Triton Bay.

Finding Blue Ring Octopus

One of the reasons these animals are in high demand by photographers is the fact they are quite hard to find. They have the ability to change their skin texture and colour in order to blend in. Coupled with an ability to stay absolutely still for long periods of time, these tiny cephalopods are a challenge to find. A talented dive guide is a must in order to find them. We always suggest diving with an outfit who specialize in critter spotting.

Photographing a Tiny Octopus

Photographing these small octopi can be a challenge. As they are mainly found on rubble, it’s hard to get them to stand out from the background. There are various methods one can use to photograph them in a pleasing fashion. One of the easiest is to experiment with different strobe positions to avoid lighting up the background. If you have a snoot, this works well for blue rings as it will only light up the octopus and not the surroundings. One of our favorite methods is to simply use a limited depth of field such as f4 to blur out the background. Whatever method you choose, if you can catch the octopus with its blue rings shining then you have captured a wonderful photo.

Blue ring octopus displaying rings, Hapalochlaena sp., Lembeh Strait, Manado, North Sulawesi, Indonesia, Pacific Oceanng

If you are looking to encounter a blue ring octopus then Indonesia should certainly be on your radar. Lembeh Strait and Bali are two fantastic destinations to check out for these cute little cephalopods. Please let us know if you are interested in joining us for a Bali diving adventure and we can get you on your way with our talented critter spotters.

Wayag Lagoon – Photo of the Day

Wayag Lagoon

As an island nation with over 18,000 islands, Indonesia offers non stop aerial views. The recent popularity of drones has made the unique views from the air a standard for any serious photographer. Have you visited Wayag Lagoon or Raja Ampat?

Raja Ampat is located in West Papua province in eastern Indonesia. It’s a marine protected area that is well known for its incredible karst island landscapes. The myriad lagoons and shallow coral reefs provide an epic backdrop for aerial photography. To make conditions even better, the islands always boast a vibrant green jungle which contrasts well with the deep blue sea.

Wayag Lagoon is located in the far northern end of Raja Ampat. This protected lagoon is home to a variety of marine life including sharks and manta rays. For those who don’t have a drone there are two hills that can be climbed which also offer a stunning view. For those interested in marine pursuits it is one of the best places in the world to explore by kayak or paddle board as well as snorkel or scuba dive.

Visiting Wayag and Indonesia

If you are planning on visiting Raja Ampat then why not add on a Bali trip to your itinerary? We offer custom Bali diving itineraries that visit all of the hot spots for diving in Bali including Tulamben and Nusa Penida.

Space Available Lembeh Strait July 2024

Space Available Lembeh Strait Photo Workshop July 2024

For those who have been waiting for a space on our 2024 Lembeh Strait Photo Workshop, we have one room that has become available. This event is from 20-27 July at NAD Lembeh Resort and is our flagship event every year. The Lembeh Strait is one of the top diving areas in the world and a fantastic destination to learn more about underwater photography.

Our photo workshop consists of 7 nights and 17 dives with a maximum of 2 divers per dive guide. The dive guides at NAD Lembeh are known as the best at what they do: finding the most sought after subjects in the Strait. And what a list of subjects can we find! Wonderpus, mimic octopus, blue rings, coconut octopus, frogfish, seahorses, pygmies, flamboyant cuttlefish, bumblebee shrimp and so much more. Lembeh truly is the top destination for macro photography.

Our Lembeh Strait Photo Workshop

Our workshop is a fun and informal affair. Participants range from brand new photographers to seasoned veterans who have participated in many of our workshops over the years. A typical day begins with breakfast before heading out for two dives on the comfortable dive boats. Everyone returns to the resort for lunch which is followed by a short presentation about underwater photography. A third dive typically departs around 2pm and upon return we present tips and tricks on post processing. The 5pm to 7pm hours are also the time for one to one work between the instructors and participants for questions or photo critiquing. We find this is the best way for people to get the most out of the workshop.

We currently have one poolside room available at USD $2288 per person based on twin/double occupancy. If you would like to extend your time before or after the workshop this is also available. We are hosting a “Photo Fun Week” which takes place over the 5 days before the workshop starting on the 15th of July. If you would like to read more about this years workshop please visit our dedicated 2024 Photo Workshop page or send us an email.