The Ultimate Guide to Tulamben Bali Diving

Imagine waking up in a beautiful beach villa with a world class shipwreck steps from your door. This is the reality of Tulamben, Bali diving, home of the world famous USAT Liberty Wreck. The Liberty is one of the most accessible wreck dives in the world. It’s suitable for everyone from beginners to experts and even free divers. So whether you are doing your PADI Open Water course or a professional photographer, you will enjoy this site. The best part is, there are no long boat rides to worry about, its only a few meters from shore. As an added bonus, Tulamben is not just wreck diving, there is a wide variety of sites to choose from.

WW Two History with a Twist

The most famous attraction to the area is undoubtedly the wreck. In fact, this dive site is what started an entire industry in the town of Tulamben, Bali. A US cargo ship, the Liberty was struck by a torpedo from a Japanese submarine in 1942. Under the guidance of a US destroyer, the ship made it to Bali and beached on the shores of this fishing village. And there it sat for 21 long years, simply rusting away as a source for scrap metal. It was in 1963 where this shipwreck truly became one of a kind. The adjacent Mt Agung volcano woke up from a long slumber and created havoc in the area. The earthquakes from this strong eruption pushed the precarious ship back into the sea where it remains to this day.

With over 60 years of submersion, this wreck has become a living coral reef. Soft corals adorn what was once superstructure and an abundance of fish shelter amongst the nooks and crannies. It’s great as a day dive and also shines brightly as a night dive. We recommend a night dive or a dawn dive for experienced divers who are visiting for the first time. And non divers can also get a great look as the stern is shallow enough to snorkel. Freedivers and snorkelers are a common sight here as its a short swim from shore. The coral encrusted stern is home to an abundance of fish that are not shy of swimmers.

The USAT Liberty Wreck – Tulamben Bali Diving

Depth: from 5 to 30 meters
Experience: For everyone, is often used as a Discover Scuba and PADI Open Water training site
Marine Life: sweetlips, snappers, clown fish, hawksbill turtles, garden eels, soft corals
Ease of Access: Simple, it lies only 20 meters from the beach. Our professional guides will help you in and out of the water so you don’t need to carry your own gear.

Beyond the Wreck – Tulamben Bali Diving

The wreck is not the only attraction in Tulamben, there are a variety of sites appropriate for all levels. Coral Garden and Drop-Off are two well known sites that many visitors explore.

Coral Garden

Depth: from 3 to 25 meters
Experience: For everyone, this shallow reef is normally current free and shallow, a great site for beginners sampling Tulamben diving for the first time.
Marine Life: Many anemones and clownfish, ribbon eels, nudibranchs, sweetlips and butterfly fish. An artificial reef has been installed here and provides great cover for a variety of marine life.
Ease of Access: Very easy, walk in from shore. Our guides will give all the support you need to enter and exit. They will carry your tanks in and out as well as your camera gear.

Drop Off

Depth: from 3 to 30+ meters
Experience: A highlight of Tulamben diving and suitable for everyone. Beginners will normally stay on the sandy slope and the mini wall. More experienced divers can explore the deeper wall and the reef point.
Marine Life: Lionfish, nudibranchs, eels and cleaner shrimp are highlights of the sandy slope. The wall is home to many sea-fans and soft corals as well as anemones and schools of reef fish.
Ease of Access: Very easy, walk in from shore. Our guides will give all the support you need to enter and exit. They will carry your tanks in and out as well as your camera gear.

Liberty Slope

Depth: from 3 to 30 meters
Experience: This site is more for macro photography lovers rather than adventure divers. It features a rather barren sandy slope with a few bommies here and there. What may be boring for beginners is actually a top site for photographers and a keen eyed guide.
Marine Life: Ghost pipefish, long armed octopus, frogfish, cryptic shrimp and nudibranchs. The typical macro critters of the black sand Tulamben diving environment.
Ease of Access: Very easy, walk in from shore. Our guides will give all the support you need to enter and exit. They will carry your tanks in and out as well as your camera gear.

What’s Around the Corner?

There are four dive sites around the corner from Drop Off that are accessible by boat. Divers and guide simply hire a local “jukung” and set off for a short ride to these sites. These sites include Palung Palung, Alam Anda, Batu Kelibit, and Emerald. All of these sites offer hard corals in the shallows and slopes leading to the depths. The slopes are typically adorned with barrel sponges, sea fans and soft corals. These are great sites to encounter turtles as well as other larger fish swimming in the blue. All four sites are considered drift dives so are perfect for those with an Advanced PADI certificate. Divers will typically embark and disembark their “jukung” boat from Drop Off beach.

Book Your Tulamben Bali Diving

Are you ready to explore Tulamben? At the Underwater Tribe, our guides are experts in the area. Diving with our team means you have your own private guide and driver for your adventure. We handle your gear, snacks, drinks and transport. All you need to do is dive! Our team will pick you up in South Bali, transport you to your accommodation in Tulamben and stay with you throughout your stay. Tulamben is only one destination for keen divers in Bali. If you would like to see all that Bali has to offer then our custom Bali Safaris are the best way option. If you don’t have DAN diving insurance then please let us know before your trip. We are happy to sign you up for DAN Short Term diving insurance for the duration of your diving.

Contact Us today via email or WhatsApp to start planning your Tulamben diving holiday.

Raja Ampat 2026 Trip Report Video

Our Raja Ampat 2026 Trip Report video is now online! We have recently returned from an amazing back to back trip to Raja Ampat. With two great groups of guests, we were hosted by the beautiful Samambaia liveaboard. We had two fantastic trips with wonderful weather and great diving. If you would like to read more about the trips, our Trip Report has all the details and some highlight photos.

One of the great elements of being able to dive in a place like Raja Ampat for two weeks is the underwater encounters. We visited all of the top sites in the Central and Misool areas with many being visited on more than one occasion. This allowed us to film a lot of great scenics and behaviour throughout our visit. The opportunity to dive sites more than once is under appreciated. What you may have missed the first time means you can zero in on that subject the second time around. This was exactly what Luca was able to do on this trip. The mangroves and a particularly cooperative school of barracuda were two such subjects.

Manta Rays – Raja Ampat 2026 Trip Report Video

Of course Raja Ampat is well known for manta ray encounters. Our trips did not disappoint with these charismatic giants. Several sites in both the south and central areas presented us with mantas. However, there was no better encounter than the feeding aggregation that we witnessed and were able to swim with. The manta scenes start around the 31 minute mark and believe me you want to stick around to watch those!

Other highlights include a big school of bumphead parrotfish, a tornado of barracudas, and the unique archer fish in the clear water mangroves. Of course there is ample footage of the beautiful coral reefs that make Raja Ampat so well known. Turtles, schooling sweetlips, wobbegong sharks, and big schools of fish are featured. With the relaxing music as a background, this video is a great background to play on your TV, sit back and enjoy!

Diving Raja Ampat

Although we don’t have our next trip to Raja lined up just yet, we will certainly be returning. If you would like to be informed of all our upcoming expeditions then the best way is signing up for our Newsletter. You can find the link to the newsletter at the top of every page. We only send it out a few times per year so you won’t be inundated with junk mail. Our trips also include other top locations such as Komodo and the Banda Sea, if these interest you then please keep in touch.

We recommend making the video full screen and watching on your TV!

Five Must Shoot Underwater Photo Subjects in Bali

If you’ve ever been diving in Bali, you already know that Bali is more than just a holiday island—it’s a playground for the underwater photographer. Whether you are a wide-angle junkie chasing giants or a macro enthusiast hunting for the bizarre, Bali has a way of delivering “the shot”. For those who have yet to experience the wonders of diving here, you may not know what to expect. To make things a little easier by creating a short list of some of our favourites. Here are “Five Must Shoot Underwater Photo Subjects in Bali” every visting diver should have in their portfolio.

1. The USAT Liberty Wreck

The Liberty is synonymous with diving in Bali. It’s a world class dive site that has been central to diving on the island for decades. This WW Two era ship was torpedoed by the Japanese in 1942 and beached on the shores near Tulamben. The wreck sat there for 20 years on the shore until the large eruption of Agung Volcano and its associated earthquakes pushed the ship further into the sea, where it has stood since 1963. With over 50 years of coral growth, the ship is a true artificial reef. Home to an abundance of soft coral and sea fans, the wreck also boasts a lot of fish life. Grouper, snappers, sweetlips and more all find shelter inside the many crooks and crevices of the ship. For wide angle and wreck diving enthusiasts its well worth several dives on a trip.

The Shot: Although there is plenty of fish life on the wreck, the most iconic shot is capturing the mystery of a diver exploring the large cargo hold.

Photo Tip: Use a wide-angle lens and try to visit the wreck when there are not many divers around. Its always best to keep an eye on the surroundings as often other divers can appear out of nowhere and ruin a great shot.

2. The Manta Rays of Nusa Penida

No Bali photo safari is complete without a trip to Manta Point. Graceful manta rays are year round residents and can be found from the surface down to 20 plus meters. These gentle giants are always an amazing encounter for underwater photographers and non photographers alike.

The Shot: The goal here is capturing a Manta Ray silhouetted against the sun’s rays in shallow, clear water.

Photo Tip: Don’t chase the mantas. Find a spot hovering over the reef near the cleaning station and stay still. Let the mantas get curious and come to you. Don’t go on top of the cleaning station as this will scare the mantas away. This “passive interaction” results in much better eye contact and more natural poses. Wide-angle is a must to capture the sheer size of one or more of these rays.

3. The Elusive Mola (Sunfish)

If your visit falls between July and October, the Mola alexandrini is the holy grail of encounters. These deep-water giants rise to the cleaning stations around Nusa Penida and Padang Bai offering a rare chance to photograph one of the ocean’s most unusual fish. This largest of the bony fish comes to the reef during this time of year to allow small fish to clean the parasites off its skin.

The Shot: A vertical composition often works best for Mola Mola to emphasize their tall dorsal and anal fins.

Photo Tip: Because Mola encounters often happen at 20-30 meters, light is your biggest challenge. Keep your strobes on a lower power setting to avoid backscatter from the nutrient-rich water, and try to use a slightly higher ISO to capture the ambient blue of the deep.

4. Coconut Octopus (Amed and Puri Jati)

Moving from the giants to the macro gems, the coconut octopus is a macro photographer’s dream. Often found on the black volcanic sand of the north east and north of the island, they are active both day and night.

The Shot: A cooperative octopus posing with a coconut or clam shell. These octopus nearly always use some sort of protective shell as protection and will actively seek them out.
Photo Tip: Don’t use your longest macro lens. These octopus are normally fist sized or larger and become much bigger with their tentacles out. Trying to shoot one with a narrow lens means only a portrait shot of the head and can lead to missing out on the bigger picture. Because they live on the sand, getting your camera housing as low as possible is key.

5. Friendly Turtles

Sea turtles are always a favorite of the underwater photographer. There seem to be two types of turtles in the world, ones that flee from scuba divers and the chill kind who don’t let anything bother them. Luckily Bali tends to be home to the chilled variety, in both Green and Hawksbill species. Tulamben and Amed are fantastic places to encounter turtles in all sort of environments, from the shallow seagrass beds to the coral reefs and even on the Liberty Wreck.

The Shot: A charismatic creature like a turtle needs great eye contact for a photo to be compelling, therefore, a photo of the turtle holding direct contact with the camera is the key to success.

Photo Tip: Although they may be bold, turtle won’t stick around long for obnoxious divers. Getting close requires a bit of stealth and calmness. Take a practice shot of a similar sized coral head first to make sure your settings are right before approaching a turtle. The less you need to move strobes, knobs and dials on your camera the longer the turtle will stick around.

Join the Tribe in 2026 and Find the Five Must Shoot Underwater Photo Subjects in Bali

Whether you are a seasoned pro or a new underwater photographer, Bali offers the perfect mix of subjects. Our Custom Bali Photo Dive Trips are designed to put you in front of these incredible subjects with expert guidance every step of the way. Ready to fill your memory cards? Check out our selection of Bali Diving Safaris or let us know your preferences and we can customize your perfect itinerary. Join us for a dive into the heart of the Coral Triangle!

Lembeh Photo Subjects

“What subjects are we going to shoot there?” This is one of the most common questions we receive before a trip to NAD Lembeh Resort. This is not as easy of a question as you may think. Therefore, we thought we would write a little something to discuss different Lembeh photo subjects that most everyone will see. There are many factors that can influence what animals are seen including temperature, time of year and rain volume. Some creatures are seasonal in the strait while others are common year round. Another influence on critter sightings is the topography of the dive site. Lembeh boasts many different environments such as black sand, white sand, rubble, and coral dives. There are also a few walls and seamounts that are regularly visited.

With such a variety of environments, it means there are hundreds of species to encounter. These range from fish to invertebrates as well as favourites such as nudibranchs and octopus. Although we know the general common photo subjects that are always there, we can’t say 100% if you will find all the famous Lembeh inhabitants. Many visitors come to Lembeh armed with a “critter list” but it’s important to remember that nature doesn’t always provide. Although the guides always do their best, sometimes it’s not the ideal time of year for a certain subject. Keep in mind, if you didn’t find all the critters you were after, it’s a great opportunity for an excuse to visit again!

What Subjects Are Found Year Round?

Certain photo subjects however are pretty much guaranteed year round. Here we list some of the most consistent and interesting critters that you may encounter in the Lembeh Strait no matter what time of year you visit.

Lemon Goby

The lemon goby is always a favourite among photographers. These charismatic little fish are often found living in discarded bottles or other items such as wood or coconut shells. They are usually found in pairs and often with a batch of eggs they zealously guard. Their bright colour and humorous antics are always a delight to encounter.

Nudibranch with Hitchhiker Shrimp

The hitchhiking emperor shrimp can be found on several subjects including sea stars and cucumbers. However, the favourite subject for photographers are when they are found on nudibranchs (several species of nudibranchs can be home to shrimp). They form a commensal relationship that tends to be benefit the shrimp more than the nudibranch. The shrimp gets a free ride and access to a larger area to feed.  The movements and feeding habits of the nudibranch stir up detritus that the shrimp feeds on. The shrimp also gains a place to hide as it can tuck itself in the folds or under the slug when predators are near. The nudibranch doesn’t gain much from this relationship other than a fleeting sense of fame as it becomes a more attractive photo subject!

Long Arm Octopus

Although this photo is of the “Long arm or White V octopus” there are three long arm species (if not more) that can be found: the mimic, the white v and the wonderpus. Although all three can be found on a single trip to Lembeh, this isn’t always guaranteed. The white v and the mimic prefer black sandy sites such as TK and Aer Bajo. The wonderpus on the other hand is more often found in rubble environments and sites such as Pantai Parigi and Nudi Falls.

Finding Nemo

Of course in the Indo-Pacific region anemones and their clownfish are common including in Lembeh. Although many people may pass over the clownfish in the pursuit of more “exotic” subjects, this can be a mistake. These brightly coloured fish are a great subject to shoot when trying to improve skills or work on a new technique. There are more than ten species of clownfish in Indonesia and most are found in Lembeh. What’s even better, is the vast number of colours that their host anemones can boast. Just because you may have shot these fish before doesn’t mean you can’t shoot them again and again!

The Coconut Octopus – Most Sought After Lembeh Photo Subject?

With the recent popularity of several highly commended nature documentaries, the coconut octopus has become a very sought after creature. Their intelligence and innate boldness make them a worthy subject. Not only are they interesting to photographers, coconut octopus are one of the most interesting octopi of all. When they make a home from a shell or coconut and a second octopus appears its game on. Watching two of these fist sized cephalopods tussle over a shell is the highlight of any dive. Videographers and photographers alike will gladly spend hours watching these wonderful creatures.

The Frogfish

The frogfish is atop many a divers wish list. They come in a variety of sizes and shapes, from as small as pea as large as a soccerball. Although they don’t move a lot, their sheer ugliness and cryptic nature makes them a favourite of photographers. It’s not just the photo itself, it’s the thrill of finding such a difficult to find fish. The variety of different species is also a big attraction as each one looks much different than the others. The biggest bucket list frogfish is the “hairy” frog and it’s always exciting when one of these is found. Although the “hairy” is not that common, there are always a number of different species present around the strait that photographers will love. I believe everyone who visits Lembeh will encounter at least one froggie during their dives.

We visit Lembeh often, including our annual photo fun week every July/August. Over the years, we have learned which Lembeh photo subjects are most common as well as most sought after by photographers. This above list of critters is only the tip of the iceberg of what you will find in Lembeh. However, we are pretty confident to state that you will encounter all of these on a normal week during any time of year. In fact, all of these photos were shot during our July 2025 photo week a few months ago! If you are interested in encountering and photographing these subjects, then please peruse our 2026 Photo Workshop page for more information.

Green Turtles

Have you ever encountered a Green Turtle underwater? Oftentimes these gentle marine reptiles are shy around divers. However, in certain areas of the world they are bold and not scared around scuba divers. In Bali, we are lucky to encounter confident turtles both green and hawksbill on a number of sites all around the island.

The green turtle, Chelonia mydas, is found in all tropical and subtropical oceans of the world. Although young greens eat jellyfish and molluscs, as they age they turn to a herbivorous diet. Bali is home to numerous seagrass environments that are perfect for hungry turtles. Areas such as Amed and Tulamben are home to dozens of green turtles.

The Amed and Tulamben areas feature plains of seemingly never ending black sand slopes. The slopes are the perfect environment for sea grass. As luck would have it, these seagrass beds are home to a a large number of green turtles that are perfect photography subjects. These slow moving turtles love to spend time in the shallow water grazing amongst the grass. It’s not uncommon to see 3 or 4 of these endangered reptiles on a dive. As an added bonus, it’s often easy to get close to Bali turtles as they are used to divers. Although it’s common to shoot macro on many of these sites, having a wide angle setup is often fruitful. Click hereto read more about what to expect on Bali diving sites.

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.

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 – 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

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

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.