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!
