Diving
Real experiences, dive sites & marine life encounters
With so many dive destinations around the world, choosing the right one can sometimes feel overwhelming. Each place offers something different: from colorful coral reefs and dramatic drop-offs to rare macro life and unforgettable encounters with large pelagics. In this section, I share my personal experiences, along with tips on dive centers, budget insights, the best dive sites, and the marine life you can expect. Hopefully, it will make planning your next underwater adventure a little easier!
#Indonesia
Capture your best macro shots in Amed
In the northeast of Bali, you’ll find a small fishing village that has grown into a popular destination for macro diving enthusiasts. Welcome to Amed! This coastal town is known for its volcano, Mount Agung, creating the distinctive black sand beaches. The dark sand provides a unique background for underwater photography, making tiny creatures like nudibranchs, shrimps or seahorses stand out beautifully.
#Indonesia
Dive alongside manta rays in Nusa Penida
It’s impossible to talk about Nusa Penida without mentioning manta rays. Strong currents flow between the islands of Penida, Lembongan, and Ceningan, bringing nutrient-rich waters and with them, majestic manta rays to the cleaning stations along Penida’s coastline. This is what makes Manta Point such a famous and reliable spot to observe these elegant creatures.
#Philippines
Meet the thresher sharks in Malapascua
Thresher sharks are deep-water predators, typically living hundreds of meters below the surface. Yet Malapascua is one of the few places in the world where they consistently rise from the depths to visit Kimud Shoal, a shallow underwater pinnacle. At this cleaning station, small reef fish remove parasites from their bodies, giving divers a rare opportunity to observe these graceful sharks up close.
#Philippines
Discover some of the most colorful reefs of the Philippines
Not far from Siquijor in the central part of the Philippines lies Apo Island, a small volcanic island home to fewer than 1,000 residents. This protected marine reserve is home to nearly 400 species of coral. The reefs are so alive that you may find yourself simply admiring the colors, though you’ll definitely encounter plenty of marine life as well. As a bonus, you can even spot bubbles rising from the seabed, a reminder of the island’s volcanic origins.
#Maldives
Admire the tiger sharks of Fuvahmulah
At the southernmost tip of the Maldives lies Fuvahmulah, an island famous for its large population of tiger sharks, with more than 250 individuals. At a unique dive site known as “Tiger Zoo,” located near the harbor where fishermen discard fish remains, divers have an almost guaranteed chance of encountering one of the ocean’s largest and most impressive shark species.