Every dive reveals something.
A species appears at a different depth. An animal displays an unexpected behaviour. Seasonal conditions change what is present, where it is found and how it responds.
Individually, these moments may feel small. Recorded consistently over time, they can become part of a much larger picture.
Diving for Data connects observations made by Solitude guests, dive guides and underwater photographers with two long-term iNaturalist projects: Solitude World Species Study in Lembeh and Anilao and Solitude World Species Study in the Coral Triangle. Through these projects and the structured data collected during REAL FOCUS, photographs become more than personal records. They help document marine life across Anilao, Lembeh and the wider Coral Triangle.
An Ongoing Study
Solitude World’s iNaturalist projects began in 2025 as a year-round community science initiative.
In 2026, REAL FOCUS introduced a structured three-year research component across Anilao and Lembeh. Led by marine scientist Dr Dave Harasti, the study continues through 2028 and brings together photographic observations with supporting dive information.
The two streams are connected, but they are not the same:
- iNaturalist observations contribute to a broader, open record of species, locations, habitats and observed behaviour.
- REAL FOCUS dive data provides structured information collected during the shootout, including the dive site, date, depth, temperature, species observations and other relevant environmental details.
Together, they help create a growing record that can be reviewed across locations, seasons and years.
What the Study Records
Photographic observations and supporting dive information may help researchers examine patterns relating to:
- Species presence and reported abundance
- Habitat and substrate
- Observed animal behaviour
- Dive site and location
- Depth and water temperature
- Date, time and moon phase
- Seasonal and environmental changes
- Differences and similarities between Anilao and Lembeh
A single observation cannot answer every question. Repeated observations, recorded carefully over time, can help reveal patterns that would otherwise remain unseen.
The Solitude World iNaturalist Projects
Guests can contribute to two connected projects:
Solitude World Species Study in Lembeh and Anilao
This focused project records observations from the two REAL FOCUS locations and supports comparison between their marine ecosystems.
Join the Lembeh and Anilao Project
Solitude World Species Study in the Coral Triangle
This wider project gathers observations from Solitude destinations and voyages throughout the Coral Triangle.
Join the Coral Triangle Project
Observations from Anilao and Lembeh contribute to the focused location study and may also form part of the wider regional record.
How to Contribute Through iNaturalist
1. Create an Account
Visit www.inaturalist.org or download the iNaturalist app.
Create a free account using your preferred sign-in method and complete your basic profile.
2. Join the Solitude Projects
Open the two Solitude World project pages and select Join.
Joining makes it easier to follow the projects, view other observations and connect your sightings with the study.
3. Photograph What You Observe
Take clear photographs of marine life during your dives.
The image does not need to be a competition photograph. A straightforward identification image may be more useful for scientific observation than a highly stylised one.
Always photograph responsibly. Do not touch, move, chase, feed or manipulate a subject for an image or observation. No photograph or record is more important than the welfare of the animal and its habitat.
4. Upload Your Observation
Upload your photograph through the iNaturalist app or website.
Where possible, include:
- The observation date and time
- The dive site or location
- The depth
- The water temperature
- The habitat or substrate
- The behaviour observed
- The moon phase, when requested or available
- Any other useful field notes
Please complete the relevant Observation Fields so that important dive information is not lost.
5. Add the Observation to the Project
Connect the observation to the appropriate Solitude World project.
If you are unsure of the exact species, add the most accurate identification you can confidently provide. The iNaturalist community and project reviewers can help refine the identification. An observation identified only to genus or another broader level may still be useful.
How REAL FOCUS Connects
REAL FOCUS brings underwater photography, responsible fieldcraft and structured observation together.
The 2027 shootout takes place at:
- Solitude Acacia Resort, Anilao
- Solitude Lembeh Resort, Lembeh Strait
Shootout period: 15 February to 30 April 2027
Minimum stay: Three nights
REAL FOCUS participants provide their original source files and completed dive data to the resort team before check-out. Final edited images must then be uploaded through realfocus.solitude.world by 31 May 2027.
REAL FOCUS entries and iNaturalist observations are separate:
- Uploading an observation to iNaturalist does not enter that image into the shootout.
- Entering REAL FOCUS does not automatically upload the photograph to iNaturalist.
- Guests may enter the shootout, contribute observations to iNaturalist, or do both.
You do not need to enter the shootout to contribute to the iNaturalist projects.
Why Your Observations Matter˜
Researchers cannot be present on every dive, at every site or during every season.
Divers, guides and underwater photographers collectively spend thousands of hours observing marine environments. When sightings are recorded carefully and ethically, those observations can extend the reach of formal research.
Your contribution may help document:
- A species not previously recorded at a site
- A change in depth or habitat association
- Seasonal appearances or absences
- Feeding, sheltering or reproductive behaviour
- Changes in the frequency of particular observations
- A rare or poorly documented species
Not every upload will represent a discovery. Its value may only become apparent when it is viewed alongside hundreds of other observations.
One Dive, A Larger Record
A photograph can hold a memory, support an identification and contribute to a scientific record at the same time.
By recording what you saw, where you saw it and the conditions surrounding the observation, you help create a clearer picture of marine life across Anilao, Lembeh and the wider Coral Triangle.
Your dive becomes part of something that continues long after you return to the surface.
Join the Lembeh and Anilao Project