Maru Rivera 
Ever seen your dive buddy take an amazing shot of a turtle or manta ray and wish you could do the same? Having the right tool can certainly make your pictures look much better. However, choosing the best underwater camera for beginners can be overwhelming, with numerous options and varying price points. But here’s the …
Macro underwater photography is the gateway to a hidden side of the ocean. Instead of chasing big animals across the reef, you spend time face-to-face with creatures smaller than your fingernail. It’s a relaxed, patient dive that feels like going on a treasure hunt. For many divers, it’s the most rewarding way to spend a …
The Lembeh Strait is home to rare marine species. Its volcanic sands support strange and colorful life. Divers visit the area to see creatures found nowhere else. One of the most unique is the Mandarinfish (Synchiropus splendidus). Its bold pattern and bright colors make it stand out on the sandy floor of Lembeh. What is …
Weedy scorpionfish, also known as Rhinopias frondosa, is a slow-moving predator that’s almost too unique to be real. This rare member of the scorpionfish family is notoriously hard to spot unless you’re diving the volcanic black sands of Lembeh Strait, where they’re more commonly encountered. But here’s the twist: this fish doesn’t want to be found. …
You do not need to dive to enjoy Lembeh. If you are not a diver or if you simply want a break from diving, snorkeling is a great way to explore the ocean here. It is easy, relaxing, and full of interesting marine life. This guide will help you plan your snorkeling experience. You will …
A hidden dive site in Lembeh doesn’t mean that it’s hidden on the map, but it’s just not on most divers’ radar. These are the quiet corners, a little off the usual route, that reward those willing to slow down and take a second look. Whether you’re chasing rare shots, new critters, or just a …
Spotting a frogfish for the first time feels like finding something out of this world. At first, it looks like part of the reef or a clump of sponge. Then it moves, and suddenly you’re face to face with one of the ocean’s most unique creatures. Lembeh Strait is one of the best places in …
Lembeh Strait in North Sulawesi, Indonesia, is world-renowned for muck diving and its rich variety of rare marine life. Also known as the “Critter Capital of the World,” this narrow channel offers a one-of-a-kind diving experience that also calls for eco-friendly diving practices. Because so many of Lembeh’s creatures rely on stillness and camouflage, even …
Imagine gliding over a plain of dark volcanic sand when something odd catches your eye. Was that a lionfish, a sea snake, or… did it just change shape? That’s the first clue you’ve stumbled across one of the ocean’s most unpredictable performers. Meet the Mimic Octopus, a shapeshifting cephalopod that transforms to survive. In this …
Small enough to fit on your fingernail, bright green like a cartoon salad, and sporting tiny “ears” that look like sheep horns, this sea slug is pure underwater joy. Meet Costasiella kuroshimae, affectionately known as the ‘Shaun the Sheep’ nudibranch. There’s something about it that makes you want to know more. What is it? Where does …
Looking for things to do outside the water in Lembeh, North Sulawesi? While the Lembeh Strait is famous for its amazing muck diving, there’s so much more to enjoy above the surface. North Sulawesi is full of beautiful places to explore, from volcanic lakes, cool mountain views, tropical forests, and more! That’s why at Solitude …
For adventurous divers and marine photographers, few underwater encounters are as thrilling as spotting the elusive Wunderpus octopus (Wunderpus photogenicus). With its elegant, rust-and-white patterned arms and hypnotic movements, this rare cephalopod is a living masterpiece that seems almost too magical to be real. Found in the sandy muck sites of Indonesia and the Indo-Pacific, …