Known for its vibrant, mesmerizing colors and extraordinary abilities to change patterns in an instant, the flamboyant cuttlefish is a sight to see in the ocean. If you’re a diver, an underwater photographer, or just a marine enthusiast, you certainly shouldn’t miss the chance to spot this marine critter in the ocean! Aside from its …
Delicate, mysterious, and beautifully camouflaged, the ornate ghost pipefish is one of the ocean’s most captivating critters. Often mistaken for drifting seaweed or floating debris, these masters of disguise are an exciting find for divers and marine lovers alike. Though they may be challenging to spot, encountering them is always a rewarding experience. Looking to …
Making peace with your photo pile (and maybe even enjoying the process) Let’s be honest—culling can feel daunting. A pile of hundreds (or thousands) of images, each asking: “Keep me?” It’s easy to feel overwhelmed or unsure of what truly deserves a second look. But what if culling wasn’t about cutting down, but about clearing …
Muck diving in Lembeh is a special kind of underwater experience. Instead of exploring coral reefs or looking for big sea animals, you search for tiny, unusual creatures hiding in the sand. This is what makes the Lembeh Strait so famous, with how much life is packed into its quiet seabeds. The calm water and …
The Lembeh Strait in North Sulawesi, Indonesia, is home to some of the best and most surprising dive sites in the world. At first glance, you’ll see dark volcanic sand and still water. But look a little closer, and a new wonder begins to unfold, filled with rare, colorful, and unique marine life. This is …
Part of the REAL FOCUS series The Ethical Lens: Meet the Professionals Redefining Ethics Below the Surface Ram Yoro doesn’t just dive into the ocean—he dives into the patterns of it. As a technical diver, award-winning underwater photographer, cave explorer and co-author of Guide to Anilao, he spent years reading the currents, rhythms and creatures …
The Lembeh Strait, a name whispered with reverence in the global diving community, isn’t your typical coral-draped tropical paradise. Instead, this unique channel in North Sulawesi, Indonesia, is where divers come to discover an entirely different kind of underwater magic. Here, the adventure unfolds on dark volcanic sand, making Lembeh arguably the best muck diving …
In the northeastern corner of Indonesia, the Lembeh Strait welcomes divers into a new world where critters are the main attraction. These rare, small, and often astonishingly camouflaged marine animals are the reason this region is known as the Critter Capital of the World. While other destinations boast coral walls and pelagic marine life, Lembeh offers …
Creative Optics, Diopters, and Unconventional Tools for Underwater Photography What’s in your gear bag? If you’re heading into a shootout like REAL FOCUS, chances are you’ve already packed your tried-and-true setup: your go-to macro lens, a few lights, and maybe a trusty diopter. But while technical mastery matters, creative vision often starts with what you …
Part of the REAL FOCUS series The Ethical Lens: Meet the Professionals Redefining Ethics Below the Surface From the kaleidoscopic reefs of Sabah to the secret lives of sea creatures rarely seen, Jason Isley has spent over two decades beneath the surface—not just documenting marine life, but giving it a voice. As a founding member …
Where You Let Go — and the Ocean Shows You the Way There’s a quiet exhilaration in drift diving — that moment when you stop trying to control the sea and instead move with it, surrendering to its rhythms. It’s not just a style of diving, but a state of mind. From the upwelling surge …
Have you ever wondered why the Philippines consistently appears as one of the top recommendations for diving? Think of diving into crystal-clear waters, uncovering wartime wrecks, and swimming among some of the richest marine ecosystems, all in one island nation. There’s bound to be something for everyone in the Philippines’ underwater paradise, promising a mesmerizing …