Have you ever looked down while diving and thought you were staring at a rock, only to realise the “rock” was staring back? That’s the trick devil scorpionfish use to hunt. It blends into the seabed so perfectly that most people swim right past it without knowing. With its rough edges, eerie look, and clever …
A Guide for REAL FOCUS Participants When it comes to underwater photography, gear and lighting matter — but composition is what makes an image resonate. A well-composed photo doesn’t just document a subject, it guides the viewer’s eye, conveys mood, and tells a story that lingers. For REAL FOCUS participants, composition is where technical skill …
In wildlife photography, we often celebrate the close-up. The crisp detail of an eye, the texture of skin, the intricate pattern of scales or feathers — portraits that hold us spellbound. Just as a portrait of a person can reveal their story through the lines on their face or the flicker in their gaze, animal …
At a glance, sea anemones might look like regular sea plants, but they’re very much alive. With soft tentacles that sway like petals in the water, these colourful creatures are actually animals that play an important role in the ocean. You’ll often find them hosting clownfish or sheltering tiny shrimp, while also hunting and forming …
The Lembeh Strait is home to rare marine species. Its volcanic sands support strange and colourful 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 colours 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. …
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 …
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 …
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, …
Known for its vibrant, mesmerizing colours 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 …
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 …