First Encounter with Indonesia
As a travel blogger who deeply loves diving, I must say that Indonesia is truly the ultimate dream destination for divers. Did you know? Raja Ampat has the richest marine biodiversity in the world, where you can see over 374 species of coral and 1,427 species of fish in just one dive. My first time diving here, I was so stunned by the scenery that I was left speechless.
I remember my first visit to Raja Ampat, when I joined a seven-day trip with a group of like-minded diving enthusiasts. We stayed in a small wooden cabin floating on the sea, waking up every morning to crystal blue waters and lush green islands in the distance. That day after breakfast, we took a small boat to our first dive spot, with the sea surface smooth as glass and sunlight sparkling on the water.
Putting on my gear and adjusting my breathing, I slowly descended into the water. Wow! That moment remains unforgettable to this day. The underwater world completely surpassed my imagination! Schools of butterflyfish swam past me, their yellow and white stripes standing out vividly against the blue background. In the distance, a huge table coral extended outward, hosting countless small fish like a busy underwater city. And further away, a group of jack fish formed a silver vortex, gleaming brilliantly in the sunlight.
Most exciting was discovering a huge green sea turtle casually eating coral next to a massive brain coral. It seemed completely unbothered by our presence and continued with its lunch. I floated quietly in the water, holding my breath, afraid to disturb this marine elder. Later, our dive guide told me this turtle had been living in these waters for at least 50 years and was a local "celebrity."
Raja Ampat's charm lies not only in its rich marine life but also in its stunning underwater topography. Some dive sites have steep cliffs that descend into the abyss; others are maze-like coral gardens; and some are mysterious underwater caves hiding various rare marine creatures. I dove here for five days, with different surprises each time.
No wonder Raja Ampat is called the "Amazon of the Ocean" - its biodiversity is truly breathtaking. According to my dive guide, the reason it has such rich marine ecology is its location at the confluence of the Pacific and Indian Oceans, where complex currents bring abundant nutrients, providing an excellent environment for various marine life.
Komodo is also absolutely worth mentioning. Here, you'll find not only the famous Komodo dragons but also an equally spectacular underwater world. You can see everything from tiny pygmy seahorses to massive manta rays, and even have the chance to encounter fierce reef sharks. According to recent statistics, Komodo National Park receives over 150,000 diving enthusiasts annually, a number that continues to grow.
Last summer, I finally had the chance to fulfill my dual dreams of "dragons + diving" in Komodo. Upon arriving on Komodo Island, I was immediately stunned by those giant lizards. They can grow up to 3 meters long and weigh over 70 kilograms, making them the largest living lizards on Earth. Watching their slow but powerful movements, you can't help but imagine what their ancestors - the dinosaurs - looked like.
However, what really excited me was Komodo's underwater world. The currents here are quite strong, requiring advanced diving skills, but the rewards are rich. At the "Crystal Rock" dive site, I was fortunate to see groups of grey reef sharks hunting. They were elegant yet fierce, darting quickly through the water, occasionally charging at schools of small fish. That kind of raw power and wildness left me both scared and fascinated.
Another specialty of Komodo is its abundant "macro life." These are small, colorful, and uniquely shaped marine creatures like various nudibranchs, crustaceans, and starfish. I remember at "Theatrical Rock" dive site, our guide discovered a tiny octopus on a small coral, no bigger than a coin, but extraordinarily colorful, changing from blue to purple to red. I lay in the water observing it for nearly ten minutes, watching how it used its tentacles to catch tiny prey and how it changed colors to camouflage with its surroundings. I was completely captivated by its intelligence and adaptability.
Indonesia has many other worthwhile diving locations, such as Tulamben in Bali with its WWII-era shipwreck USAT Liberty, and Magic Corner at Sumbawa where current convergences have created a magical ecosystem attracting various large fish species.
Indonesia has so many islands, each with its unique underwater landscape and marine life. If you're a diving enthusiast, I strongly recommend spending at least a month slowly exploring this country's underwater world. Trust me, even a month will only let you glimpse a fraction of its beauty.
Exploring the Philippines
Speaking of diving destinations in the Philippines, Anilao is absolutely a paradise for macro photography enthusiasts. Here lives countless unique marine creatures, such as various strange nudibranchs, mini octopuses, and pygmy seahorses. I remember once while shooting here, I discovered 8 different species of nudibranchs at the same dive site - it was incredibly exciting.
Anilao was where I visited last spring, during the golden season for macro photography. The Philippines is relatively inexpensive, and I rented a small cabin facing the sea, waking up to the sound of waves every morning and falling asleep to the sound of surf at night - it couldn't have been more comfortable.
Anilao has many dive sites, but the most memorable for me was "Secret Bay." This site isn't very deep, with a maximum depth of only about 15 meters, but its biodiversity is extraordinarily rich. That day, I brought my beloved macro lens, ready to capture some spectacular moments. Shortly after descending, our dive guide pointed to what looked like ordinary seaweed. When I looked closer, wow! It was a green leafy seadragon, perfectly blending into the background - it would have been very difficult to spot without careful observation.
Continuing our dive, we discovered several different species of nudibranchs. While these small creatures might not have the most appealing name, they are actually among the most beautiful creatures in the ocean. Their bodies display various bright colors and unique shapes, some looking as mysterious as alien life forms. I particularly like a species called Tambja verconis, which is entirely blue with yellow spots on its back, standing out especially vividly against the dark background.
Another joy of diving in Anilao is finding pygmy seahorses. These tiny seahorses usually don't exceed 2 centimeters in length and often hide among seaweed or coral, requiring great patience and sharp eyes to find them. Our dive guide was a local who knew every dive site intimately. He took us to a seagrass area and signaled us to observe slowly. After nearly 20 minutes of searching, I finally discovered a yellow pygmy seahorse, wrapping its tail around a thin blade of seagrass, gently swaying with the current. At that moment, I felt all the waiting had been worth it.
Night diving in Anilao is also exceptional. When the sun sets, nocturnal marine creatures become active. We carried dive lights and plunged into the dark water like exploring an unknown world. Under the lights' illumination, many creatures that hide during the day emerge, such as various unique shrimp species, octopuses, and eels. I especially enjoy observing octopus activities at night - they're clever and agile, constantly changing colors and shapes while moving between rocks and coral searching for food.
Another diving paradise in the Philippines is Dumaguete. Unlike Anilao, Dumaguete is famous for its unique black sand benthic creatures. The black sand was formed by volcanic eruptions and provides an ideal habitat for some special marine creatures.
Apo Reef in Dumaguete attracts over 50,000 divers annually, all coming to witness its unique black sand benthic creatures. Would you believe that you can even see legendary pink pufferfish here?
My diving experience in Dumaguete was like a treasure hunt. The seafloor here is covered with fine black sand, which might seem unremarkable at first glance, but when you look carefully, you'll discover countless amazing creatures hidden within.
The most exciting was encountering the legendary pink pufferfish, scientifically known as Hapalochlaena sp., which is an extremely rare marine creature. It's light pink all over with light blue ring-shaped patterns, looking very cute. However, our guide told us not to try touching it as it contains deadly poison. This is nature's wisdom - often the most beautiful creatures are the most dangerous.
Dumaguete also has a famous dive site called "Car Wreck," which, as the name suggests, features a car sunken to the seafloor. While it might not sound environmentally friendly, this car has become a habitat for various marine creatures. I saw the body covered with soft corals and sponges, various small fish darting between the windows and doors, and even a large octopus occupying the entire driver's seat - the scene was both eerie and interesting.
The diving season in the Philippines is generally from November to May the following year, when the weather is stable and visibility is good - the best period for diving. If you plan to dive in the Philippines, make sure to do your homework beforehand, choose dive sites suitable for your level, and find a reliable dive center.
Besides Anilao and Dumaguete, the Philippines has many other famous diving locations, such as Crystal Cove in Boracay and Balicasag Island in Bohol. Each place has its unique underwater landscape and marine life, worth exploring one by one.
The Filipino people are warm and friendly, the food is delicious, and accommodation and transportation costs are relatively low, making it very suitable for long-term travel. If you're a diving enthusiast like me, consider planning a month-long Philippines diving trip to slowly experience this country's diverse underwater world.
Red Sea Adventure
Speaking of the Red Sea, Ras Mohammed can be said to be a must-visit spot. The coral wall here extends vertically over 100 meters, like an underwater skyscraper. From April to October each year, large schools of fusiliers gather here, creating a spectacular scene.
Last winter, I finally realized my dream of exploring the Red Sea. Located between Egypt and Saudi Arabia, the Red Sea is one of the world's saltiest seas and one of the most developed coral reef regions. Due to its special geographical location and environmental conditions, underwater visibility is extremely high, consistently maintaining above 30 meters, making it ideal for underwater photography.
My first dive site was the renowned Ras Mohammed National Park. This park is located at the southern tip of the Sinai Peninsula and is Egypt's oldest national park, as well as one of the world's most famous marine protected areas.
In the morning, we took a speedboat from Sharm El Sheikh, arriving at Ras Mohammed about 40 minutes later. As soon as I descended, I was stunned by the sight: a massive coral wall extending from the surface down into the deep blue abyss. This coral wall was home to countless soft and hard corals, with various colors intertwining to form a spectacular underwater painting.
Even more amazing was the massive school of fusiliers around the coral wall, forming a huge fish shoal. They moved in perfect unison, like a well-trained underwater army. When sunlight penetrated the surface and hit these fish, their silver scales reflected dazzling light, making the entire scene seem unreal.
I tried swimming closer to the school, and they didn't scatter. Instead, they automatically opened a passage for me to pass through, then quickly closed it again. The feeling of being surrounded by the fish school was incredible, like being inside a silver tunnel made of living creatures.
Besides the fusilier schools, I also saw various other fish at Ras Mohammed, such as Napoleon wrasse, parrotfish, and butterflyfish. Most exciting was discovering a grey reef shark about 2 meters long resting in a cave. It looked very calm and seemed unbothered by our presence. Although I knew grey reef sharks usually don't attack humans, observing this powerful predator up close still made my heart race.
Ras Mohammed's coral species are also very diverse. According to statistics, there are over 220 species of coral here, representing over 20% of global coral species. Some corals are shaped like tables, some like deer antlers, and others like brains, with various shapes and colors that dazzle the eye.
Another famous Red Sea dive site is the Brothers Islands. These two small islands are located in the central Red Sea, about 70 kilometers from the coast, and can only be reached by liveaboard. The Brothers Islands are famous for their spectacular shipwrecks and abundant large fish species.
The shipwreck diving experience at Brothers Islands was quite impressive. There are two complete shipwrecks preserved here, the "Thistlegorm" and the "Numidia." These ships have been lying on the seafloor for decades and have now become habitats for marine creatures. Imagine swimming through these witnesses to history in the dark deep sea - isn't that interesting?
We stayed at Brothers Islands for three days, giving me enough time to explore both shipwrecks. The "Thistlegorm" is a British cargo ship that sank in 1941 after being hit by a torpedo during World War II. This ship is about 140 meters long and now lies at a depth of 30-80 meters, with some areas suitable for technical diving and others for recreational diving.
Diving into the "Thistlegorm" felt like traveling back in time. The hull is covered with colorful soft corals and sponges, looking like a huge underwater garden from afar. I carefully passed through the cabins, seeing the ship's steam boilers, bridge, and cargo holds. In a semi-open cabin, I even found a school of glassfish swimming freely inside, with sunlight streaming through the damaged roof creating dreamlike light beams.
The "Numidia" is an Egyptian cargo ship that sank in 1981 after hitting a reef due to a navigation error. This ship is relatively newer and the hull is better preserved. Most distinctive is the huge patch of soft coral growing on the ship's deck, swaying constantly with the current like an underwater forest. Around the ship, you can often see grey reef sharks, hammerhead sharks, and large tuna swimming by, creating quite a spectacular scene.
Besides shipwrecks, the coral reefs at Brothers Islands are also excellent. The coral coverage here exceeds 70%, forming complex three-dimensional structures that provide habitat for various fish and invertebrates. In one dive, I saw at least 50 different species of fish, including some rare species like blue-spotted stingrays, Napoleon wrasse, and giant groupers.
The Red Sea's climate is suitable for diving year-round, but the best time is from April to October when water temperatures are between 26-30 degrees Celsius and visibility can exceed 40 meters. If you want to see large fish species like sharks and manta rays, summer is the best choice.
Diving facilities in the Red Sea are very well-developed, with courses and dive sites suitable for everyone from beginners to professional divers. Sharm El Sheikh and Hurghada are two main diving bases with numerous dive centers and resorts.
If you plan to dive in the Red Sea, I recommend arranging at least 10 days to fully experience the underwater wonders here. Also, since some areas of the Red Sea have strong currents, it's recommended to at least have an Open Water certification and some diving experience.
Special Experiences
If you want to get close to large marine creatures, you absolutely can't miss the Galapagos Islands. This is a paradise for whale sharks, where you can see these gentle ocean giants from June to December. According to statistics, the whale sharks here represent over 30% of the global population.
The Galapagos Islands are located in the Pacific Ocean about 1,000 kilometers west of Ecuador, formed by volcanic activity. They became famous through Charles Darwin's "Origin of Species" and are a place of extremely rich biodiversity. Due to their distance from the mainland, the marine ecosystem here has remained almost undisturbed by human activity, maintaining its pristine and pure state.
Last July, I was fortunate to take a two-week diving trip to the Galapagos Islands. It was a journey that completely changed my understanding of the ocean. Unlike other diving destinations, the Galapagos's attraction isn't in colorful coral reefs, but in various large marine creatures.
Near Darwin Island and Wolf Island, two northern islands, I experienced the most stunning dives of my life. One morning, shortly after descending, our dive guide excitedly tapped his tank and pointed toward the blue distance. Looking in the direction he pointed, a huge shadow slowly approached us. As the distance shortened, I finally recognized it was a whale shark over 12 meters long, leisurely swimming past us.
Whale sharks are the largest existing fish on Earth, and despite their enormous size, they primarily feed on plankton and pose no threat to humans. Watching this gentle giant swim past me, I felt both small and fortunate. At that moment, I understood why many divers travel so far to reach these remote islands.
Besides whale sharks, the Galapagos has many other large marine creatures. At Gordon Rocks dive site, I saw at least three different species of sharks: hammerhead sharks, Galapagos sharks, and white-tip reef sharks. The hammerhead sharks were particularly impressive, with their unique head shape and group swimming behavior making them impossible to ignore.
Another specialty of the Galapagos is sea lion diving. Near San Cristobal Island, there's a group of very friendly Galapagos sea lions. They're very curious
