Indonesia 2025 Trip Recap

In August of 2025, we packed the dive gear and cameras for an adventure we’d been dreaming about—an underwater photography trip through Indonesia. Our journey took us from the black-sand slopes of Tulamben, Bali to the legendary critter haven of the Lembeh Strait, two of the richest macro diving destinations anywhere in the world.

Even better, we got to share the entire experience with our good friends Brian and Melinda, turning every dive and every surface interval into something memorable. Together, we spent our days exploring volcanic reefs, hunting for elusive macro life, and filling our memory cards with subjects only Indonesia can deliver—nudibranchs, pygmy seahorses, frogfish, and everything in between.

It was a trip full of laughter, countless “What the Hell Man?” and “did you see THAT?” moments underwater. Here’s a quick look back at our unforgettable Indonesian dive adventure and some of our favorite shots from the journey. Here’s a quick breakdown of the trip with some photo and video highlights.

TL;DR: If you just want the highlights, here’s a brief video montage from our trip.

Kubu / Tulamben – Critters & Bali Chill

Our first stop was the quiet northeastern coastline of Bali, staying in the small village of Kubu in the Karangasem Regency, just minutes from Tulamben’s famous sites. This region feels far removed from the chaos of southern Bali—volcanic beaches, sunrise dives, and warm local culture. We stayed at the wonderful Villa Anggrek, an oasis surrounded by tropical gardens.

We arranged our diving with Oceanus Tulamben, guided by the incredible dive guides and critter spotters Tisnu and Kadeck, who led us to everything we hoped for: pygmy seahorses, nudibranchs, ghost pipefish and tons of other macro subjects. Pygmy Seahorse Shaun the Sheep Weedy Scorpion Fish Ornate Ghost Pipe Fish Oceanus Crew

Post diving, we spent time relaxing in the villa pool, reviewing the day’s photos and plenty of naps.

We ventured out into Tulamben to sample local food at Warung Sari and even found excellent Chinese food at Villa Alba. One of the highlights of our stay was the series of homemade Balinese dinners prepared by our housekeeper Nengah, who constantly spoiled us with warm hospitality and incredible meals.

A standout moment during our time in Kubu was celebrating our 10th anniversary with a special dinner in Amed at Villa Bukit Segara. The setting overlooking the ocean was unforgettable, and the star of the night was their incredible duck rendang, easily one of the best dishes of the entire trip.

We also took advantage of a couple of non-dive days to explore the surrounding region. Our touring included stops at Amed, the famous Lempuyang Temple (home of the “Gates of Heaven”) and the water palace at Tirta Gangga. These visits offered a beautiful glimpse into Bali’s cultural and spiritual heritage, giving us a chance to experience the island beyond the dive sites.

Lempuyang Temple Tirta Gangga Water Palace Janet at Berina Rice Terrace

Lembeh Strait – The Muck Diving Capital of the World

After wrapping up our time in Kubu, the next leg of the trip began with a long drive back to Denpasar, winding through rice terraces, busy towns, and Bali traffic that only really makes sense once you’ve experienced it. We ended the travel day with a sunset dinner in Jimbaran with planes gliding overhead. It was a perfect goodbye to Bali before the next day’s hop to Sulawesi.

Incomping flight to DPS. Credit: Brian Zimmerman

The journey from Bali to Manado wasn’t exactly smooth sailing—our flight through UPC turned into a bit of a gong show, with just enough travel chaos to make us laugh about it later. But once we finally arrived, everything changed instantly. Our transfer whisked us across the city, down the coast, and onto a small boat for the ride across to Lembeh Resort.

Dan and Janet on the boat to Lembeh Resort Brian and Melinda on the boat to Lembeh Resort And then… Lembeh. This stretch of the trip gave us more macro subjects to capture, and the next set of photos highlights some of our favorite finds. We came across juvenile sweetlips, plenty of expressive blennies, a surprisingly cooperative blue-ring octopus, several frogfish, and more than one curious cuttlefish. Lembeh did not dissapoint. Lembeh Resort Credit: Lembeh Resort

Lembeh Resort dive boats with Mount Tongkoko in the background Juvenile Sweetlips Yellow Banded Fangblenny Juvenile Frogfish Cuttlefish Thorny Seahorse Coconut Octopus Mandarin Fish Blue Ring Octopus

One of the biggest reasons our Lembeh experience was so memorable was the team at Lembeh Resort. Our dive guides, Rey and Jendry, were outstanding. The were patient, and incredibly skilled at spotting the kind of macro life the strait is famous for. Whether it was a perfectly camouflaged frogfish, a tiny crustacean buried in sand, or a well-hidden cephalopod, they consistently put us in front of subjects we might never have noticed on our own.

Outside the water, Helen from the resort staff played a huge role in making our stay enjoyable. She led a village tour that offered insight into the local community, and she was a warm, welcoming presence in the dining room—always ensuring we were well taken care of and sharing stories that made the resort feel like home.

Together, the Lembeh Resort team made this part of the trip exceptional both underwater and on land.

Rey and Brian Janet and her new friends

Denpasar & South Bali – Beach Walks, Kites & Temples

After our time in Lembeh, we flew back to Bali and spent a few relaxing days in Denpasar and South Bali before continuing on to Hong Kong.

Denpasar’s energy was a big contrast to Tulamben and Lembeh, scooters everywhere, and beaches full of life. The first afternoon, after we arrived, we enjoyed a chill beach-club session in the Legian Beach area, soaking up the sun and slow vibes. Before dinner, we took a walk along the shoreline, watching locals prepare enormous kites for a kite festival. Teams were shaping frames, tuning strings, and laying out bright fabrics—all right on the sand.

We also did a bit of sightseeing around Nusa Dua and the Bukit Peninsula, including two iconic stops at Garuda Wisnu Kencana Cultural Park where we saw massive statues and panoramic views and Uluwatu Temple – perched on dramatic cliffs and home to the always-entertaining naughty monkeys

These days served as great reset after the almost non-stop dive pace in Tulamben and Lembeh Garuda Wisnu Kencana Cultural Park Janet’s influencer pose - Garuda Wisnu Kencana Cultural Park Dan’s influencer pose - Garuda Wisnu Kencana Cultural Park

Hong Kong – Kowloon Adventures, Sky-High Bars & Cantonese Eats

After leaving Bali, our next stop was Hong Kong. We landed in the city and grabbed a taxi to our hotel on the Kowloon side—though calling it “grabbing a taxi” doesn’t quite do it justice. We had to cram all our dive and camera gear into the trunk, tying everything down so it didn’t explode out when the driver took a turn too enthusiastically. Somehow, it all fit.

We spent some time wandering the paths of the Kowloon Walled City Park, shopping for souvenirs in the busy stalls of the Ladies Market, and enjoying dim sum at Tim Ho Wan, also known as the world’s cheapest Michelin-star restaurant, before diving into Kowloon’s incredible Cantonese food scene. Evenings were all about the views—we sipped sunset cocktails high above the harbour at the Eyebar, watching the skyline glow as boats crossed Victoria Harbour. We capped it off with the Symphony of Lights show, a perfect send-off before boarding our flight home to Portland. Victoria Harbor _Janet at the Walled City Park Scored some egg waffles outside the Ladies Market Hong Kong island skyline Sunset cocktails