Southeast Asia

Ten-year-old Muhammad Afkar Daniel, a right-hand amputee, completed the PADI Junior Open Water Diver course in Tioman Island, Malaysia. (Photo by Martin Ritter, B&J Dive Centre / via Diveheart Malaysia/Kids Scuba press release)

Malaysia Hosts Two Diveheart/PADI Adaptive Diving Events in Accessible Tourism Initiative

The event welcomed ten hearing-impaired students from Sekolah Kebangsaan Pendidikan Khas Besut, Terengganu, many of whom had never set foot on a boat or an island, despite living near the coast of Besut. The students, accompanied by their teachers, explored the wonders of the underwater world in Terengganu through snorkeling and scuba diving, where they experienced the sensation of weightlessness. Dr Tengku Farah Kamilia, a lecturer in environmental and marine pollution at UMT, conducted a sharing session with the participants, highlighting the importance of marine conservation.

Banda Sea & Forgotten Islands

Oval butterflyfish and chromis on reef, Forgotten Islands, Indonesia

Far away from the stress of everyday life and modern civilisation lies a paradise in the middle of the Coral Triangle, where time has stood still. Claudia Weber-Gebert tells of her adventure to Indonesia’s Banda Sea and the Forgotten Islands.

Indonesia’s West Timor: Exploring the Unknown

Three false clown anemonefish in a large carpet anemone at Timor Island

Part of Indonesia’s East Nusa Tenggara province, West Timor, also known as Timor Barat, is home to beautiful reefs, diverse marine life and even an underwater bubbling vent within recreational diving depths. Matthew Meier tells us about an exploratory dive trip there on a liveaboard.

Fluoroscent Photography Underwater

On a night dive in the Philippines several years ago, I had an opportunity to do a "fluoro" night dive. Atlantis Dive Resort rented blue underwater flashlights and yellow filter shields that went over divers' masks. Geared up, I set off into the night. The blue light was very dim and the dive was much darker than a normal night dive.

Ricard Buxo: Pioneer of Diving in Raja Ampat

Undeniably one of the world’s extraordinary destinations, Raja Ampat blends breath-taking, above-water landscapes with a staggering abundance of marine biodiversity, into a remarkable combination that draws divers from all corners of the globe. Don Silcock writes about one of the pioneers of diving in this region, Ricard Buxo.

Pemuteran Sea Turtle Hatchery

Juvenile sea turtles feeding on small fish
Juvenile sea turtles feeding on small fish. Photo by Claudia Weber-Gebert.

A sea turtle hatchery in Pemuteran, Indonesia, established by Reef Seen Divers’ Resort founder, Chris Brown, has provided a sanctuary for endangered baby turtles to hatch and grow large enough to be released into the sea with better chances of survival. Claudia Weber-Gebert has the story.

Garden of the Gods in Bali

Photo by Claudia Weber-Gebert

Established in 2014, Garden of the Gods is the latest in a series reef gardening projects in Pemuteran, Indonesia, which have been running since 2000, and is one of the largest in the world, in terms of area. Claudia Weber-Gebert gives us an inside look.

Indonesia's East Nusa Tenggara: Liveaboard Safari to Komodo, Flores & Alor

Bobtail squid at Beangabang, Alor, Indonesia
Bobtail squid at Beangabang, Alor, Indonesia. Photo by Scott Bennett.

Located in the eastern half of Indonesia is the island chain of Nusa Tenggara where unique marine life can be found on brilliantly colourful reefs as well as sites with volcanic sands, great for muck diving and macro photography. Scott Bennett takes us on a liveaboard adventure to three of the islands: Alor, Flores and Komodo.