Aerial view of the Dampier Strait in Central Raja Ampat Advanced Divers Edition — What You Really Need to Know Before Diving Central Raja Ampat Dive Sites and the Dampier Strait Most guides to Raja Ampat describe a tropical paradise untouched by time.But if you’re planning a trip now, in 2026, you need an updated,…
Introduction: A Changing Raja Ampat Raja Ampat has long been known as Earth’s most biodiverse marine ecosystem — a place where coral gardens stretch for miles and reef life swirls in every direction. When we first dived the Dampier Strait in 2019, it felt untouchable. A living cathedral of coral. On our return in 2025,…
Table of Contents A World-Class Wreck That Breaks All the Rules Usually, if you want to dive a World War II shipwreck, you need: ❌ A boat❌ Deep diver certification❌ Cold water tolerance❌ A big budget But Bali’s USAT Liberty Wreck breaks all the rules. It is one of the only shipwrecks in the world…
By Aaron & Cassie — Underwater Filmmakers • PADI MSDT & UW Photo Specialist “It’s officially over…” — But is it really? When we returned to Raja Ampat in 2025, we expected magic.What we didn’t expect was this: 🔻 widespread table coral bleaching🔻 stressed reefs in the Dampier Strait🔻 visible decline since our last visit…
Welcome to Koh Lipe – Thailand’s “Maldives” We’ve just spent nine unforgettable days diving in Koh Lipe, often called the Maldives of Thailand. Whether you’re a total beginner or a seasoned diver, this island delivers everything from beginner-friendly reefs to deep, current-swept pinnacles where whale sharks sometimes pass. Koh Lipe sits at the southern tip…
If your snorkel or dive mask keeps leaking, fogging up, or making you feel claustrophobic — you’re not alone. As A professional scuba instructor (PADI MSDT & SSI OWSI), I’ve seen hundreds of students struggle with masks during their first ocean experience. The good news? Most mask problems are easy to fix with a few…
(A Dive Pro’s Honest Comparison After Two Weeks in Indonesia’s Last Paradise) Introduction Raja Ampat Luxury Resort vs Homestay — after diving across Indonesia for years, we finally spent two weeks comparing both sides of paradise. For many, this remote corner of West Papua, Indonesia, is the pinnacle of underwater adventure — a place where…
By Cassie – PADI MSDT & SSI OWSI Diving since 2016 | Teaching since 2019 in Komodo, Raja Ampat, Gili Islands & the Maldives Equalising your ears is one of the most essential — and often most frustrating — parts of scuba diving. Even the most experienced divers occasionally struggle with it. As a dive…
The Andaman Sea is home to some of the most spectacular diving in Southeast Asia — a true underwater paradise that keeps even the most experienced divers coming back again and again. We’ve logged over 5,000 dives across Indonesia, the Maldives, the Pacific Islands and the Red Sea. And yet, Thailand’s Andaman Sea consistently holds…
Richelieu Rock isn’t just Thailand’s most famous dive site — it’s one of the most biodiverse underwater locations in all of Southeast Asia. Rising dramatically from the seafloor in the middle of the Andaman Sea, this submerged pinnacle attracts marine life like few other places on Earth. As dive professionals with over 5,000 dives across…
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