I board the Neptune One for a Komodo liveaboard, meet my dive group and brave a chaotic sunset check dive at Bidadari Reef without a torch!
Komodo National Park: The Archipelago of Wonders
Four flights, chaotic connections, and death penalty warnings. Arriving in Labuan Bajo to balance a bank account reset, career studying, and Komodo prep.
Raja Ampat – Day 7: Bittersweet Steps Ashore
I leave Raja Ampat after six unforgettable days of diving, cataloguing marine life and saying a bittersweet goodbye to the liveaboard crew!
Raja Ampat – Day 6: A Diving Milestone
A 100th dive milestone marked by a terrifying current, stinging invisible jellyfish, a furious titan triggerfish, and a celebratory Bryde’s whale sighting.
Raja Ampat – Day 5: Marine Gods
Surgical residency panic dissolves as the interview is moved. Replaced by five giant reef mantas at Manta Sandy and deep euphoria at Cape Kri.
Raja Ampat – Day 4: Mayhem & Medicine
A high-stakes surgical residency interview notification strikes in the middle of Raja Ampat. Balancing career panic with mobula rays and near-misses.
Raja Ampat – Day 3: The Green Vortex
A breathtaking leaf storm of millions of damselfish at Melissa’s Garden, tracking down pygmy seahorses, and a near-miss with a blue-ringed octopus.
Raja Ampat – Day 2: Dive, Eat, Sleep, Repeat
Four epic dives in one day. From nudibranchs at Mioskon to a camouflaged wobbegong at Blue Magic Reef, Raja Ampat proves why it’s a paradise.
Raja Ampat – Day 1: All Aboard the Sea Safari VI!
Four flights and 30 hours later, the journey to Raja Ampat begins aboard a Phinisi ship. Dealing with jet lag, unexpected ship drama, and epic pink sunsets.
Raja Ampat: The Archipelago of Dreams
From airport bench frustrations to world-class depths. Follow a divemaster’s raw perspective on heading to the legendary waters of Raja Ampat.