The blue whale – the largest animal that has ever lived and lives on our blue planet. With unimaginable, exorbitant dimensions. Sighting such an animal underwater is a moment that can change a diver's entire life. When the silhouette of this sea giant becomes visible in the deep and endless blue, it feels like a freight train is passing by us tiny humans.

In mystical light, spearfishers hunt for small reef fish and fishermen check their traditional fish traps, called bubu, at the surface of the ocean. Alors fishermen definitely have a deep connection to the sea, and their fishing techniques, passed down from generation to generation, reflect the authenticity and uniqueness of Alor.

Welcome to the wild South of Indonesia. Divespots that literally make the colours around us explode. Reef tops shrouded in clouds of schooling fish. A few breaths further and we glide like a roller coaster through gardens of hard and soft corals, a wonderful chaos of colours and structures. This is diving in Alor!

Admittedly, all the underwater photographers have their favourite subject that they would like to photograph during their diving career. Whether all their wishes will be fulfilled is questionable. Especially when it's a hairy octopus. So rare that most underwater photographers can only dream of this motif. For us, it was a dream come true. Without doubt - the hairy jackpot!

If there is a critter capital in the realm of our oceans, for us it would be Bangka on North Sulawesi with its obscure cabinet of curiosities. Weird creatures that seem to outdo each other in their colourful appearance. For us, the dive sites around Sea Souls Dive Resort are a wonderland and an endless playground for underwater photographers.

Deep in the heart of the North Moluccas, we dived a second time in the warm waters around Kusu Island. Once again an obscure and bizarre army of darkness and extravagance awaits us. Pontohi pygmy seahorses and colorful nudis everywhere. Bright pink squad lobsters and tiny spiny tiger prawns - definitely an underwater photographer's paradise.