Teluk Saleh, Sumbawa Island is known as a sanctuary for Whale Sharks, holding the second-largest concentration of these gentle giants. This photo story captures the Whale Sharks of Saleh Bay and the delicate balance between human connection, conservation, and ethical wildlife interactions.

Though the waters here are naturally nutrient dense, there are guaranteed encounters in this small area because the fishermen feed krill to the sharks from bagens, vessels made of wood and bamboo. For thousands of years the Sama-Bajau people have fished this region and whale sharks are sacred to them. Although bagan fishing is a recent phenomenon, it’s always been customary for them to protect the sharks. So they give back a portion of their catch. The sharks have grown accustomed to this relationship.

As krill cascade through the water column, the sharks emerge, snouts right up to the surface. The subsequent rush of water into the cavernous mouth would be followed by a flourishing of the gills. Up to 600 cubic metres of water an hour can be consumed by a shark and this has to be filtered by the gill-rakes before the food scraps are swallowed.

These up close human encounters and feeding by hand are far from their otherwise natural behavior in the wild, which does present the question of the ethics of this form of wildlife ecotourism.

On a small Indonesian island, farmers engage in sustainable seaweed aquaculture—one of the world’s major producers—though this traditional practice is threatened by climate change, rising tourism pressures, and socioeconomic changes. This photo story captures the farmers and their artisanal methods to demonstrate the vital role of seaweed in promoting global health and sustainability for future generations.

Exploring across the island, to deep into the Sumatra jungle reveals the threats to wildlife due to forest clearing for palm oil plantations, highlighting how massive deforestation increases human-wildlife conflict and fuels poaching for the illegal wildlife trade, particularly threatening the Sumatran elephants, orangutans, leopard cats, and monkey species. Photographs display endangered species and their habitats to influence conservation efforts.

Promoting harmony between nature, people, and business, Mimpi is an eco-resort built on an ancient sacred & natural hot spring, nestled in a lagoon inlet near Menjangan Island and West Bali National Park.

Photographed on assignment for Scuba Pro, Sharkskin Watersports, Highfields, BeachStreet, and more.

West Bali National Park’s astoundingly beautiful Prapat Agung Peninsula facing the Menjangan Island is undoubtedly one of the most significant natural treasures on the island of Bali.

Located on Kotal Beach within the protected West Bali National Park, the NusaBay Menjangan by WHM, with its deserted white sand beaches, crystal clear waters, and coral-laden ocean, is a boutique beach eco-resort that speaks of sun-filled days and enchanted evenings, surrounded by pristine natural beauty

These images were taken living aboard Expedition Drenched, photographing unique marine life encounters as we sailed through some of the most remote parts of Indonesia.

Photographed on assignment for Paradise Taveuni Dive Resort.

Threatened by stony tissue coral loss disease, the Diploria labyrinthiformis (grooved brain coral) off the coast of Honduras recently showcased its rare broadcast spawning—a fleeting event only observed for less than three minutes a handful of times each year, resembling pink snowfall scattered throughout the water column. After being treated with antibiotics, this moment offers a glimmer of hope for the species’ survival.

Diploria labyrinthiformis, nicknamed DLAB by researchers, is an important reef-building coral species in the Caribbean. These corals are hermaphroditic, producing male and female reproductive structures and releasing both eggs and sperm into the water column through broadcast spawning. These mass reproduction events usually occur once a year. Polyps form egg-sperm bundles in response to environmental cues. Within a very small window of time, colonies of the same species release millions of of these buoyant gametes synchronously, which then float to the surface, ready for fertilization. This method maximizes reproductive contact, increasing the likelihood of finding and fertilizing a matching bundle, while ensuring optimal environmental conditions for the dispersal, development, and recruitment of coral larvae. DLAB is an ideal coral species to monitor reproduction, as their mass spawning events occur during daytime and several times a year.

How are all of these separate colonies able to time this magnificent mass gamete release across the reef?

Synchronous coral spawning is regulated at three different time scales, month, day, and hour. The month is based on the rate of gamete maturation, which is largely determined by seawater temperature. Scientists have come to determine DLAB spawning to occur between the months of April and October, depending on location. It is expected that spawning day each month is determined by corals sensing environmental changes regulated by the lunar cycle, such as tidal changes and moonlight. Spawning hour is then determined by sunset time.

Throughout May and June, predicted to be the peak DLAB spawning months in Utila, we set out every evening two hours before sunset to monitor DLAB colonies with Bay Islands Conservation Association (BICA). DLAB spawning was predicted to occur 8-12 days following the full moon, 0-75 minutes before sunset, and can be as short as 1-5 minutes. Conveniently, butterflyfish also serve as predictors of spawning, as they often feed on coral gamete bundles. Large aggregations suddenly swarming a colony, preparing to feast, is a good indication that this beautiful moment is near. Extremely close bonds were formed with the individual coral colonies that we observed for hours every evening, deeply wishing for reef prosperity to create more beautiful and resilient coral babies.

Over the course of monitoring, we observed 4 colonies spawn in May between 5:10 - 5:14 pm, 10-11 days following the full moon. Some colonies were particularly special to observe, as they had been previously treated for Stony Tissue Coral Loss Disease (STCLD), demonstrating hopeful recovery following antibiotic delivery. Witnessing this incredibly timed natural event was completely unreal- resembling an underwater snowstorm, pink and orange gametes exploding through the water column.

However, there are many disruptions to coral spawning interfering with the natural cues utilized to ensure synchronicity, such as artificial light, pollution, coastal developments, and warming temperatures. If a factor such as light pollution causes some colonies to spawn 1-3 days closer to the full moon compared to unlit reefs, this could drastically decrease fertilization probability and survival. Given the reliance on delicate and reliable environmental conditions, these are very serious threats to coral reef health, easily preventing a spawning event from successfully taking place.

The Fiji Shark Reef Marine Reserve was established as a protected sanctuary for the Sharks. It is here, in these protected waters that divers can observe 8 different species: Whitetip Reef Sharks, Blacktip Reef Sharks, Grey Reef Sharks, Tawny Nurse Sharks, Sicklefin Lemon Sharks, Silvertip Sharks, Tiger Sharks, and the largest concentration of Bull Sharks in the world.

This sanctuary was created in collaboration with the Fiji Department of Fisheries and the traditional owners of the reef, the village of Galoa (pronounced ‘Nah-low-ah’).

During certain times of the year, vast blooms of Sargassum seaweed inundate the Caribbean coastline. Human activities such as agriculture, deforestation, and fossil fuel production introduce excess nutrients into rivers, which flow into the Atlantic, fueling the rapid spread of Sargassum.

When these blooms expand across the ocean's surface, they deplete oxygen, create dead zones for marine life, and block sunlight from reaching coral reefs and seagrass beds. Removing Sargassum is challenging, especially by manual methods, and its presence disrupts tourism, boating, fishing, and the coastal economies that depend on these industries.

As it decomposes, Sargassum emits a strong odor due to hydrogen sulfide release and contains arsenic and heavy metals, posing additional hazards.

This photo story documents the Sargassum bloom in Curaçao, capturing its impact on local marine ecosystems, tourism, and coastal communities.

ASSISTING IN EFFORTS TO MONITOR AND TRACK TUMOR GROWTH IN SEA TURTLE POPULATIONS ON THE ISLAND.

There has been a recent outbreak in Curacao of Fibropapillomatosis (FP), a tumor-causing disease affecting green sea turtles, a major threat to their survival. STCC is currently raising funds to research foraging behaviors and preferred feeding grounds to determine the source of FP in curacao. Though the pathogenesis and epidemiology of FP in marine sea turtles is poorly understood, primary factors are believed to be changing water temperatures, environmental pollutants, and bacteria present in the turtles’ habitats. Currently, there is no cure for this disease. The best way to prevent it from spreading is to reduce our pollution into the oceans!

“It all started with an idea. Hofi Cas Cora is a farm-to-table concept on the island of Curaçao. We are not just a farm, we are not just a brunch spot. We feed, we create, we inspire, we build a community.”