I take you back to Sogod Bay, nicknamed "Whale Shark Bay", in the south of Leyte Island, Philippines... On my first trip there in 2008, I missed them. Twelve years later, I was luckier!
In lack of salt water, I'm nostalgically looking back these days to my last underwater images brought back from the Philippines... It was a year ago, early 2020. Before the Covid-19 pandemic and border closures.
In the Philippines, Balicasag Island is a popular dive site. You can observe a huge silvery school of trevallies, spinning near the reef. A fascinating sight...
Making bubbles along coral drop-offs overflowing with life and colour, what a delight! In the Philippines, Cabilao Island is a real little underwater gem.
Near Bali, Indonesia, Sumbawa Island and its volcanoes offer a fantastic variety of dives. From manta rays to nudibranchs, the underwater world is full of wonders...
Fancy Indonesia? I will take you diving in the waters of Sali Kecil, a remote little island on the west coast of Halmahera. Magnificent!
It was last summer, in July 2018. I was back diving in the waters of the Alor archipelago in Indonesia, to explore its gorgeous coral reefs... often swept by crazy currents!
It is called dugong or "sea cow". I was lucky enough to watch this fascinating animal in its natural environment, in Alor, Indonesia.
In Komodo, you can' t miss the majestic manta rays. They can be seen either by scuba diving or by snorkelling from the surface. A glorious show!
Fancy some exuberant coral and wriggling fish? A little corner of authentic Indonesia? Welcome to Kampanar, Sulawesi!
He's such a great guy. Opo, my dive guide in the waters of Central Sulawesi, became my hero. Because I can be a real burden sometimes...
Ah, Indonesia! My favorite diving destination. But when you travel there, it's better to get used to jam karet, the "elastic time" ...
His name: Melibe colemani. This small sea animal is the star of Romblon, Philippines. Divers are ready to travel thousands of miles to admire this strange sea slug!
In the Philippines, you can not escape ferries when you want to move from one island to another. For long journeys, it is often a night ferry ...
Traveling light, I do not know what it is! In March, I went diving in the Philippines, Anilao and Romblon. With, in my luggage, a cumbersome paraphernalia to photograph the tiny wildlife that lives under water.
The drones are the new gadget fashionable travelers ... On the boat that takes me to Komodo, Indonesia, two of my little dive friends have one!
"So, did you go back to diving? "I am asked since my return ... Yes! I even realized a dream, combine in one trip two famous spots: Komodo and Raja Ampat.
A drone over Raja Ampat, it gives stunning images! Small video south of Misool Island, among the cliffs that plunge into the turquoise water ...
This is a rare event that I witnessed between two dives during my last trip to Indonesia. The rendezvous of the Sun with the Moon!
"Do not stay under the coconut trees," I am told when I arrive at Triton Bay. Yes, the biggest danger here is to get a coconut on your head!
These words are already a journey. Before discovering Polynesia in 2012, I thought it was mostly folklore for tourists in search of exoticism. Not at all. These are really strong cultural symbols, rooted in the everyday life of Polynesians.
In Raja Ampat, we do not only find coral under water. There is also scrap of the Second World War. Fallen from the sky!
Before landing at Rangiroa to dive, in October 2012, I was completely unaware that it was producing ... wine! It seems incredible, but yes, we cultivate the vine in full Pacific, in the Polynesian archipelago of Tuamotu.
Here, there are swarms of sparkling fish and a jumble of multicoloured corals... I take you diving in the waters of Misool, in the south of Raja Ampat.
In the dream boat category, here is one on which I would see myself embarking one day: the mythical Aranui, to go to the Marquesas Islands, in Polynesia!
High up! I take you back to Raja Ampat, on the most beautiful cruising-diving boats, all sails out. The Waow, there is no need to say, it is aptly named ...
If you are visiting Tahiti, it is essential to eat at the popular "roulottes" of Papeete, on the seafront. The atmosphere is nice, family. It's good and cheap.
Wake up at the foot of a volcano and live the dream of Magellan ... what's more exhilarating? Welcome to the archipelago of Banda, the mythical spice islands, in Indonesia.
Among the islands that I dream to explore when I return to Polynesia, there is Rurutu, in the Austral Islands ... For humpback whales.
Hammerhead sharks make diving enthusiasts fantasize. These sharks have a pretty awesome head, I must say...
Polynesia is not just about luxury hotels on stilts. There is also a lot of simpler and more affordable accommodation, where the atmosphere is also more family and very warm.
From the Maluku Islands to Raja Ampat, I experienced a fabulous adventure in Indonesia, aboard a beautiful ship like a pirate princess ship: the Waow.
In 2012, I discovered Rangiroa and its spectacular shark gathering. My dream: to go back there and also to dive in Fakarava, another legendary Polynesian spot to observe the sharks.
I regret that I could only spend two days in Moorea, the neighboring island of Tahiti. I loved its rugged terrain and lush vegetation, azure lagoon and the legendary Cook Bay.
Ah! I like the Liberty wreck in Bali. I go back regularly dive, never tired. She is so beautiful...
The beach, the light, the blue ... I take you back to the southwest of Lombok, Indonesia, filling your eyes with the beautiful bay of Belongas.
My first trip to Polynesia in 2012 made me want to go back (sigh). But the plane ticket is not given and given the duration of the flight, it is better to have a little time in front of you. Here are some practical information to remember.
There are dives that make the heart beat a little faster. I'm taking you to the south-west of Lombok, Indonesia, discovering The Magnet video and Gili Sarang, in Belongas Bay.
Going to a tropical island far from everything is good. But to immerse yourself in a tropical sea is better ... For me, happiness is under water! This time, it's happening in Lombok, Indonesia, near Bali ...
Go. Breathe. Dream. Away from the hustle and bustle of the world ... Head to Gili Asahan, a small peaceful Indonesian island, in the southwest of Lombok.
Five archipelagos with 118 islands and atolls, scattered in the Pacific, on a vast territory like Europe ... Polynesia is just huge!
The Caribbean Sea, it changes Asia! In Mexico, I could not miss the island of Cozumel, renowned diving spot.
At night, the reefs are not gray. A blue light and an orange mask reveal the fluorescence of corals and underwater creatures.
The site is called Blue Magic. This is one of my favorite diving spots in Raja Ampat. This isolated reef in the middle of the sea is conducive to fabulous encounters.
Ten days off. Ten days of freedom. From May 10 to May 20, 2014, I left. In Pulau Weh, Indonesia.
Maldives for not (too) expensive? It's possible. There is an alternative to luxury hotel-islands: the guesthouses of inhabited islands.
I'm missing. Light and tropical heat, islands and salt water, bubbles and coral ... I already have the nostalgia of the Maldives.
A beach in the Maldives. Blinding sand, turquoise water. The whole village is there for an amazing fishing trip. Small preview in video.
I've been dreaming for years. I'm there ! The Maldives ... A gigantic archipelago at the water's edge, spectacular from the arrival by plane.
Sipadan. An island of dreams, explored by Cousteau. But under military surveillance, for the safety of divers and the preservation of the reef.
Sipadan. Three mythical syllables for divers in Asia! Sharks, turtles, barracudas and trevallies ...
A little video flashback: In October 2012, I went to meet sharks in the blue, off Rangiroa, in Polynesia.
Hop, we go to Malaysia to dive to Sipadan ... As a mouthing, I made it simple: a video, a shark, a minute.
In the Indonesian archipelago of Derawan in Borneo, the islands of Sangalaki and Maratua are no longer the fabulous diving spots they were in 2013.
I love the bright colors of coral on a subaquatic blue background. Small immersion, in images, on the splendid reef of the Kakaban island, near Borneo (Indonesia).
Borneo is adventure! I saw again the Indonesian island of Kakaban and its mysterious jellyfish lake. I even went back to swim there. Video evidence.
Off Borneo, Indonesia, the island of Derawan and its archipelago are an incredible place to observe turtles.
Derawan is a tiny Indonesian girl on the east coast of Borneo. I had already been there in 2009. But for this 2013 trip, I have revised my itinerary.
Surprise of the day: I received a postcard from Vanuatu. A waterproof card, sent from a post office ... underwater!
I'm coming back from Borneo! Highlight of the trip: the dives in Sipadan, Malaysia ... Yes, for me, Borneo has more the color of the sea than the jungle.
March 2013. Bangka Island, North Sulawesi, Indonesia. My new home, for a few days, is called Coral Eye. What a beautiful name!
Nature, calm and pleasure ... In North Sulawesi, Indonesia, I headed for a dream island. His name: Bangka.
The Indonesian company Lion Air has a unique trick. With the safety instructions, there is a special prayer booklet for the plane.
I like being under water. But I also like being on the water. Between two dives, in Weda Bay, I enjoy the pleasure of sailing, from one reef to another, from one creek to another, under the Indonesian sun.
It is a tiny Indonesian village, between sea and mangrove, in Weda Bay. My visit is the evening attraction for the hilarious kids.
Nothing is more annoying to photograph than a seahorse-pygmy. Too small. Too much camouflaged. Too shy. But his delicate plastic is worth a few efforts.
Shrek's cat tenderizes you? Do you fall for wet eye pups? This cute little couscous from Indonesia should melt you.
Return to diving in Indonesia ... A haunting desire, which tormented me all winter! So, in mid-March, I flew to Halmahera and Weda Bay.
I was (still) gone. A short trip of 15 days in Indonesia. On the program: rest and dives at Halmahera (North Maluku) and Bangka in North Sulawesi.
Diving at Raja Ampat... A dream. But beware, a trip to Raja Ampat requires that you behave as a responsible visitor. Tourism, which is booming in this archipelago, is threatening one of the most magnificent reservoirs of biodiversity on the planet.
When it's cold and gray, I remember Maupiti. I see the light, the lagoon, the ocean ... Come on, presto! We return to Polynesia.
This shell is a monster. It is not for nothing that it is called "giant holy water". I have never seen one as big as Raja Ampat.
The Indonesian archipelago of Raja Ampat sometimes has an air of Jurassic Park. The pretty little island of Mioskon is home to thousands of bats.
Otdima is a beautiful dive site, teeming with life, swept by a current of madness. One of my favorites in Raja Ampat, Indonesia.
In Rangiroa, Polynesia, dolphins love to play underwater with divers! Video demonstration in the Tiputa pass.
It's the blue of the huge Pacific Ocean. An intense blue that twists the retinas and floods the head of light. Cape on Polynesia.
Raja Ampat! I fell in love with these lost islands in the depths of Indonesia. I was there in March. I went back in July. Even dazzling.
The picture under water, it's funny. I love it when the fish take suggestive poses. The coolest are not the ones we believe!
Sea slugs, called "nudibranchs", abound in Indonesia, and especially in Alor. Small gallery-photos.
Take photos under water, I love it. But palmer, much less. I realized this well by diving in Alor, Indonesia.
During my stay in the archipelago of Alor, in Indonesia, my place of walk, between two dives, is the splendid beach of the island of Pantar.
Underwater, we do not look only in the blue. In the archipelago of Alor, Indonesia, it is by scrutinizing the bottom that we find treasures.
Alor Archipelago, Indonesia. It is completely to the east, near East Timor. It is far. It's quiet. It's beautiful. And we dive there.
Alor and Raja Ampat: two distant archipelagos in Indonesia. I am back from it. I reconstructed in video my itinerary ... Total: 13 planes!
Here, cliffs covered with jungle strangling the sea. This is one of the mythical sites of Raja Ampat: The Passage.
In Indonesia, in the Papuan archipelago of Raja Ampat, coral grows at the foot of mangroves. Unpublished mixture of terrestrial and underwater life.
I'm not done with Raja Ampat! Let me introduce you to a bizarre monster, very common in these waters: bearded carpet shark or "wobbegong".
The Dutchman Max Ammer is the "pioneer" of diving in Raja Ampat. A sacred character. He is an eco-adventurer, an enthusiastic explorer and a fabulous storyteller.
Manta Sandy is the most famous dive site of Raja Ampat. Normal, it's a real "spa" with manta rays! The proof in photos and video.
Kri is my new paradise. It is a small island located in Raja Ampat, Papua, Indonesia. I lived there like a princess, a short week.
Papua, Papua in Indonesian. Jungles and beaches, exuberant coral and giant fish. Another world ... which amazed me. Welcome to Raja Ampat!
Me in jet-lag, back from Raja Ampat in West Papua (Indonesia), on the phone with a friend: "You know, this is perhaps the most extraordinary trip I've done ..."
Raja Ampat, West Papua, Indonesia. I'm there !!! A real end of the world, still virgin, wild and beautiful, on land and under water.
"Where are you going this time? To put it simply, I say, "In Indonesia. In fact, I'm leaving the end of Indonesia: in West Papua! I am going to dive in the archipelago bearing the beautiful name of Raja Ampat, "the four kings".
I often go back to Bali while traveling in Indonesia. The island always brings me back to her. The more I go back, the more I love it.
The more I dive, the better! I have never seen so many manta rays as last year. The proof, with this new video, brought back from Komodo National Park (Indonesia), where I was in July 2011.
Did you like fish pedicure? You will love the manicure shrimp! A cleanser shrimp care for underwater travelers.
If, like me, you cross the island of Flores (Indonesia), you will meet many people wearing traditional fabrics called ikats, very beautiful, whose patterns and colors differ from one region to another.
In Komodo, Indonesia, the dive site with the beautiful name of Castle Rock is infested with sharks. I just love it. I even made a video.
The dragons exist, I met them! Scales, claws, forked tongue, everything is there ... Listening only to my courage, I went to photograph these big prehistoric lizards or "varans" that live in the archipelago of Komodo, Indonesia.
Indonesia and Komodo are far away. I rediscover my underwater photos with a new, astonished eye. I saw all that, me? It's crazy.
Diving in Komodo, I dreamed! The reality was beyond the dream ... First video preview, at the fabulous Batu Bolong site.
That's the Pascha. Well named boat, on which I lived like a princess, during the six days of my dive cruise in Komodo, in July 2011. Six fantastic days out of time.
On the island of Flores, Indonesia, some rice fields take unusual forms. In the region of Ruteng, in the west of the island, rice is cultivated in spiderweb!
I had to show you this video, of a manta ray and his girlfriends, met while diving in the archipelago of Komodo, ultimate goal of my crossing of Flores ...
Here, the volcanic black sand of the beaches disappears under colored pebbles. Blue, green, sometimes drawing on turquoise or mauve ... New geological curiosity of the Indonesian island of Flores.
The Kelimutu volcano in Flores (Indonesia) is spectacular. Three craters form giant basins for three lakes with strange colors.
I take you underwater, in the east of Flores, Indonesia, for a special nudibranch sequence, in Maumere Bay.
The bay of Maumere, in the east of the Indonesian island of Flores, is full of beautiful underwater sites. My favorite dive site is Fish Soup. Here, the fish soup is at sea, to be savored under water!
Only Noodles... Only noodles. It is the name of a tiny restaurant that we loved in Koh Phi Phi. On the menu,...
Hop! To the water! We return under the surface. On the program: a small cruise to the Similan Islands, with...
Koh Phi Phi, it's actually two islands. The big one, Koh Phi Phi Don, where one lives. And the little one, Koh Phi Phi Leh, uninhabited. It keeps, despite the crowd of tourists, like treasure island, cinema island.
After Cambodia and the temples of Angkor, we headed for the south of Thailand. So much for...
I like hanging out in Asian markets. During my stay in Sulawesi (Indonesia), last summer, I went for a ride in that of Rantepao, in the heart of Toraja country. Here are some pictures of atmosphere ...
It's just a fish, I know. No misery moved. Still, it's sad to see, a mola-mola in agony ...
The flamboyant little mandarin-fish does not dare to come out of his coral den until dusk. I found it in Bangka (Sulawesi, Indonesia).
In 9 minutes and 34 seconds, the sweet chaos of Thailand... I wanted to share this very nice video,...
Indonesia, sea of Celebes. Under the surface, life abounds! The proof in pictures, with this small underwater video, made around the island of Bangka, in the north of Sulawesi.
It is one of the treasures of the Indonesian island of Sulawesi, to discover underwater. The delicate beauty of nudibranchs, these small sea slugs with shimmering colors, is a delight!
Batutumonga. This strange and beautiful name is synonymous for me, a fantastic scooter ride in the heart of Toraja Country, in central Sulawesi. Rice fields sublime ... but rotten roads! I almost stayed in the mountains sleeping because of a flat tire.