Macro Magic at Alam Batu

David Fleetham & Jennifer Ross · Issue 145, Jul/Aug 2025 · pp. 58–63

Products mentioned: Canon EOS R5, Ikelite dry-lock housing, Canon 8-15mm lens, Canon RF 100mm macro lens, Canon RF 50mm macro lens, Ikelite 230 strobes

Bali, Indonesia, is no stranger to the diving world, but for underwater photographers, Tulamben is a macro- rich paradise that deserves more than a cursory glance. My partner Jennifer Ross and I recently spent two weeks at Alam Batu Beach Resort, located on the northeast coast of the island. For fourteen days, we dove four times daily, one of those being a night dive each evening. Alam Batu sits on a rugged stretch of coast framed by black volcanic sand beaches, lava rock, and dense jungle. Above water, the backdrop of Mount Agung looms large. Below, the reefscape is a patchwork of coral gardens, black sand valleys, and vertical walls teeming with rare and bizarre marine life. The resort’s dive site menu includes names like Dreamland, Adventure, Baywatch, and the ever- iconic Liberty Wreck, alongside sites with local names such as Ketut, Jukung, Batu Niti, and Pasir Ilmuh. You never had …