Wide In Raja Ampat

Nigel Marsh · Issue 149, Mar/Apr 2026 · pp. 64–69

Products mentioned: Nikon D500, Tokina 10-17mm lens, Isotta Housing, Inon Z330 strobe

Before every dive trip I always have a list of dream subjects. Most of these subjects are new, species I have never photographed before. However, when returning to destinations I have dived before I also have subjects that I want to improve on. Recently I returned to Raja Ampat, Indonesia, and I had a chance to tick off some dream wide-angle subjects at this very special dive destination. I first visited Raja Ampat in 2017 and followed this up with a return trip in 2018. On both trips I explored the area’s rich waters on a liveaboard vessel operated by Sea Safari Cruises. Raja Ampat amazed me from the very first dive, with stunning reefs, beautiful corals, masses of reef and pelagic fishes, plus the occasional turtle, shark and reef manta ray. On these trips I was constantly swapping between the wide-angle and the macro lens, shooting schools of fish, fish portraits, stunning corals, fas…