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Field notes

Monthly liveaboard picks, seasonal dive windows, and quiet notes from our specialists.

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© 2026 MantaraDive. Editorial.

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The Journal

Field notes from the world’s reefs.

Filter by destination, diver level, season, and marine life. Every briefing is written for real trip planning, not casual scrolling.

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57 briefings

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Southeast Asia
destinationMay 22, 202615 min read
Frogfish Hunting in Indonesia and the Philippines: Where Photographers Actually Go
A photographer's guide to frogfish diving in Indonesia and the Philippines — species by site, Lembeh to Anilao, with real dive-site recommendations and 2026 logistics.
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Fuvahmulah

planning·May 22, 2026·15 min read

Fuvahmulah Tiger Shark Diving: What ZuBlu Won't Tell You About the Risks and Costs (2026)

The reality of tiger shark diving at Fuvahmulah — baiting practices operators downplay, real costs beyond package prices, safety incidents, and what the "guaranteed sightings" marketing actually means.

OwJan-MarShark

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Solo female diver exploring a vibrant reef wall

planning·May 22, 2026·15 min read

Solo Female Dive Travel: How to Pick an Operator That Treats You Like a Diver, Not a Liability

A practical guide to choosing dive operators, liveaboards, and destinations for solo female divers — what to look for, what to avoid, and where the experience actually works.

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Solo female diver exploring a coral wall in clear tropical water

planning·May 22, 2026·16 min read

Solo Female Divers: Which Liveaboards and Resorts Actually Make You Feel Safe (and Which to Skip)

A practical guide for solo female divers comparing liveaboards and resorts on real safety signals — crew culture, cabin policies, female dive guides, and what to watch out for before booking.

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Blue Holes Palau: Complete Guide for Divers (2026)

planning·May 21, 2026·15 min read

Blue Holes Palau: Complete Guide for Divers (2026)

Everything you need to know about diving Blue Holes in Palau — depth, conditions, marine life, how to combine it with Blue Corner, permits, operators, and realistic 2026 pricing.

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Solo diver exploring a tropical reef from a liveaboard

planning·May 20, 2026·18 min read

Best Solo-Friendly Liveaboards in the Maldives, Indonesia, and Philippines

A practical 2026 guide to liveaboards that welcome solo divers across three top Asian destinations, covering shared cabins, single supplements, dedicated solo cabins, and real pricing.

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Clownfish in anemone on a Caribbean reef

destination·May 20, 2026·22 min read

Cozumel vs Cancun for First-Time Caribbean Divers: Which Gulf-Coast Hub Actually Wins?

Cozumel vs Cancun diving compared for first-time Caribbean divers: drift diving, beginner sites, MUSA, cenotes, operators, logistics, marine park fees, and seasonality.

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Solo diver over a tropical reef in the Philippines

destination·May 18, 2026·14 min read

Solo Diving Philippines: Resorts and Liveaboards That Work

A practical Philippines solo diving guide covering resort bases, liveaboard options, buddy policies, single supplements, and where traveling alone works.

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Tubbataha reef diving in clear blue tropical water

destination·May 18, 2026·15 min read

Tubbataha Reef Liveaboard: Why the 3-Month Season Is Worth Planning Around

A practical Tubbataha liveaboard planning guide: season timing, Puerto Princesa logistics, reef highlights, diver fit, costs, and Tubbataha vs Apo Reef trade-offs.

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Anilao vs Lembeh for Macro Diving: Which Critter Capital Actually Wins?

destination·May 17, 2026·18 min read

Anilao vs Lembeh for Macro Diving: Which Critter Capital Actually Wins?

Anilao vs Lembeh macro diving compared for critter density, nudibranchs, octopus encounters, muck sites, seasonality, logistics, photographer support, and trip value.

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Colorful nudibranch photographed during a macro dive in Asia

destination·May 17, 2026·16 min read

Best Muck Diving in Asia: Lembeh, Anilao, Ambon, Alor Ranked

A blunt guide to Asia muck diving, ranking Lembeh, Anilao, Ambon, and Alor by critter density, logistics, seasonality, photo value, and trip fit.

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Macro subject photographed underwater, representing Lembeh Strait critter diving

destination·May 17, 2026·18 min read

Lembeh Strait for Macro Photographers: Complete 2026 Guide

A 2026 guide to Lembeh Strait diving for macro photographers, including muck sites, critters, seasons, resort setup, camera tips, costs, and Lembeh vs Anilao.

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