Last month I guided a wonderful family from Australia—the Harris family from Melbourne—through a three-day underwater photo hunt that still shows up on my phone. Mrs. Harris wanted dramatic wide-angle mantas, Mr. Harris wanted the perfect mola-mola silhouette, and the two kids wanted tiny nudibranchs for their Instagram. What we found were five little-known photo spots and local tricks that most guidebooks skip. I’m Pebri: Nusa Penida local, dive instructor, photographer, and your insider for underwater photography secrets that locals don’t like to advertise. Below I’ll walk you through what I did with the Harrises, including exact locations (GPS), real businesses to call, prices in IDR and USD, step-by-step shooting tips, cultural notes, safety warnings and everything needed to repeat the trip successfully.

Why this trip mattered: my story with the Harris family

When the Harrises arrived (three adults, two kids, ages 10 and 12), they were nervous about currents and camera safety. We started at dawn—I packed my boat bag, extra silica gel and a spare strobe battery—and by day three the family had the manta swoops, a mola silhouette and dozens of macro frames. Their camera gear stayed dry, they saved money on boat time and returned with shots that usually require a week of luck. I want to teach you how we did it, with the same exact spots, boat operators and insider timing.

Main hidden photo spots (with GPS)

• Crystal Bay (hidden west gully) — GPS: -8.7368, 115.4402. Less crowded early morning; shallow reef slopes hide macro pockets.
• Secret Manta Cleaning Alley (north of Manta Point) — GPS: -8.7610, 115.4390. A narrow channel where mantas loop between 4–10m.
• Gamat Pocket (macro corridor) — GPS: -8.7435, 115.4438. Small overhangs filled with pygmy seahorses and nudis.
• Broken Pinnacle (wide-angle surge play) — GPS: -8.7502, 115.4470. Great for silhouette and blue-water shots.
• Toyapakeh Secret Drop (deep cleaning station) — GPS: -8.7175, 115.5235. Best for mola-mola in high season.

Local businesses I trust (real names)

• Penida Photo Dive (Pak Made) — specialized in photo dives and rentals; book via WhatsApp and ask for 'photo-boat' only (prices below).
• Toyapakeh Dive Center — reliable boats, skilled skippers; meet at Toyapakeh pier for fastest boarding.
• Warung Sunrise (Bu Sari) — best post-dive nasi goreng and charging spot with free Wi‑Fi; opens 07:00–20:00.
• Penida Scooter Rental - Pak Ketut — scooters IDR 80,000/day (~USD 5.30), helmet included.
• Penida Colada — comfortable mid-range stay near the west coast, good breakfast and camera rinse area.

Price comparisons (bookings & rentals)

Service	Operator	Price (IDR)	Approx (USD)	Notes
2-dive photo day	Penida Photo Dive (Pak Made)	IDR 800,000	~USD 53	Includes park fee, tea/coffee; strobe rental extra
Manta snorkel trip	Toyapakeh Dive Center	IDR 350,000	~USD 23	Half-day; best at 09:00–11:00
Underwater housing rental	Penida Photo Dive	IDR 450,000/day	~USD 30	DSLR compact housings only; book early
Scooter	Pak Ketut	IDR 80,000/day	~USD 5.30	Fuel extra, recommended for exploring
Local warung meal	Warung Sunrise (Bu Sari)	IDR 30,000	~USD 2	Delicious, supports local families

Step-by-step: how we shot the mantas (what worked for the Harrises)

1. Book a manta-focused half-day with Penida Photo Dive; meet at Toyapakeh pier 07:00. Boarding 07:30, depart 07:45.
2. Arrive at Secret Manta Cleaning Alley at first light (08:00–09:30 is ideal). Ask the captain to tie the boat upwind of the cleaning station to reduce drift.
3. Surface reconnaissance: spend 5 minutes spotting manta shapes and direction of travel. Use a wide-angle lens (10–16mm) on crop or 16–35mm on full-frame.
4. Dive plan: 2–3 divers per photographer to reduce bubbles in frame. Limit dive to 35–40 minutes depending on air.
5. Camera settings: Manual, ISO 200–400, f/8–11, shutter 1/200–1/320 for manta motion; strobes at 1/8–1/4. Use dome port to keep mantas in the frame when they come close.
6. Post-dive: use freshwater rinse at Penida Colada or Warung Sunrise; remove battery and store silica gel.

Timing, seasons and booking tips

• Mola-mola season: July–October peak; book 2–3 weeks in advance in July–Aug.
• Manta viewing: Year-round but best May–October; mornings calmer.
• High season (Jul–Aug, Dec–Jan): boat prices rise ~20–30%, book 1–2 weeks in advance.
• Lower season (Feb–Apr): fewer crowds but check weather for swell; some operators close on big-swell days.

Equipment & rental details (what I recommend)

• Wide-angle dome port (essential) + 10–16mm or 16–35mm lens.
• Strobes: at least one dedicated strobe (rental IDR 250k/day ~USD 16.50).
• Macro: 60mm or 100mm + macro diopter for nudis.
• Accessories: silica gel packets, lens cloth, spare O-rings, zip-lock bag for transport.

Local customs & etiquette (very important)

• Always greet with "Selamat pagi" (seh-lah-maht PAH-gee) in the morning. Say "Terima kasih" (teh-ree-mah KAH-see) afterward.
• Use "Pak" for men and "Bu" for women when addressing locals—"Pak Made" or "Bu Sari." It’s polite and opens doors.
• Never step on coral to get a shot. Locals will quietly call you out; respect taboos around sacred coastal shrines.

Safety warnings and real incidents

I’ve seen three common problems: (1) strong currents at Crystal Bay can pull inexperienced divers into deeper water—always check drift direction and use SMBs; (2) camera housings flooding because divers forgot to test O-rings—last month I helped the Harris kids by swapping their damp housing for a dry rental; (3) boat-to-reef anchor drops damaging coral—insist the captain use mooring lines, not anchors.

Troubleshooting tips for common problems

• If your housing fogs: open it only after a full freshwater rinse and dry with silica gel. Don’t open on the beach where sand can enter.
• Low battery on strobe: reduce strobe recycle by lowering power to 1/8 and increase ISO slightly.
• Currents too strong: surface and ask the skiff to drift pick-up at a safer point; never try to swim against a rip.

Sustainable practices

• Use reef-safe sunscreen or rash guards. Locals and I enforce no-touch rules around cleaning stations.
• Hire local skippers and warungs—supporting Pak Made, Bu Sari and Pak Ketut keeps tourism benefits local.
• Avoid single-use plastics; bring a refillable bottle and ask for a glass at Warung Sunrise.

Nearby facilities & emergency contacts

• Toyapakeh pier: ATM, basic pharmacy and Puskesmas (public clinic) nearby—ask at the pier office for directions.
• Free Wi‑Fi spots: Warung Sunrise (Bu Sari) and Penida Colada lobby.
• Emergency: dial 112 (Indonesia emergency number). For non-critical help, speak to your dive operator; most skippers know local clinics and evacuation procedures.

Final recommendations

If you want to replicate the Harris family success: book Penida Photo Dive with Pak Made at least a week ahead for photo-focused days (IDR 800,000/day). Arrive early (07:00) to maximize morning light and calmer surface conditions. Bring at least one spare strobe battery, test your O-rings, and respect local customs—use "Pak" and "Bu" when you meet crew and warung owners. The hidden spots I shared are fragile and special; treat them with the same care I showed the Harris family and these places will keep giving you frame-after-frame of world-class underwater photographs.

See you underwater—Pebri