Malise
Image Credit: Oceanthusiast
Through photography, I connect with the ocean, and invite others to feel something for it too.
Ribka Malise
I’m Ribka Malise, an Indonesian underwater photographer, visual storyteller, and often the quiet shadow behind the lens on remote islands and coral coastlines.
This is where I gather fragments of life beneath the surface and the still beauty of places shaped by tide and time. Whether it's reef life, the people protecting it, or spaces that breathe sustainability, that’s where I feel most at home.
What draws me in isn’t just the beauty. It’s the silence, the rhythm, the way the ocean speaks if we’re willing to listen. Through photography, I try to reflect moments that feel honest, and sometimes raw, from the reef to the surface.
My work flows between underwater life, destination and resort shoots, and storytelling for conservation projects.
Let’s create stories that stay, stories that matter.
Image Credit: yubzukamoto
My Story
When I was a kid, I had breathing issues, a kind of allergy that made mornings difficult. The doctor told my parents I needed to swim every day to strengthen my lungs. So that became part of my routine. Some mornings I was in a pool. On better days, they took me to the sea. I didn’t know it then, but those quiet hours in the water were the start of a deep connection with the ocean that would shape my life.
At home, every night, my dad always had the TV on, usually tuned to Nat Geo Wild, Animal Planet, or the Discovery Channel. I grew up watching wildlife documentaries, learning about creatures from the deepest oceans and wildest places. Even before I could name them, I was drawn to them. Curious, fascinated, and quietly in love with the natural world.
Looking back, it all makes sense. I was raised in Jakarta, a fast-moving city full of buildings, traffic, and noise. I studied Communication Science and spent a few years working in a creative agency, helping brands tell their stories through campaigns and content. At that point, diving was just a fun weekend activity, something I did during university—but it didn’t feel like a path yet.
Then the pandemic happened. Like many others, I turned back to nature. And when I returned to the ocean, something clicked. It didn’t feel new, it felt like coming home.
That’s when everything began to shift. I started diving again with more intention. I became a divemaster. I picked up a camera. I began paying attention, not just to what I saw underwater, but to how it made me feel.
Today, I’m an underwater photographer and ocean advocate. I work on projects across Indonesia, focusing on marine life, dive resorts, liveaboards, and conservation efforts. Photography has become my way of staying close to the ocean, of listening, observing, and sharing stories that move people. My background in communication helps me turn what I see into something others can understand and connect with.
This work isn’t just about capturing beauty. It’s about sharing presence, encouraging care, and reminding people of what’s still out there, alive and worth protecting.