South Bolaang Mongondow, North Sulawesi

South Bolaang Mongondow, locally known as Bolsel, isn’t just beautiful, it’s alive in motion. Beneath its calm surface, the water bursts with energy. Schools of jackfish swirl in tight formations, barracudas hover like silver blades in the blue, and the reef itself glows with color, layered in branching corals, soft fans, and sponge-covered rocks.

This series is a celebration of that rhythm, of life moving in unison. Of being surrounded by fish on all sides, caught in a moment that feels almost choreographed. At times, the visibility stretches far enough to see the entire dance unfold. At others, the reef pulls you closer, into the details: vibrant nudibranchs, darting anthias, coral textures lit by shifting sunlight.

Bolsel feels untouched. There’s no rush, no crowd, just you, the reef, and everything that calls it home. It’s the kind of place that reminds you why you fell in love with diving in the first place.