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Wallacea Underwater Photography Competition Monthly Winner: Serendipity at Sangeang

Oct 15, 2026

.MSY Seahorse Diving Cruise Indonesia by Wallacea Dive Cruise

Among the worldwide divers, Indonesian underwater have the amazing scenes of vibrant coral reefs, dramatic landscapes, and a thriving marine life. Capturing this magic requires patience, technical skill, and a deep appreciation for the ocean’s delicate ecosystems. Wallacea Dive Cruise proudly presents the September winners of our monthly underwater photography competition, Wonders of the Depth.

This month, we received an extraordinary collection of submissions, featuring eight remarkable photographs across six competitive entries. Each image showcased the unique beauty of the archipelago underwater world, reminding us of the profound privilege it is to explore this deep blue.

However, one photograph stood out for its perfect composition, vivid colors, and the sheer serendipity of the moment and we present it as the monthly winner of our underwater photography competition.

Announcing Our September Winner: Anne Rucqoi

The grand prize winner for September is Anne Rucqoi, who joined us in August 2026 for a spectacular Bali to Komodo liveaboard expedition aboard our luxury liveaboard, the MSY Seahorse.

Anne captured a truly breathtaking macro photograph of a pair of nudibranchs. O ften affectionately referred to as “sea slugs,” nudibranchs are among the most sought-after subjects for macro underwater photographers in Indonesia.

Despite their humble moniker, these tiny marine gastropod mollusks are the undisputed jewels of the sea. They are celebrated for their striking color palettes and intricate pattern, which serve as a natural defense mechanism to warn predators of their toxicity.

Capturing their microscopic details while managing the challenges of underwater lighting and buoyancy is a true testament to a diver's photographic skill.

Expressing her gratitude upon winning of underwater photography contest, Anne shared a heartfelt message with the Wallacea team: “Thank you again for selecting my photograph. I’m truly honoured, and I’m very excited to see it featured across Wallacea’s platforms!”

The Story Behind the Shot: Serendipity at Sangeang

Nudibranch of Sangeang by Anne Rucqoi | Wallacea Dive Cruise

Great underwater photography is often a combination of meticulous preparation, expert guidance, and being in the right place at the perfect time. Anne’s winning photograph is a beautiful example of all three coming together harmoniously.

The image was captured during a late afternoon macro dive at Sangeang Volcano, a highly celebrated dive site renowned for its active volcanic environment.

Sangeang is famous among seasoned divers for its striking, nutrient-rich black volcanic sand. This dark substrate provides the ultimate high-contrast backdrop, allowing the brilliant, saturated colors of tiny macro subjects like nudibranchs to absolutely pop in photographs.

Furthermore, the geothermal activity of the volcano creates a magical atmosphere underwater, with continuous streams of warm, silvery volcanic bubbles rising from the dark sandy bottom toward the surface.

Diving alongside Julio, one of Wallacea’s most experienced dive guides, Anne jump into this otherworldly environment. After dropping down into the warm, they suddenly stumbled upon an incredibly rare and perfectly orchestrated scene.

Resting elegantly on the substrate were two vibrantly colored nudibranchs, positioned in such exact symmetry that they appeared to be reflecting one another in a mirror.

“It was almost too good to be true, and it created such a beautiful shot,” Anne recalled when describing the magical encounter. “Sometimes, you just get lucky underwater!”

While luck certainly plays a role, nudibranch photography need focus, ideal strobe lighting, and flawless composition requires undeniable talent. For Anne, this dive at Sangeang remains one of the defining highlights of her journey.

She noted how much she loves that this single photograph has the power to instantly transport her back to that specific afternoon dive, preserving the wonderful, shared experience of exploring the wild, untamed waters of Komodo.

Honoring Our Underwater Photography Contest Finalists

Underwater Photography Contest by Wallacea Dive Cruise

While Anne’s symmetrical nudibranch composition took this month's top honors, the competition was exceptionally fierce. The overall quality of the submissions we received for September was nothing short of spectacular.

Every single participant demonstrated a remarkable ability to frame the raw, majestic beauty of the Indonesian seascape, capturing everything from the tiniest macro critters hiding in the anemones to the sweeping, wide-angle grandeur of thriving coral gardens.

The Wallacea team is deeply honored to receive such enthusiastic participation from our guests. Reviewing these photographs allows us to see the vibrant reefs we sail every day through your creative lenses.

To honor the incredible effort, dedication, and artistry of all our participants, we will be featuring a curated selection of their mesmerizing underwater captures across our social media platforms and upcoming newsletters.

We would like to extend our sincere congratulations and a special honorable mention to the following talented photographers for their outstanding submissions of the underwater photo contest in this month:

Andreas Marohn

Underwater Crustaceans by Wallacea Dive Cruise

Donna Latinn

Sandra Haessler

Sylvie Soehlen

Colorful Coral Reefs | Wallacea Dive Cruise

Tanja Schmitz

Yellow Neon Squid | Wallacea Dive Cruise

Hard Corals Underwater | Wallacea Dive Cruise

Each of these divers brought a unique visual perspective to the competition, showcasing excellent buoyancy control, patience, and a deep respect for the marine life they interacted with. Their portfolios serve as a powerful reminder of why marine conservation and responsible diving practices are so vital to preserving these delicate habitats for future generations of ocean explorers.

Who Will Win Our Next Underwater Photo Contest?

Underwater Komodo Corals | Wallacea Dive Cruise

The ocean is an ever-changing environment, and every single dive offers a brand-new opportunity to capture something the world has never seen before. The Wonders of the Depth photography contest is an ongoing celebration of this boundless potential.

We will continue this exciting competition into the upcoming months, maintaining the same thrilling categories, the same competitive rules, and the same fantastic prizes for our winning photographers.

To prepare for your entry, we highly encourage all future guests to review the official Wallacea Photography Contest article. On this article you will find detailed information regarding the specific photographic categories.

Are you feeling inspired by Anne’s stunning capture at Sangeang Volcano? The first step to winning is getting in the water. If you want to become a participant in our next monthly contest, we invite you to book an unforgettable Indonesia liveaboard expedition onboard the MSY Seahorse or MV Ambai.

Join us as we navigate the world's most bio-diverse waters, explore hidden reefs, and dive into the ultimate underwater photography adventure. We cannot wait to see what you discover next.

FAQs

Absolutely. The contest is open to all registered guests diving with Wallacea Dive Cruises aboard the MSY Seahorse or MV Ambai. Please note that the strict deadline for all photo submissions is a maximum of 14 days after your liveaboard trip officially ends.