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Bali - Barbara Phua
Bali is not only a magical place but also a wonderful dive destination. It's Barbara Phua's favorite destination so far. She dove off Menjangan Island which is on the northwestern tip of Bali and Amed which is a little village on the north east coast of Bali, about twenty minutes by road east of Tulamben. Here is her story and, more importantly, here are her beautiful underwater images from this excellent dive destination.
Dive Global "discovered" this talented underwater photographer just last month. Our entire March 2002 stories are illustrated by her photos. Thank you Barbara! Find out what makes her click over and over again... 
Barbara Phua talks with Charlotte of Dive Global about one of her favorite destinations in Asia: Bali!
Charlotte: Can you tell us a little about yourself and how you got into diving?
Barbara: I took up scuba diving in mid 1999's when the sport was gaining popularity in Singapore. I was merely following the crowd at pursuing the next in-thing in town. I did not expect myself to fall head over heels in love with this submerged water world. I am still the same girl-next-door with a 9-to-5 desk job. But a monthly dive trip is now mandatory water therapy that lets me escape the rat race for a while.
 Charlotte: What is your favorite diving destination and why?
Barbara: As I live in Singapore there are so many incredible diving destinations close by. We're right in the middle of it! For now, my favorite destination is Bali. I was so overwhelmed by the clear visibility, color and diversity on my first dive that I did not know where to start taking pictures. The variety of profile also made diving in Bali an interesting experience. There were drift dives, boat dives (using dive boats and local fishing boats), deep dives, wall dives, wreck dives and beach dives. And the traditional Balinese massages in between diving also made the trip to Bali a very pleasurable and relaxing one. Ribbon Eel, photo taken in Toyapakeh, Bali, Indonesia
Charlotte: What is your most amazing diving experience you've ever had?
 Barbara: My first encounter with a whale shark was just unbelievable. Encountering a whale shark in the vast ocean is like finding a needle in a haystack. It was amazing that I could come so close to this gentle giant and take pictures of it. It was an ecstatic moment and I was in awe!
Charlotte: How did you get into underwater photography?
Barbara: My friends and family who did not dive were curious about my bubbling passion for scuba diving. It was difficult for me to describe to them the beauty of the underwater world to them. Since a picture speaks a thousand words, I decided to take up underwater photography in 2000 to show them what I would see on my dive trips. Twintone Dartfishes, photo taken in Menganjan, Bali, Indonesia
Charlotte: What equipment do you use and why?
Barbara: I started with a conventional camera in a housing. As I was just starting out, the waste of prints was very high and it also rapidly became an expensive hobby. The results could only be circulated in hard copies or I had to spent enormous time scanning the pictures. It was also tedious to archive the photographs. So when Sony introduced the first digital camera with an underwater housing, I did not hesitate to make the switch. It is easy to use and compact for traveling. The playback is instant and the pictures can be downloaded with the click of a mouse. No more waste and no more hard copies, I'm very happy to be taking digital photos. I'm using a Sony's DSC-P1 digital still camera in its designated housing: an MPK-P1. During the day, I use only the camera's built-in flash. If I think there is inadequate natural light or the built-in flash will be too weak, I will forgo the shot. As most of my shots are close-ups, the built-in flash, at its brightest setting, is sufficient. At night, I use a 100-watt bulb dive light.
Charlotte: Do you have aspirations of becoming a professional underwater photographer? You are clearly very talented!
 Barbara: Thanks for the compliment but I am not sure whether I have the talent and qualification to become a professional underwater photographer. I'm just enjoying it very much. I submit my photos to different magazines and hope they like them. My little tale and photograph of a 6 m whale shark I spotted on my second trip to Tenggol, in the waters off Batu Tokong Laut were published in the Reader's Corner of Asian Diver Magazine in the Jun/Jul 2001 issue and now I'm on Dive Global so that's a great start. I love to dive and take pictures so I'll just continue what I'm doing and see where it takes me in the future. Reef Tunnel, photo taken in Menganjan, Bali, Indonesia.
Charlotte: Is there a dive destination you have never been to but are dying to explore?
Barbara: I would like to explore all the diving destinations on the globe eventually. So far I've only dove in Asia as it is so close to where I live. I take dive trips over long weekends every chance I get. I've been to several destinations in Malaysia and Indonesia so far. If I have to name one destination I cannot wait to go to, then it would be the Cayman Islands. I would like to get to the point where I could do photography for dive resorts or liveaboards in return for discounts on a trip or stay. The Cayman Islands is quite far from Singapore!
 Charlotte: What's your favorite animal to photograph/film and why?
Barbara: Nudibranchs are my favorite photography candidates. These beautiful little creatures come in many varieties of colors and are easy to photograph. But you need a keen eye to spot them among the corals. Nudibranch at night, Tulamben, Bali, Indonesia
Charlotte: You only use a digital camera and take stunning photos, most photographers are still using conventional cameras in housings, what is your experience with digital?
Barbara: A digital camera is easy to use. It operates like an aim-and-shoot camera after you have figured out the best parameters/settings. It's an instant camera that allows you to "seize the moment" and capture that special encounter in digital pixels. A digital camera is also less bulky and can fit in a relatively small housing. Mine is also easy to pack and maintain. It is also small enough for me to insert into a crevice for a real close-up shot. Its size is also less intimidating to the marine creatures and makes a candid photo session a friendlier encounter I think. You can also capture that very special moment as a movie clip if your digital camera comes with the added feature.
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