Indonesia’s Cenotes
Immerse yourself in the mysterious and enchanting world of Uluna as Imran Ahmad Bin Rayat Ahmad takes you deep into the middle of Tondano, North Sulawesi.
Immerse yourself in the mysterious and enchanting world of Uluna. Trapped in the middle of Tondano, North Sulawesi, Uluna reveals that there is so much more to this iconic destination
For years, Uluna has been a secret known only to the locals; this is their magical, private swimming pool. Children from the village would come after school with their friends to swim and enjoy an afternoon of relaxation.
It was their amusement park.
Four years ago, while searching for my next project, I heard rumours that a local guide used to talk about a lake of clear water in the mountains. My first guess was that he was talking about the Tondano Lake, but, to my surprise, he wasn’t. Roy Legi discovered this beautiful space and invited me to photograph it. It took four years to get the word out and attract the attention of local and international divers. Was it worth it? Yes.
I always remind myself that it’s never just about the location or the camera; it’s about the idea or about making something ordinary, extraordinary. Anybody can buy a ticket to a beautiful place, but not everybody can change people’s perspectives.
An hour-and-half’s drive from Manado, a two-tank dive in a water just three-metres deep with a temperature of 25 degrees Celsius and you could be photographing something so unique that it is comparable to being in the cenotes in Mexico.
As you take on the role of an underwater photographer with an assignment in mind, you will soon discover how easy it is to turn Nature into a fairy tale.
Read the rest of this article in 2017 Issue 3 Volume 147 of Asian Diver magazine by subscribing here or check out all of our publications here.