Nöbetçi Eczaneler
The ocean has always fascinated me. Ever since I was little, I loved snorkelling on holidays and exploring what lies beneath the surface. While I’ll never say no to the thrill of a passing shark or manta ray, my true passion is (super)macro. There’s something magical about uncovering details of critters which you cannot see with the naked eye in pictures.
My ultimate dream? To one day discover a brand-new nudibranch species.
When I’m not underwater, I work as a clinical project manager based in the Netherlands. It’s a career that keeps me busy on land, but diving and photography give me the perfect balance, a chance to disconnect and slow down.
So far, my favourite scuba destinations have been Anilao and Dauin (Philippines), and Tulamben (Bali, Indonesia), true paradises for any macro lover.
My camera rig consists of a Sony A7IIIR, 90mm macro lens, Nauticam housing and 2 Inon Z-330 strobes. For my last scuba trip, I’ve added a Nauticam SMC-2 wet lens and a snoot for my flash. It was a challenge to get the hang of this, but when I did, the pictures were rewarding: I was finally able to take photos of even the tiniest critters.
My dream destinations are the Galapagos and Raja Ampat, and this year I’ll finally tick off Raja Ampat. I can’t wait to see what surprises await beneath the waves, maybe even a yet-to-be-discovered nudibranch species.
Instagram @aniek_divepics
Costasiella kuroshimae, Tulamben, Indonesia
This nudibranch is my favourite nudibranch, also known as ‘Shaun the Sheep’. It is smaller than 5mm, so it’s a challenge to find and photograph. When I was looking at the photo on my laptop, I noticed that you can find a baby Shaun the Sheep just on the left of the adult one. It is as big as a sand grain. I was absolutely over the moon when I saw this!
Odontia bagginsi, Tulamben, Indonesia
This little shrimp is also called the Hobbit shrimp. A tiny species with eight hairy limbs named after Bilbo Baggins. It was discovered in 2009 by a Dutch researcher.
Morey eel, Dahab, Egypt
During this dive, the batteries ran out of 1 of my 2 strobes. This, however, resulted in a nice, eerie picture.
Cratena peregrina with a Flabellina affinis, Corfu, Greece
These nudibranch were very hard to shoot, as they were sitting on tiny seaweed which was moving a lot.
Candy crab, Tulamben, Indonesia
I’m always amazed how such a bright and colourful critter manages to hide so well.
Racemose doto, Tulamben, Indonesia
These tiny little 5mm-long nudibranchs looked like they were starting off a little romance.
Hairy octopus, Tulamben, Indonesia
This 5cm octopus is one of the holy grail critters. It’s very rare to find and if you do find it, it immediately shoots off to a hiding place. Safe to say that we had a little party after we saw this guy.
Purple eubranchus, Tulamben, Indonesia
This see-through nudibranch looks almost like a piece of art.
Juvenile clown frogfish, Tulamben, Indonesia
Always love encountering frogfish. I only take a maximum of 3 to 5 pictures per frogfish as they are very annoyed by the bright light of the flash.
Fish eggs, Tulamben, Indonesia
One of the great examples of the power of the SMC-2 super macro converter lens.
Ercolania endophytophaga, Tulamben, Indonesia
Not a nudibranch, but this is a sapsucking slug.
Flabellina affinis, Corfu, Greece
These are definitely the most photogenic nudibranchs of the Mediterranean Sea.
Hairy shrimp, Tulamben, Indonesia
This tiny shrimp looks like it was posing for my photo.
Doto greenamyeri, Tulamben, Indonesia
You can clearly see where this nudibranch got its name from.
Whip coral shrimp, Tulamben, Indonesia
Always a challenge to get a good picture as they tend to run away from the camera.
Cadlinella ornatissima, Tulamben, Indonesia
This nudibranch is easy to spot due to its bright colour.
Fire Hypselodoris, Tulamben, Indonesia
I love all the different colors of this nudibranch.
Flabellina affinis, Sardinia, Italy
These beautiful translucent digestive ducts are always a fascination of mine.
Pichachu nudibranch, Tulamben, Indonesia
I often tell non-divers, ‘hunting nudibranch is like finding Pokémon’… and this time, I found the Pikachu nudibranch!
You can find more of Aniek’s photography on her Instagram @aniek_divepics
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