By: Alex
Even if you get the chance to visit the Maldives or Okinawa in Japan, snapping an extraordinary underwater photo isn’t easy. In a small village in Central Java, Indonesia, there's a large pond where you can try your hand at underwater photography. Not only is the water crystal clear, but there are also quirky props and live fish to help you unleash your creativity.
The pond, spanning about 230 x 130 feet, is called Umbul Ponggok and has become a popular social media attraction in recent years. Fed by 40 natural springs, the water remains consistently clear year-round. Visitors only need to pay a $1 (approximately HK$7.8) entrance fee to enter the pond and take photos with fish, as well as props like motorcycles, tents, and televisions. Guests can also rent underwater cameras to take their own shots or hire a scuba photographer to do it for them.
Before 2006, the pond was dirty, overgrown with moss, and used by villagers for bathing and laundry. To tackle high unemployment in the village, the newly elected head of the village in 2006 saw the potential of the 40 natural springs and cleaned up the pond, transforming it into a tourist destination. Currently, part of the pond’s earnings goes back to the villagers, and many have changed careers, selling souvenirs, clothing, and snacks around the site to make a living.
Source: Mail Online, @umbul_ponggok