Drone & Photo etiquette

If you fly a drone, this is the place to bring it – the reefs and sandbars from above are unreal. A few things we learned:

Officially, Indonesia caps recreational flights at 120 m and requires permits for anything commercial – check the current rules before you travel. Out here, the bigger challenges are practical: there's nowhere to buy spare props, batteries or anything else, so bring everything you need. Wind picks up fast over open water, and salt spray is brutal on motors – wipe your drone down after every coastal flight.

People here are curious and friendly, and most love being photographed – but ask first, always. A smile and a raised camera with questioning eyebrows is a universal language. Show them the photo afterwards; it's often the start of a conversation.