The Illusory Reflection

This image bears witness to a unique serendipity: the symbiosis of industrial ruins and natural ecology. Such a vibrant coral reef could never exist within the high-flow discharge of a fully operational nuclear power plant.

Before it became known among divers as "The Sanctuary," the water intake of the Lungmen Nuclear Power Plant was something of an urban legend. I had heard whispers from veteran divers about the dense coral growth hidden inside, but access remained elusive. It wasn't until the pandemic that I finally found the opportunity to explore it.

The so-called "Sanctuary" is intimate in scale, but its architecture is breathtaking. Towering pillars and circular tunnels are bathed in ambient blue light, adorned with vibrant, life-filled gorgonians. What captivated me most, however, was how divers' exhaled bubbles would accumulate against the structure's ceiling. This created temporary air pockets that formed a perfect, mirror-like blue reflection—the very origin of the title "The Illusory Reflection," and the perspective that drew me in.

However, capturing this specific scene was notoriously difficult. Corals are pragmatic creatures; they feed with the tide. In gentle currents, it is safe to dive, but the polyps remain retracted in rest. They only bloom in their full glory under the pressure of strong currents. On my first attempt, prioritizing safety, I dove during slack tide. The result was far from the vision etched in my mind.

But the composition was already branded into my memory.

I planned aggressively, waiting for a window of strong current. When I returned, the corals were indeed fully bloomed—stunningly beautiful—but the surging water turned the dive into a battle. The shooting position was treacherous; the interior felt like the cramped quarters of a shipwreck. To avoid damaging the precious corals, I had to maintain buoyancy and control my strobes while wedged in a tight space, fighting the relentless flow.

Yet, every struggle was worth it. This photograph stands as a testament to a fleeting moment where industrial abandonment allowed nature to reclaim its space.

Today, this scene is lost forever. Due to safety concerns—specifically the risk of a deadly siphon effect during heavy swells—authorities have permanently sealed the entrance with iron grates. "The Illusory Reflection" has ultimately become a memory sealed in time.

🏆 Award Recognition: This work was awarded a Merit Award in the Marine Ecology category of the "Ocean in Your Eyes" Photography Contest, hosted by Taiwan's Ocean Conservation Administration (OCA). This serves not only as an affirmation of its artistic value but as an official recognition of its significance as a unique record of Taiwan's marine ecology.