Anilao Photo Workshops December 2023

Bluewater Photo's 2023 Anilao Underwater Photo Workshops

Join Bluewater Travel in December 2023 for the annual Anilao underwater photography workshops and some amazing reef and critter diving at Crystal Blue Resort.

Why Join This Trip?

Shaun the Sheep nudibranch (L), and hairy frogfish (R)

Trip Overview

This was the best organized and informative photo trip that I have been on, and I’ve been on a few.”- Harry O'Neil 

 ✓ Small 'dive guide to diver' ratios and long dive times

 ✓ We will visit the best dive sites early and often! Most sites are just 10 - 20 minutes from the resort.

 ✓ Prizes often awarded for photographing the most critters, the most nudibranch species, best video, and the best macro, wide-angle, and behavior shots

 ✓ Photographers with even the smallest point and shoot camera will feel very welcome here, and you will go home with some great shots. 

Anilao boasts some of the richest reefs in the world. Whether at 10ft or 100ft beneath the surface, you will be inundated with photo subjects that will fill up your memory card before the day is over.

Almost all species on our critter list can be found in Anilao - such as Rhinopias, blue-ring octopus, hairy frogfish, pipefish, flamboyant cuttlefish & Bobbit worms. Anilao is also the nudibranch capital of the world!

Here's the schedule for this trip:

• Day one of the trip: Arrival at the resort will be between 11am-1pm from Manila hotels. Rooms will be available for check-in between 12pm and 2pm. While waiting for rooms to become available, guests can have lunch (runs from 12-2), unpack their camera gear in the camera room, or relax in the common areas. There are 2 optional afternoon dives the day of arrival, which can take place as soon as 4 guests are ready for a dive (4 divers per boat).  

• Each subsequent day of the trip includes *up to* 4 dives per day, consisting of two in the morning and two in the afternoon (one afternoon dive is a night dive).

• There will be underwater photo seminars and image reviews in the mornings, afternoons, and evenings.

• On the second to last day, there will be no afternoon dives. There will be 2 morning dives, a photo contest and group dinner. 

• Departure will be on the following day at 8 am back to MNL. Shuttle transfers take approx 3.5 hours between Anilao-Manila so book your departure flight sometime in the afternoon (we recommend any time after 2:30-3:00 PM to be safe).*

To get a little insight as to what the workshop is like, read the report from our 2018 and 2019 workshops or see our guide to diving Anilao.

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Package Details

Inclusions 

 ✓ 7 nights of deluxe accommodations in sealed rooms with air-conditioning

 ✓ Daily photo clinics and workshops to help you improve your photography 

 ✓ Up to 4 dives a day (including night dives)

 ✓ All meals

Exclusions

✗ Nitrox ($99 for the week)

✗ Transfers ($100 round trip from Manila airport)
✗ Hotel stays / day rooms before or after the workshop
✗ Airfare
✗ Travel insurance: click here to learn more about our preferred plan

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The resort is on a hill and involves climbing stairs

About Crystal Blue Resort

Crystal Blue offers spectacular diving, amazing macro photography, knowledgeable guides, incredible cuisine, and comfortable ocean-view accommodations. The resort has a bar, restaurant, spa, jacuzzi, awesome food and offers 17 rooms that consist of deluxe rooms, superior rooms, and a large family villa.

Read the reviews of Crystal Blue Resort here.

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Flight Information

• We recommend guests arrive in Manila one day before the workshop begins and stay in a nearby hotel.
• We have 3 hotel recommendations for guests; The Manila Marriott, Holiday Inn Express Manila Newport City, or The Belmont Hotel - all very close to the airport.
• Alternatively, you can arrive at the Manila airport (code: MNL) on the morning of the first day of the workshop before 10 am and the shuttle will pick you up directly from the airport.
• Everyone will leave in the morning of the last day (approx 8:00 am) and be transferred back to the airport.
• Booking an afternoon/evening flight would be advised.
• If you have any questions, please email us for recommended departure/arrival times. We will arrange your transport to the resort.

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Daily Photo Workshops

Workshops will be given daily on topics such as macro composition, camera settings, creative lighting, super macro, and more. Help underwater is also given.

Check out this page for more information on what to expect from our photography workshops as well as some testimonials!

About The Trip Leader

Mark Hatter is an accomplished photojournalist who has had nearly one hundred feature articles with many hundreds of images published in more than two dozen fly fishing and diving publications over the last two decades.  His most recent destination features have appeared in Alert Diver and Diver (UK) magazines. 

Mark has traveled the world in pursuit of new underwater photography challenges, including cold-water destinations such as British Columbia and even Antarctica in January 2018.  

“Of course, I love shooting in tropical locations but I think cold water diving is a great forcing function to hone one’s photography skills as the environment and equipment are much more demanding of a diver.  Good image capture in cold water is particularly rewarding.” Mark tells us. 

Mark has been shooting underwater since the early 1980s and has worked in both film and digital mediums in his photojournalism pursuits.  In 35 years of diving, Mark has logged over 2000 hours, much of it doing underwater photography.  Currently, he teaches underwater photography classes locally at Seminole Scuba in Lake Mary, Florida. More about Mark here.

Payment & Booking

Payment Schedule

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Want to Extend Your Trip?

We can help with that! See more of the Philippines before or after your workshop in Anilao with Bluewater. Flying all that way merits a multi-destination vacation! Puerto Galera, Dumaguete, and Cebu & Bohol are amazing destinations nearby that offer a range of additional unique experiences. Here are some examples of packages we can add on to your workshop reservation: 

*Rates are subject to change at any time; please contact us for the most updated pricing. 

7 NIGHTS IN DUMAGUETE

A short domestic flight from MNL to the Southern Philippines can extend your macro photography vacation in style at the luxurious Atmosphere Resort.

✓ A week in a Suite

✓ 10-dive package

✓ All meals

✓ Transfers

✓ Free WiFi: Yes

✓ Swimming Pool: Yes

Atmosphere Resort

7 NIGHTS IN puerto galera

A few hours' car and boat transfer from MNL, El Galleon can offer you abundant corals and fish diversity and an inexpensive all-inclusive dive package.

• 7 nights at El Galleon Resort 
• Daily dives
• Free WiFi: Yes
• Swimming Pool: Yes

El Galleon Dive Resort

10 NIGHTS IN cebu & Bohol

A short domestic flight from MNL to either of these islands offers a whole new experience! See pristine corals and abundant reefs, all with never-ending diversity ranging from tiny seahorses to whale sharks. There are numerous resorts to choose from, but we think Magic Resorts (Magic Oceans Bohol & Magic Island Cebu) offer the best experience for the price.

• 5 nights on each island
• Daily dives
• All meals and transfers between resorts and airports
• Free WiFi: Yes
• Swimming Pool: Yes

Magic Oceans (LEFT) & Magic Island (RIGHT)

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Underwater Images

Anilao Underwater Photos by various trip leaders from previous trips  

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