Anilao Philippines Ultimate Photo Workshop Spring 2025

Check out this awesome video from one of our previous trips to Anilao:

Read about our trip to Anilao in December 2023.

Trip Overview

Our trips offer small 'dive guide to diver' ratios and extended dive times, allowing for an optimal diving experience. We prioritize visiting the best dive sites regularly, and many of them are just a short 10 - 20-minute boat ride away from the resort. Plus, we hold competitions that reward participants for capturing the most critters, nudibranch species, best video, macro, wide-angle, and behavior shots. Whether you're an experienced photographer or using a small point-and-shoot camera, our team makes everyone feel welcomed and comfortable, and you're guaranteed to take home some fantastic 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.

Images by Craig Wilhelm (L) & Erik Lukas (R)

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 2023 Anilao Spring Photography Workshop or see our guide to diving Anilao.

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Inclusions

• 7 or 10 nights of deluxe accommodations in sealed rooms with air-conditioning
• Up to 4 dives a day (including night dives)
• All meals
• Daily photo clinics and workshops to help you improve your photography. The April 20 - 30 trip includes 9 days of workshops. The April 30 - May 7 includes 6 days of workshops with the option to pay the 10-night rate and enjoy an extra 3 days diving.
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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

Trip Type

This trip is a PHOTOGRAPHY WORKSHOP. It will be led by one of our photo instructors who will provide daily instructional tutorials, in-water photography support (when appropriate), and one-to-one advice and guidance, as required. Each workshop offers a bespoke syllabus, crafted by the trip leader and detailed on the trip webpage. While our Photography Workshops are aimed at divers with an interest in underwater photography, anyone is welcome to join.

Learn more about what's included in this trip type.

Trip Syllabus

Bluewater's Anilao photo workshop is a cult classic. It's all about finding critters and creating creative concepts to photograph them. This photo workshop is a collaborative experience for all levels of photographers - from new shooters to seasoned professionals. And if you don't have a camera, that's ok too! Anilao is one of the world's best spots for finding unique creatures from blue-ringed octopus to frogfish to pygmy seahorses and more!

The 10-night workshop will include 9 days of instruction involving 9 x 60-minute long presentations. The 7-night workshop will include 6 days of instruction involving 6 x 90-minute long presentations. Training and tutorials will take the form of PowerPoint presentations, informal group discussions, one-on-one training, streaming live demonstrations (e.g., using programs like Lightroom), and underwater help.

• Introductory Topics
• Topic 1 - The Critters of Anilao: Students will learn the lifestyles and behaviors of some of the top critters found in Anilao - from flamboyant cuttlefish to sexy shrimp to seahorses. We will go over basic tips for photographing each of these subjects. 
• Topic 2 - An Intro to Underwater Photography: Students will learn that light is affected by water. We will introduce phenomena like light attenuation, snells window, refraction and artificial lighting. We will also discuss the top rules for underwater composition, camera care, and underwater photo etiquette. We will finally spend a lot of time learning the exposure triangle and discovering how this can affect your underwater lighting. 
• Topic 3 - An Intro to Underwater Video: If we have enough students interested in underwater video, we will cover the topic in detail. This presentation covers frame rates, resolution, the triangle of exposure, balancing color, lighting video, composition, storytelling and more!
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• Intermediate Topics
• Topic 1 - Macro Photography: Students will learn everything they need to know about photographing small subjects. We will cover what defines a macro lens, the exposure triangle, and composition. 
• Topic 2 - Macro Lighting Demonstration: We will have a live demonstration on underwater lighting for macro photography. We will cover topics from creating black backgrounds to creative lighting for translucent subjects and backlighting. 
• Topic 3 - Underwater Snoot Photography - Underwater snoots are tools that reduce the width of the beam of light coming from your strobe. They can be effective at creating black backgrounds as well as introducing high-contrast lighting. Niurpam will discuss his top tips for snooting and the best technique to position your snoot. 
• Topic 4 - Wide Angle Photography - If we have time we will have a presentation on wide-angle photography. There are one or two wide-angle sites in Anilao. We will cover topics including dome port optics, types of wide-angle lenses, the triangle of exposure and underwater lighting and composition. 
• Topic 5 - Adobe Lightroom Organization - This is one of the core classes at our Anilao workshop. Lightroom Expert, Mike Chiado will cover how to use Lightroom as a tool for effective organization. We will cover tools including importing, exporting, sorting, collections, star ratings, keywords, and more! 
• Topic 6 - Editing Underwater Photos with Adobe Lightroom - This is one of the core classes at our Anilao workshop. Lightroom Expert, Mike Chiado will cover the basics of editing underwater photos in Adobe Lightroom. We will cover all the tools at your disposal for removing backscatter, masking tools, color correction, and more!
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• Advanced Topics
• Topic 1 - Creative Macro Photography: This class is meant to expand your horizons and get you thinking about the next technique to try on your macro dives. In many ways, it is an open brainstorming session between guests. Students will also learn about creative tools like magic tubes, snoots, steel wool, prisms, and more. We will discuss creative techniques like motion blue, fluorescent photography, snooting, and others. 
• Topic 2- Supermacro Photography: Supermacro photography is the art of photographing ultra-small subjects. It requires multiple stacked lenses which can present their own challenges to underwater photographers. We will discuss techniques for rising above these challenges, setting the right triangle of exposure, and locking in focus.  
• Topic 3 - Underwater Video Editing: If we have enough interested video shooters, we will be discussing techniques for underwater video editing and storytelling. The primary software for learning will be Adobe Premiere Pro. We will go through editing clips, adding effects, and using audio to tell a story.
• Assistant trip leader, Mike Chiado is extremely proficient at Adobe Lightroom and will be teaching the software. Leadrip leader, Nirupam Nigam, will be teaching underwater video editing by request. Underwater help will be available by request and pending ocean currents and dive conditions. We will be available every evening to provide one-on-one time with guests, especially to go over lightroom topics.

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.

Flight Package 

Our group trips attract guests from all over the globe and many of our customers prefer to book their own flights to take advantage of mileage points or credit card discounts. For these reasons, flights are not included in our group trip packages.

However, we are more than happy to work with you to find the best travel itinerary for your trip and will gladly give suggestions and advice, even if you make the final booking. We will check through your travel reservations at any time to ensure they fit with the trip schedule and can give recommendations on transit hotels and day tours where needed. 

If you would like us to book flights, hotels, and transfers for your domestic and/or international travel on your behalf, we are also happy to arrange this. Please be advised that there is a 10% fee for this service to cover our booking and administration costs. 

Contact Us for more information.

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About the Trip Leaders

Nirupam Nigam is a dedicated underwater photographer and fisheries scientist. While growing up in Los Angeles he fell in love with the ocean and pursued underwater photography in Southern California's Channel Islands. He received degrees in Aquatic and Fisheries Science and General Biology, as well as a minor in Arctic Studies, at the University of Washington. He spent some time as a fisheries observer on fishing vessels in the Bering Sea and North Pacific, collecting data for NOAA. When he is not at sea, he is traveling with his wife and taking photos.

As the Editor-in-Chief of the Underwater Photography Guide and the Chief Marketing Officer at Bluewater Photo & Video, Nirupam is one of the world's few full-time underwater photography editors. You can get in touch with him at nirupam@uwphotographyguide.com or through his website www.photosfromthesea.com. Read more about Nirupam here.

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  Mike Chiado has over four decades of experience in the entertainment post production industry. Mike is CTO of Company3 and oversees technology, workflow and image science departments for feature motion pictures, episodic and advertising businesses. Mike become a PADI Master Scuba Diver in 1991 which included the speciality of Underwater Photography (film-based, BTW!), and actively diving and photographing tropical and California waters.

Mike Bartick is a highly published, award-winning photographer, writer, international speaker, and Photo pro at Crystal Blue Resort, Anilao, Philippines. He is passionate about connecting people with marine life through photos and video. His love for critters has led him across the globe, landing him in Anilao more than a decade ago where he conducts a variety of different workshops each year.

He has pioneered blackwater diving in Anilao and other locations globally and is a dedicated dive professional who guides and consults on wildlife projects, scuba gear, camera gear, and lighting equipment.

 At the end of the day, Mike considers himself just a guy with a camera that is lucky enough to do what he loves. "Do it for the love, Not the likes" Read more about Mike here.

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Payment Schedule

Deposit: $500

Payment 2: $800 due 7/1/24

Payment 3: Balance due 12/1/24

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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)

Check out some other great dive resorts in Philippines.

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Photo Gallery

 Anilao Underwater Photos by various trip leaders from previous trips  

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