Anilao Philippines Ultimate Photo Workshop December 2026

Photography Workshop

Experience one of Bluewater Travel's most popular trips to Anilao, a world-renowned macro destination, in December 2026. This thrilling adventure not only includes breathtaking reef and critter diving at Crystal Blue Resort but also offers FREE daily photo workshops to enhance your underwater photography skills.

Why Join This Trip?

Attend our most popular underwater photo trip
Find out why Bluewater’s Anilao trips are known as the best underwater photo trips on the planet
Amazing dive guides, each group of 4 divers get their own private boat and guide, most dive sites are just minutes away
Chance to see every underwater critter, nudibranch and fish on your bucket list and then some
Daily photo workshops and lectures
Fully refundable deposit until 12 months from departure.

December 6 - 13, 2026 (7 nights)

Trip Leaders: Mike Smith & Mike Bartick

Book now to lock in 2024 prices:

7 Nights Shared: $1,999

7 Nights Single: $2,199

Optional Land Extensions:

7 Nights in Dumaguete

7 Nights in Puerto Galera

10 Nights in Cebu & Bohol

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

Read about our December 2023 trip to Anilao.

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 are 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.

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).*

*If your flight doesn't depart until the evening, you may want to consider getting a "day room" somewhere in Manila so you can be dropped off there instead of the airport too early!

To get a little insight as to what the workshop is like, read our 2023 Anilao Underwater Photo Workshop or see our guide to diving Anilao.

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Inclusions

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

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.

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.

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About the Trip Leader

Mike Smith is a professional photographer currently living in Singapore. A British citizen, he was born in Africa and was brought up in Asia and South America while attending British boarding schools. Mike retired early from a corporate executive career to follow his long held dream to be a professional photographer. Around the same time Mike resumed his love of diving and it was a natural progression take his camera with him. Mike has dived extensively throughout South East Asia and always with his camera. Specialising in macro photography and specifically creative lighting techniques underwater, he has built up an extensive portfolio of images, some of which can be found on his website mjsphotostudios.com. Mike’s goal in leading workshops, first and foremost, is that everyone has a fun time and leave feeling they've learned something new and created images they are proud of.

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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Recommended Scuba Gear

Dive light or torch for night dives. We suggest Kraken NR-2000 Dive Light
3mm to 5mm wetsuit. Browse Wetsuits at Bluewater Photo
Travel BCD. Read our Best Travel BCD Article
Travel regulator. We suggest Mares Ultra 62X Dive Regulator

Payment Schedule

Deposit: $500

Payment 2: $800 due 12/1/25

Payment 3: Balance due 7/1/26

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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.