Anilao Philippines Ultimate Photo Workshop December 2026

Anilao Philippines Ultimate Photo Workshop 2026

Join Bluewater Travel for an extraordinary underwater photography workshop in Anilao, the undisputed macro capital of the Philippines.

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
• Diver to Guide ratio is 4:1
• Fully refundable deposit until 12 months from departure
• 25% discount on rental photo gear from Bluewater Photo

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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.

Check out our complete guide to our Anilao Photo Workshops!

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

Read about our previous December trip to Anilao.

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!

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Sample Itinerary

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 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 our 2023 Anilao Underwater Photo Workshop or see our guide to diving Anilao.

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Diving Conditions

The end of the year offers some great diving conditions in Anilao, with calm conditions and little rain. 

• Water Temperature: 79 - 80F (26 - 27C)
• Visibility: 40 - 50ft 
• Depth Range: 5 - 30 m (16 - 100 feet)

Recommended Scuba Gear

Download our full scuba gear guide to Anilao December, Bluewater Travel guests receive 10% OFF! Click the image below to download (PDF).

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Trip Type

This is a PHOTOGRAPHY WORKSHOP. Led by one of our photo instructors and will include daily underwater photography tutorials, in-water photography support, and one-to-one advice and guidance as required.

What to Expect From Our Photo Workshops

• Daily photo workshops - Your photo instructor will schedule seminars each day on topics including, but not limited to, equipment type and selection, the concept of underwater photography, lighting and composition techniques, and post-processing. They will also include additional topics relevant to the location and your experience.
• In-water support - Where possible, each dive group will spend time underwater with the photo instructor, receiving in-water support and guidance on their shooting techniques. Participants can also request in-water assistance during the workshop and the photo instructor will do his or her best to accommodate all requests.Consecutive days of practice & review - Each day you will have the opportunity to practice the techniques and skills learned in the previous day’s tutorials. If you are new to underwater photography you will likely see a vast improvement in just a few days.
• Daily photo image reviews - You are strongly encouraged to bring your laptop, a thumb drive, edit your photos, and submit your shots for review from both the instructor and your peers. These are fun and interactive sessions encouraging you to improve throughout the trip.
• Quality time with fellow photographers - Both new and experienced photographers from past workshops have expressed the advantages of joining a trip with like-minded divers with a passion for underwater photography.
• Suitable for everyone - New and experienced photographers are welcome on all our trips. Gain the necessary skills to start shooting great photos, increase your confidence in finding the best underwater shots, or hone specific skills. We also encourage non-photographers to join, as many of them really enjoy the daily photo reviews, learning about underwater photography, and some have even returned to a photo workshop with an underwater camera setup!

Enjoy free, unlimited access to a wealth of knowledge and advice from your photo instructor.

Want to learn more about our Underwater Photography Workshops? Check out this video!

Trip Syllabus

This workshop will include seven days of formal instruction plus one-to-one help as needed. Each day, there will be two 45-minute class sessions that include PowerPoint presentations, group discussions, image reviews, one-on-one training, and live demonstrations (e.g., Adobe Lightroom Classic, Topaz, etc.).

Foundational Topics will Include:

1. Successful Macro Photography Fundamentals
2. One-Time Camera Setup (DSLR/Mirrorless and Compact Cameras)
3. Focusing Fundamentals: Understanding Depth of Field, Autofocus Types, Focus Tracking, Back Button Focusing, Focus Peaking, and Underwater Focus Techniques
4. Exposure Basics: Understanding the Exposure Triangle and how to effectively use Shutter Speed, Aperture, and ISO for underwater images. Also includes an in-depth review of Strobe Techniques.
5. Composition: Understanding how to compose captivating images that tell a story.
6. Putting It All Together: Understanding how to incorporate Shutter Speed, Aperture, ISO, Strobes, and Composition Techniques into a simple underwater workflow.

Intermediate Topics will Include:

1. Additional Macro Techniques: Understanding Snooting, Super Macro, Bokeh, and Back Lighting.
2. Introduction to Lightroom Classic: PowerPoint and Live Demo to Cover:
   • Lightroom Key Concepts
   • Library Module Overview
   • Develop Module Overview
   • Basic Editing Workflow: In-depth walkthrough of Image Import, Best Image Selection techniques, Global Edits for general exposure and color correction, Image Export, and Collections.

Advanced Topics will Include:

1. Advanced Lightroom Editing: In-depth walkthrough of Local Edits (masking types and techniques, local color corrections, local exposure adjustment, etc.), Backscatter Removal, and Image Sharpening and Denoising techniques using Lightroom and Topaz.
2. Time permitting, there will be a video editing overview using Premiere Pro as well as group edits in Lightroom.

There will be an evening sign-up sheet for additional one-to-one help on any topic (photo or editing), schedule permitting. In addition, underwater help will be provided as conditions permit.

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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

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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
• Extra dives ($45 per dive)
• Private dive spotter ($35 per dive, $45 if you request a specific guide)
• Tingloy Dive Pass (approx. $20 per diver)
• Travel Insurance - ask us about our preferred partner plan

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Accommodation

About the Crystal Blue Resort

The resort is on a hill and involves climbing stairs

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.

Crystal Blue Resort’s newly updated camera room is a standout facility for underwater photographers and videographers visiting Anilao. Recently refurbished with an emphasis on practicality and comfort, the space is purpose-built to support dedicated shooters throughout their stay.

Read the reviews of Crystal Blue Resort here.

Connectivity

At Crystal Blue Resort in Anilao, complimentary Wi-Fi is available for guests throughout the property, including in common areas and most rooms. The connection is generally reliable for everyday use such as email, messaging and light browsing, but it can be slower or less stable when the resort is busy or during peak evening hours, so heavy streaming or large downloads may be limited. 

If you need faster or more consistent connectivity, local Philippine SIM cards are a good option: major providers like Globe and Smart both offer prepaid data plans with 4G/LTE coverage in the Anilao area. You can purchase a SIM and data package at Manila Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) kiosks or convenience stores as soon as you arrive. Just ensure your phone is unlocked before travel. 

Most major US mobile phone providers offer international “bolt-on” or add-on packages that let you use your phone abroad without changing SIMs. The details vary by carrier and plan.

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Anilao Trip Extensions

Want to extend your trip? We can help with that! See more of the Philippines before or after your workshop in Anilao with Bluewater. Here are some examples of packages we can add on to your reservation: 

Read More.

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Trip Leaders

Dan Bishop

Dan is an accomplished underwater photographer based in northern Virginia. He did his first dive at age 14 and has been an avid photographer for more than 30 years. Initially a skydiving photographer and videographer, Dan transitioned his focus to the underwater world, driven by a desire to capture the ocean's stunning beauty. Dan is skilled in both wide-angle and macro photography and has a passion for sharing his knowledge with others, particularly in a structured workshop environment.

View more of Dan's work here: DanBishopPhotography.com

Read more about Dan Bishop.

Henrique Pedroso

Henry (Henrique) first found the ocean through a surfboard, and later through a camera pointed at waves. He grew up in southern Brazil, photographing, surfing, and chasing swells along the coast. Eventually, the ocean pulled him below the surface, where he fell in love with scuba diving and later freediving — moving from waves to reefs, shipwrecks, and long quiet moments underwater.

Henry worked as a dive instructor across Indonesia, Australia, South America, and Central America — teaching, guiding, and learning from the ocean, locals and the culture in each place.

Now based in Portugal, he continues to dive and explore the colder, wilder side of the Atlantic — especially the Azores, Madeira, and the rugged Portuguese coastline.

When he's not diving, Henry can usually be found surfing, running coastal trails, hiking cliffs, or planning his next trip.

Read more about Henrique Pedroso.

Mike Bartick

Mike 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"

You can check out more of Mike's work at www.Saltwaterphoto.com

Read more about Mike Bartick.

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How To Get There

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 and transit hotels for domestic and/or international travel on your behalf, we are also happy to arrange this. Contact Us for more information.

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Payment Schedule

• Deposit: $500 to confirm your booking
• Payment 2: $800 due 1 December 2025
• Balance: Due 1 July 2026

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