Anilao Photo Workshops Spring 2018
My latest trip to Anilao was to help lead a Bluewater photo workshop. Knowing the tremendous diversity of marine life, especially macro subjects, I was very excited to meet a whole bunch of fellow underwater photography enthusiasts and hopefully help them capture some great images. The dive guides are truly exceptional, with incredible skill at finding the often tiny creatures - frequently spotting exactly what you 'order'. So we began the week with a talk on 'What to expect', which left us all excited to get in the water. The guests had a wide range of diving and photography experience, from those setting up brand new cameras for the first time, to seasoned enthusiasts and of course the whole range of equipment from compact to mirrorless, slr and video. This made the daily screening of guest photos extra fun and by the end of the week there was some real improvement to be seen.
The high guide to diver ratio makes for amazing photo opportunities - no waiting around for your turn on a subject as the guides always find something for everyone. Anilao is surely one of the best places in the world for macro photography and the ease of diving at Crystal Blue means you are given every opportunity to spend the time you need to get the shot.
The location is right on the water, and the boats leave from the shore just steps away from the resort. All your gear is looked after by the dive crew - all you need to do is show up for the boat and within minutes you are at yet another amazing dive site. The night dives are truly awesome and not to be missed, with a whole different array of creatures appearing on the reef and in the muck.
The rooms are good value, the food is easy and plentiful and the dedicated camera room is brilliant, both for keeping your gear charged and dry and from a social aspect too - there is always someone in there changing a lens or swapping out batteries (and it's just across from the new bar!).
I would recommend Anilao and the Bluewater workshops for everyone from beginner to pro - the enthusiasm of your fellow guests makes for a really great week with more photo opps than almost anywhere else and all at a very reasonable price.
