Anilao Philippines Ultimate Photo Workshop December 2025

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).*

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.

Trip Syllabus

Whether you're a seasoned shooter or new to underwater photography, Bluewater's Anilao macro workshop with Mike Smith will take your photography to the next level. World famous for its critters, Mike will guide you on your journey around Anilao's macro, creating images to please you and impress your buddies.

This workshop will include 6 days of tutorials in the form of an instructional presentation and image review every day. These will typically be 60 minutes long and will be run in the morning, afternoon, and evening. Teaching will take the form of PowerPoint presentations, informal group discussions, 1-on-1 training, streaming live demonstrations (e.g., using programs like Lightroom), and underwater help.

• Introductory Topics (Days 1 & 2): Mike will be covering an introduction to macro and wide-angle photography. Starting with confirming understanding of the exposure triangle, the impact of the aquatic environment on ambient light will be explained, and the concept of strobe lighting and basic strobe positioning. We'll cover suggested 'jump settings' and the basics of camera positioning relative to subjects.
• Intermediate Topics (Days 3 & 4): Alternative strobe positioning for wide-angle and macro will be covered. Positioning to avoid backscatter techniques to create or prevent shadows. In both wide-angle and macro, Mike will cover how combining ambient light and strobe lighting can bring pleasing depth to images, and introduce more colour and presence to an image.
• Advanced Topics (Days 5 & 6): Take your Macro to the next level using advanced lighting techniques, including snooting, torches with coloured gels, and creative backgrounds. Mike will cover how these images can be captured and edited in post-production to create impactful photos with subjects that 'pop'.
• As a qualified professional photographer, post-production is a critical step in the image creation process. Mike is proficient with Adobe Lightroom and Photoshop. He will explain why RAW is the best format for shooters wishing to edit their images and will take participants through a Lightroom workflow, from importing images, correcting white balance, how to use the histogram, using the basic panel to adjust exposure, contrast and saturation, then curves to improve contrast and dynamic range, colour management with HSL sliders, image sharpening, lens correction etc. Finally, exporting images for social media, phone sharing or printing. In addition, Mike can instruct on advanced processes for removing unwanted distractions, backscatter removal and the power of cropping to enhance composition. This can be covered in a teaching session and individual 1-on-1 sessions.
• Underwater help will be offered, but not imposed. Underwater conditions allowing, Mike is happy to spend 1-on-1 time to help achieve the perfect shot. 

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. Contact Us for more information.

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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 12/1/24

Payment 3: Balance due 7/1/25

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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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