Bluewater Dive Travel's spring macro workshop in Anilao featured intensive photography sessions, daily dives, and photo competitions. Participants improved their skills under leader under trip leader and photo pro Erik Lukas. Highlights included incredible images from compact cameras and outstanding support from Crystal Blue Resort staff.
Explore anilao
Article
La Paz Trip Report 2025
Mexico
Read all about Bluewater Travel’s November 2025 La Paz photography workshop offered a week of unforgettable underwater experiences.
Article
Chris H
Bluewater Travel's 50 Amazing Adventures
French Polynesia
Join us as we explore unique destinations around the world. Each video showcases a recent dive adventure with a Bluewater team member, customer, or a Travel with Bluewater group in an exotic location!
Article
ChrisH
Beginner Dive Sites in the Caribbean
Worldwide
Looking to start your scuba diving journey in the Caribbean? This guide highlights the region’s best beginner-friendly dive sites—calm waters, vibrant marine life, and easy access make them perfect for first-time divers.
Article
Adam Lucia
Best Places to Swim or Dive with Whale Sharks: Our Top 6
Socorro Islands
I had the privilege of running the annual Anilao, Philippines spring macro workshop for Bluewater Dive Travel the third consecutive year. It has been and will continue to be a location that I look forward to visiting again and again for the incredible opportunities it provides. This year was no exception.
The two workshops ran back-to-back from April 25 - May 12, 2019. Group number one came for a 10-day workshop, while group two was there for a 7-day workshop. One of the best things about this specific trip is the number of guests who return each year, which makes for a reunion of friends and the chance to meet many new ones.
As the groups arrived in Anilao after long trips from different parts of the world, it was time to set up and jump right in. Each workshop is packed with a high paced schedule that includes morning image reviews, four daily dives and afternoon workshop sessions. Meals, photo editing camera maintenance and sleep are squeezed into the remaining few hours before we do it all over again.
Image by trip leader Erik Lukas
One of the most rewarding parts of leading these workshops is seeing the incredible improvements of the attendees over the course of the trip as leaders Erik Lukas, Mike Bartick, Tommy Stylski and Bryan Chu cover various topics and concepts.
Each of the workshops concludes with a shootout style photo competition where we judge not only best images produced during a single day of four dives, but we look for how well the guests implement the skills they were taught during the workshop.
Image by trip co-leader Bryan Chu
This year's winners produced some incredible images. One of the highlights, and perhaps surprises from the first group competition were that both the Macro and Nudibranch category winning images were made with compact cameras (a Sony RX100 Mark 3 and the Olympus TG-4, respectively).
Shootout winning image by Christina Barringer for the Macro category.
Of course, it is difficult to understate the workshop going as well as it does without giving credit to the incredible staff of Crystal Blue Resort. From the dive team to the dining staff to the back-of-house team that keeps the resort running smoothly, we couldnt ask for a better partner to host these workshops with.
If you are looking for an intensive macro workshop in one of the worlds top destinations, it is well worth considering our Anilao photo workshops.
In case you're wondering, here is the full list of Erik Lukas's photo equipment used on this trip!
Below are images made by our guests and trip leaders.
Shootout winning image by Mike Mayfield. Shot with a Sony RX 100 Mark III.
Image by trip leader Erik Lukas
Workshop group one (left) & group two (right)
Shootout winner for the Nudibranch category Debi Daugherty. Halgerda batangas nudibranch with eggs shot on an Olympus TG-4.
Shootout winner for the Macro category Mike Mayfield. Thorny seahorse shot with Sony RX100 MIII.
Shootout winner for the Macro category Christina Barringer
Images by Sarah Vasend
Photos by Co-Trip Leader Bryan Chu (left) & Rhiana Roque (right)
Images by trip co-leader Bryan Chu
Image by Jonathan McWillie
Image by Jonathan McWillie (left) &Mike Mayfield (right)
Images by Arthur Borges
Images by Christina Barringer
Images by Susan McCready
Images by Ted Timmons
Images by Joanne Timmons
Images by Rhiana Roque
Images by Tim Nakada
Anilao from above, photo by Erik Lukas
Our annual macro photography workshops at Crystal Blue Resort sell out fast! Secure your spot before it's too late!
Can't join on these dates? Bluewater Travel can book you on a resort in Anilao for the same cost or less than booking any other way. We know the diving, seasons, boats and cabins and when to go better than anyone else!
Email us at info@bluewaterdivetravel.com to start planning your trip!
Check out these useful resources from our sister companies the Underwater Photography Guide and Bluewater Photo.
Article
Travel Editor
Cozumel Trip Report 2025
Mexico
Bluewater Travel’s 2025 Cozumel Photo Workshop at Iberostar featured vibrant reefs, warm water, and expert photo instruction, with highlights including splendid toadfish, turtles, and sharks.
Article
Travel Editor
South Australia Great White Shark Trip Recap 2025
Australia
Read all about Tim Yeo’s unforgettable South Australia expedition with Bluewater aboard the Rodney Fox, featuring great white sharks, sea lions, leafy sea dragons, and the world’s largest cuttlefish aggregation.
Article
Travel Editor
Fakarava Grouper Spawning Trip Report 2025
French Polynesia
Read about Bluewater's unforgettable Summer 2025 Fakarava Grouper Spawn Trip—an exhilarating adventure featuring shark-filled drifts, rare grouper spawning events, and pristine Polynesian reef diving led by Mark B. Hatter!
Article
Travel Editor
Dumaguete Trip Report 2025
Philippines
Read about Bluewater Travel's 7-day underwater photo workshop to Dumaguete, highlighting vibrant marine life, standout dive sites, and memorable underwater photography experiences.
