Trip Reports ARTICLES - Bluewater Dive Travel

Trip Reports ARTICLES

Anilao Trip Report December 2023

Clown fish guarding eggs in Anilao Philippines by Kevin K Hurtz
Throughout the Anilao workshop, instruction remained a cornerstone, featuring six comprehensive presentations covering macro photography, snoot shooting, creative techniques, wide-angle photography, blackwater shooting, and a live Lightroom demonstration. Daily image reviews were conducted to gauge guest progress following the formal instructions. Interestingly, these sessions often resulted in overwhelmingly positive comments from both instructors and guests, underscoring the exceptional quality of the images produced.

Fiji Trip Report 2023

Fiji Trip Report 2023
There are some destinations that we all want to dive at least once, just to see how they compare to other places, see a certain creature, or check that box on our travel wish list. But there are also a handful of very special places that make you want to return again and again, and for me, Fiji belongs solidly on this short list. For sheer scenic beauty, healthy reefs, abundance and variety of marine life, and vibrant underwater colors, there is nothing quite like it. And as a bonus, it’s easy to access, safe, and boasts an incredibly friendly and welcoming local culture. Topping it off, our floating home on our recent trip was one of my very favorite liveaboards, the venerable Nai’a, which recently celebrated their 30th year of operation in these waters.

Moorea 2023 Trip Report

Moorea trip report humpback whale surfacing
Every year, French Polynesia hosts humpback whales who travel from Antarctica to the islands’ warmer tropical waters, to mate, calve, and nurse their young. Interactions with these giants of the sea are life-changing, and for the lucky few who encounter humpbacks in the water, the experience is described as once-in-a-lifetime!

Lembeh Trip Report 2023

Yellow and purple nudibranch lembeh
Lembeh is a place where you can truly appreciate the beauty of the small and often-overlooked creatures that inhabit the world's oceans. It is a must-visit destination for any diver with an interest in macro photography and a fascination with critters. The combination of knowledgeable dive guides, fantastic marine life, and excellent accommodations make this trip in which many guests return year after year. There is something about Lembeh that never gets old, and returning can never happen soon enough. Read our Oct 2023 trip recap...
Whale Tales & Coral Trails: A French Polynesian Odyssey
Dive into adventure with us! Today, we plunged into the turquoise waters of Moorea for not one, but two wonderful morning dives. We saw white-tip and black-tip reef sharks on our first dive, complemented by graceful sea turtles. As if that wasn’t enough, our surface interval was graced by two magnificent humpback whales frolicking in the lagoon... Read our full trip recap!

La Paz Trip Report 2023

A turtle rests on the wreck of the Fang Ming by Eric Lin
The Sea of Cortez is a destination we always look forward to, and this year’s La Paz Photo Workshop was no exception. Eighteen guests joined Bluewater Travel for an unforgettable trip exploring the dive sites around La Paz, Mexico where we enjoyed 86 degree water and had interactions with sea lions, turtles, wrecks, and much more! Find out more...

Dumaguete Trip Report 2023

A closeup photo of a Shaun the Sheep Nudibranch in Dumaguette
Dumaguete is well known by underwater photographers and marine life enthusiasts for its superb diving and warm Filipino hospitality, and it easily lived up to this reputation during our stay. Read our full trip recap from this year's underwater photography workshop!
A herd of elephants stand in a body of water.
We made our way west to the famous Ngorongoro Conservation Area and the Ngorongoro Crater. Formed two to three million years ago—it is the world’s largest inactive, intact, and unfilled volcanic caldera. Our guests were all blown away at seeing the massive expanse of the crater and the surrounding area. The biggest highlight of Ngorongoro Crater this trip? A (very close) black rhino sighting! The black rhino is on the critically endangered list, with the world population hovering around only 6,200, so we knew what a special moment this was

Sea of Cortez Trip Report 2023

A small fish called a "signal blenny" displays its colors to an underwater photographer.
The Sea of Cortez is a dynamic entanglement of nutrient-rich currents, temperamental water temperatures, and an equally erratic atmosphere. Each of these phenomena contributes to an engine of evolution that drives a charismatic cast of characters found nowhere else on this planet. Read our full trip recap, and see some stunning images captured by our guests, from our 2023 Sea of Cortez trip!

Egypt & Jordan Trip Recap 2023

Egypt & Jordan Trip Recap 2023
Embarking on an unforgettable adventure, our 26 day journey through Egypt and Jordan transported us to ancient lands steeped in history and brimming with awe-inspiring wonders both topside and underwater. From the magnificent pyramids of Giza to the mystical city of Petra, from the coral laden walls of Brothers to the world famous Thistelgorm wreck, we immersed ourselves in the rich tapestry of cultures, history, and marvels that these captivating destinations had to offer.

Galapagos 2023 Trip Recap

Galapagos diving
For as long as it has been known to human civilization, the Galapagos Islands have been shrouded in mystique and intrigue. This archipelago of rugged volcanic islands, located 500 miles west of South America, is reminiscent of a bygone era when reptiles dominated the planet. Giant Galapagos tortoises and Godzilla-faced marine iguanas were some of the breadcrumbs leading to Darwin's theory of evolution and remain an enigma to the lucky few that get to witness them today. In May 2023, the divers and adventurers on our Bluewater Travel underwater photo workshop became some of the lucky few to witness the incredible diversity that the hand of evolution has produced in the middle of the Pacific.

Little Cayman 2023 Trip Recap

Little Cayman Squid
You can’t ask for much more when you are staying at a dive resort like the Little Cayman Beach Resort in the Cayman Islands. The entire experience is straight out of a post card. This remote island in the Caribbean is a perfect getaway for any level of scuba diver. 84-degree water, 100+ feet visibility, calm seas, great food, white sandy beaches, coconuts, iguanas….and simple diving with minimal currents that will definitely make you forget about the rest of the world. Read our 2023 GoPro video workshop recap...

Anilao Spring 2023 Trip Recap

Anilao Trip Recap 2023
Anilao Underwater Photo Workshops 2023 offer two back-to-back workshops in one of the greatest macro destinations in the world. The 2023 workshops were both sold-out events, consisting of a mix of novice photographers who were visiting the region for the first time ever, to advanced shooters who have been to multiple workshops over the years. Find out all about our trip (with photos)!

Triton Bay & Banda Sea 2023 Trip Recap

Triton Bay Trip Recap
Located on the western end of the huge island of New Guinea, Indonesia’s Triton Bay is home to an incredible variety and volume of marine life, and boasts some of the world’s healthiest and most colorful reefs. In fact, it is believed to rival even Raja Ampat for the title of the world’s greatest marine biodiversity. Read our full trip recap with photos!

San Ignacio Whale Trip Recap 2023

All the humpback whales we encountered gracefully glided through the azure waters in a calm, relaxing manner. Their majestic presence, mere inches away from the boat, left us in awe as they playfully swam in circles and engaged in breathtaking surface interactions. The rhythmic dance of their tail slaps on the ocean's surface created an entrancing spectacle, making the entire experience nothing short of unforgettable. Leran more about our San Ignacio Grey Whale Experience...

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