Anilao Philippines Ultimate Photo Workshop May 2028
Dive into one of the best critter destinations in the world on the second of Bluewater Travel's two Spring macro photo workshops. Choose from our 10-night April dates or our 7-night May dates.
Macro Critters
Free Photo Workshops
Great Night Dives
Why Join This Trip
Attend our most popular 7-night underwater photo trip
Chance to see every underwater critter, nudibranch, and fish on your bucket list, and then some
Free intensive macro photography tutorials, training, and workshops
Diver to Guide ratio is 4:1
25% discount on rental photo gear from Bluewater Photo
Fully refundable deposit until 12 months from departure
Trip overview
Bluewater Travel’s Anilao workshops are designed for photographers who want more time, more subjects, and better results. With small guide-to-diver ratios, extended dive times, and top sites just 10–20 minutes from the resort, you’ll spend less time traveling and more time capturing incredible images.
Our trips go beyond standard diving, offering free underwater photography training and support from three experienced macro instructors. Guests can enjoy fun competitions rewarding everything from rare critters and nudibranch species to standout macro, wide-angle, video, and behavior shots. Whether you’re shooting on a compact camera or a full professional setup, our expert team ensures a relaxed, supportive environment where everyone improves and comes home with portfolio-worthy images.
Check out this awesome video from one of our previous trips to Anilao:
Read about our previous Anilao Spring Trip.
Anilao is widely regarded as one of the richest macro reefs in the world. From just a few meters below the surface down to deeper slopes, you’ll be surrounded by an astonishing variety of subjects, from rhinopias and blue-ring octopus to hairy frogfish, pipefish, flamboyant cuttlefish, and even bobbit worms.
Images by Craig Wilhelm (L) & Erik Lukas (R)
Often called the nudibranch capital of the world, Anilao delivers an endless stream of unique encounters, meaning your memory cards will fill up fast and every dive offers something new to discover.
Sample Itinerary
Here's the schedule for this trip:
- Day 1: 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).
- Day 2-6: 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.
- Day 7: On the second to last day, there will be no afternoon dives. There will be 2 morning dives, a photo contest and group dinner.
- Day 8: Check-out and departure back to Manila Airport or hotels. Shuttle transfers take approx 3.5 hours between Anilao-Manila so book your departure flight after lunch if you prefer to avoid an early start.
To get a little insight as to what the workshop is like, read the report from our 2023 Anilao Photo Workshop.
Diving Conditions
Spring time offers the best 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 , Bluewater Travel guests receive 10% OFF! Click the image below to download (PDF).
Trip Inclusions
7 nights of deluxe accommodations in sealed rooms with air-conditioning
Up to 4 dives a day (including night dives)
All meals
Daily photo clinics and workshops to help you improve your photography
Trip 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
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.
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.
Trip Price
Trip starts from $2,059 per person.
Superior Room (Double Occupancy)
Air Conditioning (AC)
En Suite Bathroom
Balcony or Terrace
Camera Room
Double-occupancy
$2,059
per person
Deluxe Room (Single Occupancy)
Air Conditioning (AC)
En Suite Bathroom
Balcony or Terrace
Camera Room
Single-occupancy
$2,265
Payment Schedule
- Deposit: $500 to book your spot
- Payment 2: $800 due 1 July 2027
- Balance: due 1 December 2027
Extend your trip
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:
Trip Leader
Erik Lukas
Erik Lukas is an active diver and photographer based in Los Angeles, CA. He is a volunteer scuba diver at the Aquarium of the Pacific in Long Beach, CA. You can expect to find Erik diving many of the amazing Pacific Ocean sites of Southern California, camera in hand, at any chance he can get.
See more of Erik’s photography at www.seeundersea.com or on Instagram @seeundersea.
"I am passionate about underwater photography in general and have a special love for macro subjects. For me the things that are hardest to spot hold the most interest. Documenting the commensal and symbiotic relationships is for me the most interesting…the smaller and more bizarre the better. I also have a passion for sharing my knowledge with others. My goal with all of my workshops is to ensure each guest leaves with a group of images that they are proud to share."
Current Camera Systems:
Erik shoots with a Canon 5D Mark III in a Sea & Sea housing using Zen 100mm and 230mm dome ports. The lenses he uses are the Canon 8-15mm f/4L, Canon 16-35mm f/4L, and Canon 100mm f/2.8L.
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.
Check availability
and start planning your perfect trip
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