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palau underwater photo workshop 2023
Explore unique, thrilling, and diverse diving in Palau aboard the M/Y Black Pearl with this 7-night photo workshop led by one of Bluewater's photo instructors.
December 13 - 20, 2023
Trip Leader: Mike Chiado
7 Nights:
Lower deck deluxe twin
Was $3,465 NOW ONLY $2,995
Main deck sea view cabin
Was $3,685 NOW ONLY $3,215
Upper deck master sea view cabin
Was $3,960 NOW ONLY $3,490
Prices are per person.
Why Join this trip?
- 25% off rental photo gear from Bluewater Photo
- Modern luxury liveaboard - the M/Y Black Pearl: great amenities and spacious cabins
- Unique and thrilling dive sites involving a lot of drift dives and reef hooks
- Great itinerary exploring the idyllic paradise that is Palau
TRIP OVERVIEW
Explore the idyllic paradise of Palau by spending 7 nights aboard the luxurious M/Y Black Pearl. This 46-meter premium vessel is perfectly equipped for this adventure that will include drift diving, WWII wrecks, and more.
INCLUSIONS
- Full-board accommodation.
- Towels, bathroom toiletries and daily cabin services/housekeeping.
- 3 meals a day, including snacks throughout the day.
- Hot beverages and biscuits.
- Up to 4 dives per day, depending on itinerary and location of the boat.
- Nitrox tanks for Enriched Air Nitrox certified divers.
- Jellyfish Lake snorkel trip.
- Dive guide, tank, weights, weight belt, SMB, reef hook, Nautilus tracker.
- Two-way transfers (strictly between hotel to Malakal Port only)
Exclusions
- Marine Fee ($250) and Port Tax for Palau
- Fuel surcharge ($180)
- Rental dive gear, 15L tanks
- Special drinks such as cocktails, beers and other alcohol (wine and spirits).
- Sodas and juices in cans.
- Airport transfers, $25 per person each way, payable on board
TRIP TYPE
This trip is a PHOTOGRAPHY WORKSHOP. It will be led by one of our photo instructors and will include daily underwater photography tutorials, in-water photography support, and one-to-one advice and guidance as required.
What to expect from our Photo Workshops
- Daily photo workshops - Your photo instructor will schedule seminars each day on topics including, but not limited to, equipment type and selection, the concept of underwater photography, lighting and composition techniques, and post-processing. They will also include topics relevant to the location and your experience.
- In-water support - Where possible, each dive group will spend time underwater with the photo instructor, receiving in-water support and guidance on their shooting techniques. Participants can also request in-water assistance during the workshop and the photo instructor will do his or her best to accommodate all requests.
- Consecutive days of practice & review - Each day you will have the opportunity to practice the techniques and skills learned in the previous day’s tutorials. If you are new to underwater photography you will likely see a vast improvement in just a few days.
- Daily photo image reviews - You are strongly encouraged to bring your laptop, a thumb drive, edit your photos, and submit your shots for review from both the instructor and your peers. These are fun and interactive sessions encouraging you to improve throughout the trip.
- Quality time with fellow photographers - Both new and experienced photographers from past workshops have expressed the advantages of joining a trip with like-minded divers with a passion for underwater photography.
- Suitable for everyone - New and experienced photographers are welcome on all our trips. Gain the necessary skills to start shooting great photos, increase your confidence in finding the best underwater shots, or hone specific skills. We also encourage non-photographers to join, as many of them really enjoy the daily photo reviews, learning about underwater photography, and some have even returned to a photo workshop with an underwater camera setup!
Enjoy free, unlimited access to a wealth of knowledge and advice from your photo instructor.
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DIVING palau
Palau scuba diving involves a lot of drift dives and reef hooks. After your descent, typically 50 to 60 feet, your dive will continue as either a gliding drift over the reefs and along walls as the current carries you, or you will stop and anchor yourself to a sturdy outcropping of rock and let the current bring the reef life to you. A reef hook is essentially a big fishing hook with the barb removed attached to a 3-5 meter rope.
The hook goes into a dead part of the coral reef and the other end attaches to your BCD. Reef hooks are fairly well accepted in Palau, but only at specified sites that have consistent current and an abundance of dead coral to hook into.
Perhaps the most popular of all reef hook dives are at Blue Corner, where a lot of current around the point brings in the big fish. Sharks, jacks, tuna, and resident Napoleon wrasse are often sighted. If mantas are what you seek, head out to the German Channel, where divers rest on the ocean floor while teams of mantas circle above. Palau has a lot of healthy hard coral and a good amount of wall diving.
CHECK OUT THIS EXCELLENT "BEST OF PALAU" UNDERWATER VIDEO!
SAMPLE DAILY DIVING ITINERARY
- • Hot beverages and light breakfast before Dive 1 briefing
- • Dive 1
- • Breakfast and surface interval before Dive 2 briefing
- • Dive 2
- • Lunch and surface interval before Dive 3 briefing
- • Dive 3
- • Afternoon photography seminar with snacks and beverages
- • Dive 4 briefing (if there is a sunset/night dive scheduled)
- • Dinner and short briefing on next day’s itinerary
- • Nightly photo reviews
About the M/Y Black pearl
The M/Y Black Pearl is a premium 46-meter yacht perfect for exploring the waters of Palau. Outfitted with the latest navigation, safety, and scuba diving systems and equipment, the Black Pearl and its crew provides state-of-the-art amenities paired with a pristine and luxurious design.
ABOUT THE TRIP LEADER
Mike Chiado has over four decades of experience in the entertainment post production industry. Mike is CTO of Company3 and oversees technology, workflow and image science departments for feature motion pictures, episodic and advertising businesses. Mike become a PADI Master Scuba Diver in 1991 which included the speciality of Underwater Photography (film-based, BTW!), and actively diving and photographing tropical and California waters.
FLIGHTS
Flights to ROR have now opened up and are available for as little as $500 roundtrip from Taipei (TPE) with China Airlines. Contact us for the best way to get to TPE from your originating airport. While there are still limited flights we expect more will be added throughout the year.
The M/Y Black Pearl operates out of the Port of Koror (ROR.) Guests arriving at the airport on the check-in day will be picked up by a Pearl Fleet representative ($25 cost payable on the boat); while guests who have opted to stay in a hotel or are coming from the city, can arrange a complimentary pickup by a representative.
Payment Schedule
- Deposit: $800
- Payment 2: $1,000 due March 1, 2023
- Balance: due October 15, 2023
Got Questions? Ready to Book?
Call us today at +1-310-915-6677 email us at trips@bluewaterdivetravel.com
Or stop by our office at 3961 Sepulveda Blvd, Suite 206 Culver City, CA 90230
And let us book your dream vacation!
Photo Gallery
Photos courtesy of the M/Y Black Pearl.
