Puerto Galera GoPro Video Workshop April 2025

Trip Overview

El Galleon dive resort is a great option for families, groups, single women, or anyone who doesn't want to be right in "town". It is a short 5-minute walk from the "center of action" in Puerto Galera. They have a variety of room types, from budget rooms to luxury villas, and support technical diving.

Diving in Puerto Galera offers a diverse and captivating underwater experience. Renowned for its vibrant coral reefs and thriving marine life, popular dive sites include Verde Island with strong currents and diverse species, and The Canyons featuring underwater canyons and walls. Encounter sea turtles, sharks, rays, and an abundance of reef fish amid excellent visibility ranging from 15 to 30 meters. With comfortable water temperatures between 26°C to 30°C, the high diving season from November to May showcases calm seas. The conservation efforts of local operators contribute to the preservation of the marine environment, making Puerto Galera a must-visit destination for a comprehensive and thrilling diving experience.

Thresher sharks are also being regularly sighted in Puerto Galera. These magnificent sharks, known for their long, whip-like tails, can often be spotted in the waters around the area, particularly at dive sites such as "The Canyons" or "Shark Cave." Divers are treated to thrilling encounters with these graceful creatures, making Puerto Galera a popular destination for shark enthusiasts.

Learn more about Puerto Galera here.

Thresher Sharks in Puerto Galera - courtesy of Asia Divers & Captain Gregg's.

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Inclusions

• 5 or 10-nights accommodation
• Full board meals
• Unlimited diving (up to 4 day dives and 1 night dive per day)
• Up to 2 special trips to Verde Island with a beach BBQ, weather permitting
• Nitrox
• Individual GoPro consultation is available upon request and based on availability
• Group transfers between Manila and Puerto Galera
• Port Fee, Environmental Fee and Porter Fee

Exclusions

• GoPro Workshop optional participation fee $100
• Flights to Manila (MNL)
• Private transfers from Manila to Puerto Galera
• Gratuities

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Trip Type

This trip is a GOPRO VIDEO WORKSHOP. It will be led by one of our GoPro video instructors and will include daily underwater GoPro video tutorials, in-water support, and one-to-one advice and guidance as required.

What to expect from our GoPro Video Workshops

• Daily GoPro video workshops - Your instructor will schedule seminars each day on topics including, but not limited to, equipment type and selection, the concept of underwater videography, lighting and composition techniques, and post-processing. They will also include additional topics relevant to the location and your experience. See below for full list of topics.
• In-water support - Where possible, each dive group will spend time underwater with the instructor, receiving in-water support and guidance on their shooting techniques.  Participants can also request in-water assistance during the workshop and the 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 GoPro videography you will likely see a vast improvement in just a few days.
• Daily video reviews - You are strongly encouraged to bring your laptop, a thumb drive, edit your videos, 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 GoPro videographers - Both new and experienced videographers from past workshops have expressed the advantages of joining a trip with like-minded divers with a passion for underwater videography.
• Suitable for everyone - New and experienced videographers are welcome on all our trips. Gain the necessary skills to start shooting great GoPro videos, increase your confidence in finding the best underwater shots, or hone specific skills. We also encourage non-videographers to join, as many of them really enjoy the daily video reviews, and learning about underwater videography.

Enjoy free, unlimited access to a wealth of knowledge and advice from your GoPro instructor.

To allow us to continue offering the best possible experience to our customers, we are introducing a small optional fee for workshop participants. This allows us to offer you the same great service while keeping the price of the trip the same. Please contact us if you have any questions.

Read about our latest GoPro Video Workshop in the Cayman Islands here.

Video Workshop

• When used properly, the GoPro can be a very powerful tool for capturing underwater video.  Join Hollywood actor Todd Kortte to learn how to shoot, edit, and share underwater videos with a GoPro camera using shooting techniques learned from experience on Hollywood production sets.  Learn how to share your content online and make an impact with your underwater video content.
• This workshop will include one online class before the trip and daily workshops during the trip. Workshops and tutorials will take the form of PowerPoint presentations, informal group discussions, one-on-one training, streaming live demonstrations (e.g., using programs like Lightroom), and underwater help.
• Days 1 & 2:
• Introduction to underwater video will include understanding the difference in video frame rates and resolutions.  Types of Hollywood-style shots that hold the viewer's attention, are easy to capture, and simple to edit.  Lens options and camera settings for underwater video.  Camera tray setup options to maximize your potential to capture captivating videos.  How to use custom GoPro QR codes to switch camera settings instantly.
• Days 3, 4, & 5:
• Intermediate subjects include understanding color loss underwater.  Learning the difference between ambient and video lights and how to understand lighting to streamline your ability to shoot video underwater.  When and if to use red filters.  Understanding white balance.  How to use a macro lens with the GoPro.  How to shoot shy life.  How to approach marine life and create experiences you will never forget.
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• Days 6 & 7:
• Advance topics will include video editing tips and tricks that can enhance and streamline your post-production process.  Color correction, video output settings, editing software, bitrate settings, social media settings, and feature film settings.  How to submit your videos to viral video companies and monetize your work.  How to optimize your video for sharing on Facebook and Instagram. 
• Todd uses Adobe Premiere to edit videos, however, the basics of video editing can be found across all editing software platforms.  Even free editing software packages can perform the tasks needed to fine-tune your video.  Once you understand some basic color correction and output settings, the rest is really simple.  It's all down to telling the story, transitions, and flow to your content.  You will soon discover how the types of Hollywood-style shots you captured underwater come together in a simple-to-manage workflow.
• During the workshop, Todd will be available topside to answer questions and dive deeper into the subjects you want to know more about.  Underwater, Todd will work with you to show you shots, point out subjects of interest, and show you how to move underwater to create interest in your video. Todd will hold daily reviews of diver videos so you can see and compare who has captured great shots.  This is often one of the most enjoyable parts of the workshop. 
• Underwater video can be intimidating at first, but once you understand the process taught by Todd, you will see that it's actually pretty simple and exciting.  Any diver, no matter what their level or experience, has the potential to capture something underwater never seen before and share it instantly with the world.  We all have the potential to shape the views of our underwater world by sharing our work on social media.  This is pretty exciting to think about.  Join Todd to learn how to shoot underwater videos, and share your content with the rest of the world.

GoPro Video Workshop Topics

• Frame rates and Resolutions.
• Ambient Light vs Video Lights.
• Understanding color loss and white balance.
• How to use the GoPro QR codes.
• The best camera settings for underwater video.
• Understanding hypersmooth, hindsight, and lens options.
• Red Filters
• Shooting MACRO with a GoPro.
• How to approach marine life.
• Shooting shy life and behavior.
• Types of shots that are easy to edit.
• Video editing tricks and tips.
• Video export settings.
• File management.
• Sharing on social media.
• Licensing out to Viral Videos companies $$.

Watch the trip recap from our last GoPro Video workshop in Belize:

Click here to read the full Belize GoPro Video Workshop 2022 recap

Quickly & conveniently adjust GoPro settings underwater with GoPro QR Code Cards for Underwater Video
Buy now at Bluewater Photo Store

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About El Galleon Dive Resort

Guests can choose from Seaview, or Poolside rooms, or can request a Penthouse Suite or the Waimea Luxury Houses at the El Galleon Dive Resort.

Poolside Room

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• Step outside your room and drop into the swimming pool. The 12 poolside resort rooms are equipped with a queen size bed, air-conditioning, mini bar and storage space; our poolside room bathrooms all have hot water and a vanity area. Economy & Deluxe options available.

Seaview Room

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• The most requested rooms are the seaview rooms, all with fantastic waterfront views. You could literally throw a stone into the sea from any of these spacious and well-appointed rooms. All 10 sea view rooms are fitted out with a queen size bed, minibar, air-conditioning and storage space and all bathrooms are equipped with hot water and a vanity area.

Arthur's Restaurant (LEFT) & Barrel Bar (RIGHT)

Spa (LEFT) & Camera Room (RIGHT)

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About The Trip Leader

Todd Kortte is an Actor and Producer in Los Angeles with a passion for the underwater world. He also has a creative background in roller coaster design/theme park ride design and has worked with Walt Disney Imagineering and Universal Studios Creative. Todd combined his storytelling theme park background with his Hollywood acting experience and brought experience to the underwater world. He placed 4th in the world in the Underwater World Shootout in Germany in 2018. He is the only American to make the top 5 finalists in the underwater video category. Todd has several licensed viral videos, is a 5-time video winner of the So-Cal Shootout, has achieved over 10 million minutes of online stream time with his work, and is currently achieving more Film Festival awards with his underwater content.

Todd is also a Pro Team Member for Kraken Sports and participates regularly with Oceans Defenders Alliance in Southern California to remove lost fishing nets off the coast of California.

In the hope of giving other divers the tools to capture our underwater world and share it online for the world to see, Todd teaches underwater videography and GoPro underwater classes with Bluewater University. Read more about Todd here.

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Travel Information

To get there you can fly into Manila (MNL). Most major international airlines have scheduled flights to Manila's Ninoy Aquino International Airport (MNL).

Group transfers between Manila and Puerto Galera are included on the start and end dates of the trip. Arrive by 2pm in Manila to catch the group transfer to Puerto Galera. We encourage everyone to arrive a day earlier and spend the night in Manila to allow for any delays in travel or baggage arrival. Your departure flight out of Manila should be no earlier than 6pm. The exact times of the transfers will be based on when everyone's flights are arriving and departing and will be confirmed a couple weeks before the trip.

For guests joining the Malapascua thresher shark extension - Guests should book their own flight between Manila (MNL) and Cebu-Mactan (CEB) in May 5th. There are many flights to choose from, however, taking into account the transfer times at either end we recommend guests book Air Asia Z2783 departing at 1225. Resort transfers will be based around this flight. 

Return flight from Cebu-Mactan on May 10th should be booked no earlier than mid-afternoon to allow for transfer to the airport.

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. Please be advised that there is a 10% fee for this service to cover our booking and administration costs. 

Contact Us for more information.

Payment Schedule

• Deposit: $800 to confirm trip
• Balance: February 15, 2025

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WANT TO EXTEND YOUR TRIP?

We can help with that! See more of Malapascua before or after your trip with Bluewater in the Philippines. Flying all that way merits a multi-destination vacation! Here are some examples of packages we can add on to your trip reservation:

*Rates are subject to change at any time; please contact us for the most updated pricing. 

5 Night / 9 Dive Malapascua Thresher Shark Extension

Prices from $795 per person, twin share | $1,045 per person, single.

Embark on an exhilarating 5-night, 9-dive adventure to Malapascua Island, renowned for its captivating thresher sharks. Divers will get the opportunity to encounter these majestic creatures in their natural habitat, as well as explore the vibrant marine life and pristine coral reefs of the Philippines. 

Inclusions

• 5 Nights accommodation in a Deluxe Room with AC, twin share
• Daily breakfast
• Round-trip Cebu Airport - Malapascua transfers
• 7 local dives incl. thresher sharks
• 1 Gato trip (2 dives)
• Marine Park and Shark Fees
• Nitrox Fills

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Photo Gallery 

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