Anilao Philippines Ultimate Photo Workshop Spring 2026
Dive into Underwater Macro Magic!
Photography enthusiasts, mark your calendars for the ultimate photo workshop in Anilao, Philippines, slated for the spring of 2026.
Join us for one hell of a dive trip and upgrade your underwater photography skills with our popular Anilao Photo Workshop! This epic photo adventure takes place in the beautiful Crystal Blue Resort in Anilao, Philippines, a world-renowned macro diving destination. Choose to join us for 7 or 10 action-packed nights in April/May 2026, and prepare to discover stunning macro critters and breathtaking reefs.
Why the Hell Should You Go?
- Bask in the glow of our most popular underwater photo trip
- Find out why Bluewater's Anilao trips have a rep as the best underwater photo trips on the planet
- Get your own badass dive guide with 4 divers per boat and guide — yes, you read that right
- Increase your chances of spotting every underwater critter, nudibranch, and fish on your bucket list (and then some)
- Daily photo workshops and lectures to sharpen your skills
- We don't screw around with non-refundable deposits until 12 months from departure
Mark Your Calendar, You Filthy Animal!
- April 16 - 26, 2026 (10 nights)
- April 26 - May 3, 2026 (7 nights)
Trip Masters
- Erik Lukas
- Dan Bishop
- Mike Bartick
Book Now to Secure 2024 Prices!
- 7 Nights Shared: $2,059
- 7 nights Single: $2,265
- 10 nights Shared: $2,636
- 10 nights Single: $3,356
Extend Your Philippines Adventure!
- 7 Nights in Dumaguete
- 7 Nights in Puerto Galera
- 10 Nights in Cebu & Bohol
Images Credits: (L) Rick Willbanks. (R) Bryan H Blauvelt.
Check out this fucking awesome video from our previous trips to Anilao:
[Anilao video]
Read about our trip to Anilao in December 2023.
Trip Overview
Our trips offer small 'dive guide to diver' ratios and extended dive times, providing an optimal diving experience. We prioritize visiting the best dive sites regularly, and many are just a short 10 - 20-minute boat ride away from the resort. Plus, we hold competitions that reward participants for capturing the most critters, nudibranch species, best video, macro, wide-angle, and behavior shots. Whether you're an experienced photographer or using a small point-and-shoot camera, our team makes everyone feel welcome and comfortable, and you're guaranteed to take home some incredible shots.
Anilao boasts some of the richest reefs in the world. Whether at 10ft or 100ft beneath the surface, you'll be inundated with photo subjects that'll fill up your memory card before the day is over.
Anilao Trip Recap Spring 2023
Images by Craig Wilhelm (L) & Erik Lukas (R)
Almost all species on our critter list can be found in Anilao - such as Rhinopias, blue-ring octopus, hairy frogfish, pipefish, flamboyant cuttlefish, & Bobbit worms. Anilao is also the nudibranch capital of the world!
Trip Schedule
- Day one of the trip: 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).
- 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.
- On the second to last day, there will be no afternoon dives. There will be 2 morning dives, a photo contest and group dinner.
- Departure will be on the following day at 8 am back to MNL. Shuttle transfers take approx 3.5 hours between Anilao-Manila, so book your departure flight sometime in the afternoon (we recommend any time after 2:30-3:00 PM to be safe).
Inclusions
- 7 or 10 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. The April 16 - 26 trip includes 9 days of workshops. The April 26 - May 3 includes 6 days of workshops with the option to pay the 10-night rate and enjoy an extra 3 days diving.
Exclusions
- Nitrox ($99 for the week)
- Transfers ($100 round trip from Manila airport)
- Hotel stays/ day rooms before or after the workshop
- Airfare
- Travel Insurance: Learn more about our preferred plan
Crystal Blue Resort Anilao
The resort is on a hill and involves climbing stairs.
Trip Type
This trip is a PHOTOGRAPHY WORKSHOP. It will be led by one of our photo instructors who will provide daily instructional tutorials, in-water photography support (when appropriate), and one-to-one advice and guidance, as required. Each workshop offers a bespoke syllabus, crafted by the trip leader and detailed on the trip webpage. While our Photography Workshops are aimed at divers with an interest in underwater photography, anyone is welcome to join.
Learn more about what's included in this trip type.
Trip Syllabus
- Section One: Photographic Concepts - An introduction to the basic concepts of photography, the behavior of light, understanding and controlling exposure.
- Section Three: Lighting - This section covers a wide range of topics that will help guests understand and control light in the underwater environment. Topics to be covered will include discussions on the tools used to create photography's essential ingredient, light, and how to use lighting in various settings to achieve the objectives of both correct and creative exposures.
- Section Four: Composition - Guests will learn the ways photographers use composition to create stylized photographs. This will cover both macro and wide-angle lighting techniques one may deploy in shooting different types of scenes or subjects.
- Section Five: Bring It All Together - Here we will use examples of images to help guests see how to bring various technical skills together to create images. These discussions will focus on the tools used, and the methods employed to create images in a variety of scenarios one is likely to encounter in the underwater environment. Whether shooting macro, wide-angle, animal or human subjects, this section of the course will help guests understand how to bring everything together, before, during and after the dives.
About Crystal Blue Resort
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 18 rooms that consist of deluxe rooms, superior rooms, and a large family villa.
Flight Information
- We recommend guests arrive in Manila one day before the workshop begins and stay in a nearby hotel.
- We have 3 hotel recommendations for guests; The Manila Marriott, Holiday Inn Express Manila Newport City, or The Belmont Hotel - all very close to the airport.
- Alternatively, you can arrive at the Manila airport (code: MNL) on the morning of the first day of the workshop before 10 am, and the shuttle will pick you up directly from the airport.
- Everyone will leave in the morning of the last day (approx 8:00 am) and be transferred back to the airport.
- Booking an afternoon/evening flight would be advised.
- If you have any questions, please email us for recommended departure/arrival times. We will arrange your transport to the resort.
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 and transit hotels for domestic and/or international travel on your behalf, we are also happy to arrange this. Please be advised that there is a ticketing fee for this service. Contact Us for more information.
Payment Schedule
- Deposit: $500
- Payment 2: $800 due 7/1/25
- Payment 3: Balance due 12/1/25
Ready to Take the Plunge?
Call us today at 1-310-915-6677 or email us at [email protected] and let us book your dream vacation!
Photo Gallery
[Anilao Underwater Photos by various trip leaders from previous trips]
Book Now
Anilao Underwater Photos by various trip leaders from previous trips
Anilao Trip Recap Spring 2023
Images by Craig Wilhelm (L) & Erik Lukas (R)
Almost all species on our critter list can be found in Anilao - such as Rhinopias, blue-ring octopus, hairy frogfish, pipefish, flamboyant cuttlefish, & Bobbit worms. Anilao is also the nudibranch capital of the world!
Back to Menu
Wanna Extend Your Stay?
We can hook you up with that! See more of the Philippines before or after your workshop in Anilao with Bluewater. Flying all that way merits a multi-destination vacation! Puerto Galera, Dumaguete, and Cebu & Bohol are amazing destinations nearby that offer a range of unique experiences. Here are some examples of packages we can add on to your workshop reservation:
- 7 Nights in Dumaguete: A short domestic flight from MNL to the Southern Philippines can extend your macro photography vacation in style at the luxurious Atmosphere Resort.
- A week in a Suite
- 10-dive package
- All meals
- Transfers
- Free WiFi: Yes
- Swimming Pool: Yes
Atmosphere Resort
- 7 Nights In Puerto Galera: A few hours' car and boat transfer from MNL, El Galleon can offer you abundant corals and fish diversity and an inexpensive all-inclusive dive package.
- 7 nights at El Galleon Resort
- Daily dives
- Free WiFi: Yes
- Swimming Pool: Yes
El Galleon
- 10 Nights in Cebu & Bohol: A short domestic flight from MNL to either of these islands offers a whole new experience! See pristine corals and abundant reefs, all with never-ending diversity ranging from tiny seahorses to whale sharks. There are numerous resorts to choose from, but we think Magic Resorts (Magic Oceans Bohol & Magic Island Cebu) offer the best experience for the price.
- 5 nights on each island
- Daily dives
- All meals and transfers between resorts and airports
- Free WiFi: Yes
- Swimming Pool: Yes
Magic Oceans (LEFT) & Magic Island (RIGHT)
Check out some other great *dive resorts in Philippines.*
- Prepare for an exciting underwater photography adventure with our Anilao Photo Workshop in Crystal Blue Resort, Philippines.
- This trip is renowned for showcasing stunning macro critters and enchanting reefs.
- Join us for 7 or 10 action-packed nights in April/May 2026 and discover the world-class macro diving destination, Anilao.
- You'll have a dedicated dive guide, ensuring 4 divers per boat and guide, providing a unique and immersive experience.
- Our workshops and lectures will help sharpen your underwater photography skills and boost your chances to spot every underwater species on your bucket list.
- Picture ourselves in the crystal blue waters, capturing colorful nudibranchs, intriguing sharks, and mesmerizing critters during our daily dives.
- Experience unparalleled underwater photography opportunities, guided by Erik Lukas, Dan Bishop, and Mike Bartick - our elite trip masters.
- Awe at the vibrant coral reefs and explore the vast bluewater environment, finding unique macro subjects that'll fill your memory card before the day is over.
- bluewater is excited to announce that 2024 prices will be honored for those who book now, securing a traveler-friendly offer.
- While not an exclusive photographers-only retreat, our guided sessions promise to cultivate a personalized syllabus, enhancing your knowledge of photography, lighting, and composition.
- The expedition also includes educational workshops on diving techniques, behavior, and the latest advances in underwater photography technology.
- Delve deeper into the world of underwater macro photography by exploring destinations such as Dumaguete, Puerto Galera, and Cebu & Bohol, extending your incredible Philippines adventure.
- Nurture your passion for underwater photography, lifestyle, and sports while indulging in the captivating destinations that the Philippines has to offer.
- Advance your finance and self-development goals by participating in this educational and transformative underwater workshop.
- Mark your calendar and join us for a once-in-a-lifetime underwater experiment, taking your photography skills to the next level and immersing yourself in the incredible world beneath the waves.
