Anilao Philippines Ultimate Photo Workshop December 2026

Trip Overview

Our trips offer small 'dive guide to diver' ratios and extended dive times, allowing for an optimal diving experience. We prioritize visiting the best dive sites regularly, and many of them 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 welcomed and comfortable, and you're guaranteed to take home some fantastic shots.

Check out this awesome video from one of our previous trips to Anilao:

Read about our December 2023 trip to Anilao.

Anilao boasts some of the richest reefs in the world. Whether at 10ft or 100ft beneath the surface, you will be inundated with photo subjects that will fill up your memory card before the day is over.

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!

Sample Itinerary

Here's the schedule for this trip:

• 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).*

*If your flight doesn't depart until the evening, you may want to consider getting a "day room" somewhere in Manila so you can be dropped off there instead of the airport too early!

To get a little insight as to what the workshop is like, read our 2023 Anilao Underwater Photo Workshop or see our guide to diving Anilao.

Recommended Scuba Gear

Download our full scuba gear guide to Anilao December, Bluewater Travel guests receive 10% OFF! Click the image below to download (PDF).

• Dive light or torch for night dives. We suggest Kraken NR-2000 Dive Light
• 3mm to 5mm wetsuit. Browse Wetsuits at Bluewater Photo
• Travel BCD. Read our Best Travel BCD Article
• Travel regulator. We suggest Mares Ultra 62X Dive Regulator