UWPG Trip Testimonials

"This was the best organized and informative photo trip that I have been on, and I’ve been on a few.” - Harry O'Neil, Anilao workshop 2012 (read more)

"This was my first trip with Bluewater Photo, and my trip with you was my best dive trip ever." - Christy Vail, Anilao workshop 2012 (read more)

"I learned so much after each day we dived, the tuition was invaluable at the end of each day, and as a result I was able to see the day-to-day improvements in my underwater pictures." - Warner Priest, Anilao workshop 2012 (read more)

"Scott and Mike are amazing underwater photographers, and they are passionate, patient, and eager to teach students of all levels and abilities." - Larry Naylor, Anilao workshop 2012 (read more)

"I'm loving this trip - thank you Scott so much for organising it and all your help while you were here. And the amazing cake. Again, this trip is probably the best thing I've ever done - last night's dive to Twin Rocks was maybe the best dive of my life." - PT Hirschfield, Anilao workshop 2012

"The dive sites were, of course, amazing sea life on every single dive, but more fun than that was being able to give your guide your wish list and knowing they’d work with you as a unit to try to find your subjects." - Suzan Meldonian, Anilao workshop 2012 (read more)

"It was a fantastic trip. Great diving, resort facilities and very helpful staff. I would go back to Crystal Blue Resort in a heartbeat. Not to mention the feedback, seminars and the slide shows by Scott and Mike have definitely helped me become a better photographer." - Nayan Savla, Anilao workshop 2012

"Great trip! A very intense program with priceless underwater coaching. Looking forward to more." - Alex Sher, Anilao workshop 2012

"I had a great time and learned a lot. Thanks! The diving was awesome and it was one of my best trips." - Chuck Dreyfus, Anilao workshop 2012

"Well what can I say!

This trip far exceeded my expectations. Anilao is now my top diving destination by far, we were so well looked after at Crystal Blue Resort, the food was amazing, the staff were so friendly, helpful and polite.

The diving out of Crystal Blue Resort was very well-organized, very easy-going and perfectly catered for those who had underwater cameras, especially with the new camera room in service.

The diving was superb, I could not believe how alive with sea life all the dive sites were that we visited, the macro subjects were everywhere, I almost did not know where to turn or look. I also for the first time had a chance to try my hand at wide-angle photography, which I thoroughly enjoyed. With Scott's pointers and the DMs modelling pro's I was beginning to take a few really nice pictures towards the middle of the trip.

I learned so much after each day we dived, the tuition was invaluable at the end of each day, and as a result I was able to see the day-to-day improvements in my underwater pictures.

I rate this dive expedition as the best value for money for any trip I've done so far, I look forward to the opportunity to experience more of a similar calibre in the near future!

Thanks again for a wonderful time."

Warner Priest, Anilao workshop 2012

"I attended the Bluewater Photo Seminar in the Philippines in April to May 2012. The Crystal Blue Resort is wonderful. The rooms are great, the dining room is large, open-air with great views, and it is a wonderful place to mingle after a day of diving, plus it serves as a great classroom for discussions and photo presentations. There is even a wonderful room that was thoughtfully constructed for assembling cameras and charging batteries. Everyone has his or her own space.

Scott and Mike are amazing underwater photographers, and they are passionate, patient, and eager to teach students of all levels and abilities. I have been taking underwater pictures for more than 30 years, and in a very kind way Mike and Scott made me realize that I have become complacent, and I need to continue to motivate myself. Beginners and borderline professionals received similar comments.

Oh yes, and the diving! The diving features an endless parade of amazing critters. I love the weird fishes like frogfishes, which we started to see on most dives. I have been going to New Guinea, and I believe that in terms of critters, I had more success in Anilao. Every dive brought something new.

Finally, the resort staff is wonderful. They are friendly and extremely attentive. We dove four to a boat, and dives were lead by Edgar, who has a gift for finding marine life of all sizes."

Larry Naylor, Anilao workshop 2012

"It was a wonderful trip. I’ve never felt so comfortable with folks handling my camera equipment. The guides and boat assistants were terrific. I thought the resort was well planned out. Loved the design with the camera rinse tanks on one side and clean the gear on the other side. Having a personal space set up for the camera workstation is brilliant.

And the daily dive plan was well thought out. Being able to have a dusk and night dive every day really made this special. Having sufficient time to off gas was not only smart from a safety standpoint but also pleasant to look forward to a little bit of down time with some classes mixed in. Well done!

The dive sites were, of course, amazing sea life on every single dive, but more fun than that was being able to give your guide your wish list and knowing they’d work with you as a unit to try to find your subjects.

It was such a pleasure to be with other photographers of such a high caliber and passion for our field of interest. I can’t thank you enough for putting this together."

Suzan Meldonian, Anilao workshop 2012

"First and foremost, as I told each of you, this was the best organized and informative photo trip that I have been on, and I’ve been on a few. Each of you organized your time so all could get whatever level of support/instruction/critique they desired. I came away with a much better appreciation of the importance of strobe positioning in particular. The daily instructional presentations were excellent and may be what separates this trip from others that I’ve done. With other trips, the amount of personal attention is a function of the amount of pestering one has to do to get the attention of the photo pro. Not so on this trip. Each of you went out of your way to ensure that all received whatever it was we were looking for from the trip."

Harry O'Neil, Anilao workshop 2012

"I want to thank you, along with Mike Bartick and Matt Meier for a wonderful and very informative dive trip to the Philippines. It was my second trip to the Philippines, but my first trip ever with Bluewater Photo Store. I think the Philippines might now be my favorite dive destination, and my trip with you was my best dive trip ever. I've been hauling my G12 around on dive trips for awhile, but, thanks to you, Mike and Matt, I feel like I really learned a lot about the finer points of a point-and-shoot camera! The presentations on photography held during lunch and dinner were so helpful and it was fun to see the photos taken by other's on the trip.

I also want to thank the staff, management and owner of Crystal Blue Resort. I have never experienced more hospitality, friendliness, helpfulness at any hotel I've ever stayed in. Talking to the owner, I found out that she employs as many of her relatives as she can, and I guess that's what gives that "one big family" feeling to the hotel. The rooms were clean and comfortable, good beds and pillows, good air conditioning, lots of towels and the hotel has a really nice, secure camera room, etc. The food was great and there was always plenty of it. The kitchen was more than accommodating when I requested a birthday cake for a traveling companion. The cake was just amazing with a huge blue wave curling up over it, a dive flag and lots of candles. It was clearly a labor of love since it went way beyond anything I imagined when I requested it! It made a special occasion really, really special! I would highly recommend Crystal Blue Resort to anyone wanting to visit and/or dive in Anilao. I think they are very fortunate at Crystal Blue to have Mike Bartick as part of their staff. He is just the most friendly, sincere, personable, professional, down- to- earth, no bullshit (can't think of a better way to put it!) person I have met in years.

The diving end of things was well organized, plenty of room on the dive boats, good dive guides, friendly, helpful crews, great dive sites, and lots and lots of marine life. I have still not had time to look through all of the photos I took down there. There are just photo opps everywhere one looks, so there was no problem in taking the photo tips learned in seminars and putting them into practice on the next dive.

Thanks, too, to the staff of Blue Water Photo store that didn't get to go to Anilao on this trip! Leading up to the trip, I had help by phone and internet, from Kelly, Rhiannon and Mark. They recommended and explained different products and how and why they would or wouldn't work with my camera, and made sure that I went to Anilao with a camera set up that I would really feel happy and have fun with. Their expertise and patience is appreciated. I also want to thank all of you for some really great buys. Some of the things that made it a lot more fun were the Sola Focus Light and the Dyron diopter lens I purchased from you, and I especially want to thank you and your staff for making some REALLY KILLER DEALS (!!) on products for the trip. I really appreciated saving some money on some excellent products!

I certainly will look forward to another trip with you, Scott. I plan to keep an eye on what trips you have coming up and I will definitely recommend you, Bluewater Photo and the great articles on photography on your website to all of my friends."

Christy Vail, Anilao workshop 2012