Best of Manado with Martyn - Far East

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  • Indonesia / Best of Manado with Martyn
  • Water temp 26-27C
  • Air Temp 30C
  • Visibility 15-30m
  • Good for... Rare critters and stunning reef wide angle
  • Suitable for beginners Beginners and intermediate photographers
  • Highlights With an action packed 26 guided boat dives (includes 2 dives on the way during transfer between resorts) and 12 Self Guided House Reef Dives and free nitrox, Martyn Guess' Manado workshop will enable you to you will hone and advance your key photographic skills at Lembeh resort and Murex Bangka.

About Best of Manado with Martyn

Photo workshop in Lembeh and Bangka


Indonesia is regularly voted as one of the best dive destinations in the world, and for photographers, it is an undeniable treasure trove. Manado, North Sulawesi is beloved not only for the subject matter - from big to small - but both the resorts visited on this workshop are experts at supporting underwater photographers. Martyn's workshop will get you using your camera and kit to its optimum. The dive guides are arguably the best spotters in the business and have hundreds of hours working with photographers. Their non intrusive, eco friendly approach is the ideal compliment to the subjects on show. Get into the zone and prepare to take some of your best pics yet!

Goals of the trip


This is a varied workshop, with both muck, macro and wide angle photo opps. With an action packed 26 boat dives plus unguided, house reef dives and free nitrox. you will hone and advance your key photographic skills in one of the most productive destinations in Indonesia. All under the oh so knowledgeable eye of photo pro Martyn Guess.

Murex Bangka is where the workshop commences and you will enjoy the complete contrast to Lembeh macro. This is the place to work your wide angle. Bright colours, hard and soft corals, schooling fish... these are lavish, lush reefs that will make your photos pop!

Move to Lembeh resort is where the critter action begins. Some of the most elusive critters can be photographed here. Hairy frogfish and star gazers are always popular, but don't overlook the myriad of stunning nudi branch, blue ringed octopus and pygmy sea horses. The dark sands and dense subject matter on very dive make this a rewarding location to photograph in.

Martyn provides hands on instruction through group image reviews and evening presentations, as well as underwater instruction for those needing it everyone will have the opportunity to return with a great portfolio!

Who is this workshop suitable for?


With only 8 participants, this workshop delivers quality instruction as well as a large number of dives. It trip is aimed at intermediate underwater photographers upwards. You will have some experience with a camera underwater and ideally will be using a mirrorless or DSLR camera set up. You don't have to be a pro already! But you will be looking to expand on your existing skills as well as learn some new ones. Go beyond the simple fish ID record shots. Martyn will help take your photography to the next level.

Lembeh Resort

The Lembeh resort is a boutique style diver's resort on Lembeh island itself, making it arguably is one of Manado's best known dive hubs, Life here revolves around the diving and is especially popular with underwater photographers... MORE

Getting there
International flights will arrive into Manado. Flights are offered with Singapore airlines, from Heathrow via Singapore airport.

A typical day
Dive groups are kept small. There will be 3 boat dives a day at both Murex Bangka and Lembeh Resort, plus in the afternoon jump in for an unguided house reef dives. On your transit day between the resorts, you will move by boat with dives offered en route. Don't lose time transferring on land!

You have booked 26 guided boat dives (includes 2 dives on the way during transfer between resorts) and 12 Complimentary Self Guided House Reef Dives with Nitrox. Some further dive sites and special dives( eg mandarin dives, night dives etc) are at an additional, local cost. Nitrox is prepaid for the full duration of the workshop.

Wide Angle Ops
An explosion of color and kaleidoscopic soft corals. Bangka dive sites are a sensory overload where the pristine reefs are teeming with life. Pelagics and critters, Bangka has it all!

Unique species include resident dugongs, dolphins and pilot whales, several species of pygmy seahorse, harlequin and tiger shrimps, blue ring, mimic, reef and wonderpus octopus, ghost pipefish, Ambon scorpionfish, frogfishes, turtles, reef sharks, eagle rays, tuna, great barracuda, schooling fish including snappers, fusiliers, cardinals and mackerel.

Macro Must Sees
Lembeh resort is best known for the unparalleled muck and critter diving. Lembeh isn't just home to frogfish, It's26-27C home to 8 different species of frogfish, 12 species of octopus, numerous crustacean species that cannot be found anywhere else on earth, 3 species of pygmy seahorse, countless numbers of nudibranch species and new discoveries are continuously being made. Some of Lembeh’s most iconic species include the Hairy Frogfish, Pontohi Pygmy Seahorse, Wunderpus, Mandarin Fish, Mimic Octopus, Rhinopias Scorpionfish, Flamboyant Cuttlefish, Blue Ring Octopus, and the list goes on.

Departing
At the end of your holiday you will transfer to Manado airport and then back to the UK.
Do ask your travel consultant if you would like to add an extension to your trip or time sightseeing in Singapore.

Should you wish to add a stop at another Philippines destination or stop over en route, please simply ask your travel consultant at the time of booking.

Need our help?

We would be more than happy to help you. Our travel advisors are at your service to help you.

0800 072 8221
dive@scubatravel.com

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