Scuba diving at the Anilao Photo Academy in the Philippines was an unforgettable experience and a true masterclass in macro photography. We spent nearly a week there, completing 15 dives with our own private dive master who was an incredible spotter who seemed to have an eye for every hidden creature on the reef. The academy’s all-inclusive package made everything effortless: comfortable lodging, delicious meals, a private guide, free use of camera gear, three daily boat dives, and unlimited snacks and drinks between dives. Our dive master not only showed us dozens of fascinating critters but also taught us how to use strobes (our first time trying them) and guided us from total beginners to confident macro shooters in just 15 hours underwater. The diversity of marine life blew us away, and capturing the tiniest subjects in crisp, colorful detail was deeply rewarding. Anilao truly lives up to its reputation as the “macro capital of the Philippines”, and we can’t wait to return with our own strobes to continue exploring its underwater treasures. Highly recommended for anyone passionate about macro photography and marine life!
Taking a tuk tuk from Batangas to Anilao
A man paddleboarding with his two dogs
Tanks delivered daily to Anilao Photo Academy
Dive masters Obet and Jason at Anilao Photo Academy
Janolus savinkini nudibranch (purple tipped janolus)
Phyllodesmium rudmani (also known as a mimic nudibranch)
Miner's urchin shrimp (gnathophylloides mineri)
Male solor boxfish (ostracion solorense/reticulate boxfish/ scribbled boxfish)
A man fishing from a traditional outrigger
Matutunggil rock formation - an Anilao landmark. Our third dive of the day was here at Matu Dive site
Nembrotha lineolata (lined nembrotha nudibranch)
Eyeball detail of a Kuhl's stingray
Zanzibar whip coral shrimp
Poodle at Anilao Photo Academy
Becky enjoying our dinner at Anilao Photo Academy (where the per day rate includes lodging, food, dedicated spotter, camera equipment, food and 3 boat dives)
Photo with our dive buddies - we dove with Joanna and Anna all week long
Nembrotha kubaryana (aka variable neon slug or dusky nembrotha)
Phyllidia ocellata (aka ocellated phyllidia or eyed phyllid nudibranch)
The Hidden Corallimorph Shrimp (Pliopontonia furtiva), also known as the "furtive shrimp" or "disc anemone shrimp"
Hypselodoris tryoni (also known as Tryon's nudibranch or leopard nudibranch)
Reticulidia halgerda dorid nudibranch
Samla bicolor nudibranch (also commonly known as the two-colored flabellina)
Soft coral porcelain crab
Becky is happy we chose to dive with Anilao Photo Academy!
A crowded, old jeepney in Anilao
Brilliant coral gall crab (pseudocryptochirus viridis)
Juvenile diamond filefish
Shaun the Sheep - only 2 mm in size!
Mimetic shrimp (genus Hippolyte) camouflaged on a hydroid (also known as "chameleon shrimp")
Hypselodoris bullockii nudibranch. This nudi has a genetic mutation and has four rhinophores!
Scott's Armina nudibranch (Armina scotti)
Developing clownfish eggs
Enjoying our daily massages after a 3 tank day!
Sexy shrimp (aka squat shrimp)
Clear tunicate shrimp on a green barrel sea squirt
Micromelo undatus (aka wavy-lined bubble snail or miniature melo)
Diversidoris crocea nudibranch
A bangka returns to shore in Anilao
Coastal view of Anilao, the Philippine's macro capital
Mexichromis trilineata nudibranch
Translucent gorgonian shrimp (Manipontonia psamathe) perched on a coral host
Robby enjoying a snack during our surface interval between dives
Flabellina rubrolineata nudibranch
Chromodoris willani nudibranch
The colorful nembrotha chamberlaini nudibranch
Favorinus tsuruganus nudibranch laying eggs
Goniobranchus hintuanensis nudibranch (aka lumpy chromodoris or bus stop chromodoris)
Colorful houses in Anilao
Girdled glossodoris nudibranch (glossodoris cincta)
Ceratosoma trilobatum (aka three-lobed nudibranch)
Juvenile painted frogfish
Rhinopias frondosa (weedy scorpionfish)
Hippolythe ventricosa shrimp
Sunset view from our room at Anilao Photo Academy
Joanna enjoying fresh mango with her pancakes for breakfast
Doris cameroni nudibranch laying eggs
Shaun the Sheep (aka leaf sheep sea slug)
Catriona rickettsi nudibranch
Hypselodoris maculosa nudibranch
Coryphellina rubrolineata nudibranch
Ceratosoma trilobatum nudibranch
A male ring-tailed cardinalfish holding a mass of fertilized eggs inside its mouth to protect them from predators
Emperor shrimp on a sea cucumber
This is the spectacular sagaminopteron ornatum, sometimes known as the "batwing slug" because it uses its long winglike appendages to fly in the water if disturbed
Buceo Anilao Beach & Dive Resort
Bluemargin nudibranch (aka goniobranchus aureopurpureus or gold and purple chromodoris)
Thecacera Picta Nudibranch
A pair of bullock's hypselodoris nudibranchs
A commensal shrimp known as Zenopontonia soror, commonly referred to as a starfish shrimp
Goniobranchus aureopurpureus nudibranch
Anker's whip coral shrimp
Phyllodesmium poindimiei nudibranch
Caloria indica aeolid nudibranch
A pair of coleman's urchin shrimp
We had the best time diving with Dive Master Jason and learned a ton from him!
Photo with Ms Rina from Anilao Photo Academy
Street food cart in Anilao
