As promised, here are some photos taken from our diving trip to Anilao last Junuary (post on accommodation). These pictures were taken from the first two days of diving.

For anyone who’s interested, these is my underwater set up:

  • Olympus EPL3
  • PT-EP05L underwater housing
  • Sea & Sea YS-01 strobes x 2
  • Inon UCL-165 M67 macro wet lens
  • Ikelite tray & i-Das arm system

ribbon eel, Sombrero, Anilao
blue ribbon eel, Sombrero

I did a total of 11 dives over 4 days. We visited a number of dive sites but also went back to a few that we really liked.

Anilao really has quite a lot to offer. On the surface it is quite an unassuming peninsula. There isn’t any great beach nor excellent landscape, but underwater it’s a very different story altogether.

clownfish in anemone, Sombrero
clownfish in anemone, Sombrero

While lacking bigger marine life such as turtles and sharks, Anilao is teeming with huge variety of smaller underwater creatures. You can always expect a big variety of fish, shrimps, crabs, cephalopods (octopus/cuttlefish/squid), searhorses and various types of nudibranches basically in every other dive.

juvenile cuttlefish wasn't very pleased
juvenile cuttlefish wasn’t very pleased

Underwater landscape at most of the dive sites aren’t spectacular either. Arthur’s Rock by the resort offers perhaps the best seascape with more hard corals and rock formations, while sites such as Basura is shallow with sandy and at some parts, grassy bottoms.

emperor shrimp
emperor shrimp

It is when you look closer that you’ll start to marvel at what Anilao has to offer. Hidden amongst the corals, rocks, or sea fan are tiny creatures such as emperor shrimps, transparent shrimps, and and nudibranches.

play time with an octopus in a half bottle
play time with an octopus in a half bottle

Here, even what looked like floating debris could turn out to be ghost pipefish and other creatures. We were lucky as our guide Richard was great in spotting these and pointed them to us.

an unsuspecting scorpionfish
an unsuspecting scorpionfish

One of the strangest creatures I saw was this (I’m assuming) algae octopus that went bipedal and started walking away on the sandy seafloor with two tentacles acting like legs. It was both weird, wonderful, and slightly scary, like something you’d see in a B-grade sci-fi. Luckily it was no bigger than a tennis ball.

algae octopus going bipedal
algae octopus going bipedal

As for diving condition, there is usually very little current underwater. Other than the sites involving pygmy seahorses (maybe on another photo set), dive sites are generally rather shallow, which meant relaxing dives.

the elusive ghost pipefish
the elusive ghost pipefish

The only little problem we had was that the temperature can get a little chilly (about 25-26 C), having thicker neoprene or extra hoods/gloves should solve this problem.

transparent shrimp
transparent shrimp

Now this is making me miss diving again. We have a trip scheduled this October, but lets see if there’s a way we sneak one in between.

nudibranch - Nembrotha kubaryana
nudibranch – Nembrotha kubaryana

Anilao Underwater Photography, set 1
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13 thoughts on “Anilao Underwater Photography, set 1

  • March 7, 2013 at 3:47 pm
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    wow, really gorgeous pics (honestly!) 😀 kudos to both photographer and equipment 😀

    Reply
    • March 8, 2013 at 8:46 am
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      Sean: thank you thank you 😀

      Reply
  • March 8, 2013 at 9:59 am
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    Good morning!
    such beautiful photos, must have been such a surreal feeling being underwater and being able to capture all these up close. My closest to having this feeling would be in those underwater world aquariums. Have a wonderful friday!

    Reply
    • March 8, 2013 at 10:45 am
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      Isaac: you can start by snorkeling! 😀

      Reply
    • March 10, 2013 at 9:39 pm
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      ciki: tenkiu tenkiu 😀 😀 😀

      Reply
  • Pingback:Anilao Underwater Photography, Set 2 | KYspeaks

  • May 28, 2013 at 2:45 pm
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    the pics are awesome!!
    I always dive and never seen an octopus and you did!! should samurai and eat right after you got onto you boat then Ta-Da~ another pic shot. =D

    Reply
    • May 28, 2013 at 9:52 pm
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      Joyceanne: thanks thanks, one day you will!

      Reply

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