Great gear

For those who want to catch the shutter bug, but didn’t bring a camera, Wakatobi can provide the hardware. More seasoned shooters will appreciate the resort’s two complete Seacam housed systems available for rent: one with a Canon 5D Mark II, the second with a Canon 5D Mark III. Each can be fitted with a wide choice of lenses and matching ports, along with Seacam strobes to complement the system. In addition, the photo center stocks a number of compact camera systems available for rental, including the Olympus Tough 3 and Canon G12 for those who have not yet taken the leap to DSLR.

Less seasoned shooters can remt the Olympus Tough 3 housed system; it’s compact, easy to learn and use. Photo by Olympus Camera Systems

Camera friendly

Anyone who has visited a remote location with camera gear understands the challenges that frequently arise during travel and while on location. It often begins at an airport, where baggage allowances on connecting flights may be limited due to plane size. This isn’t an issue for guests traveling to Wakatobi, as our private charter flight from Bali provides generous allowances for both dive and camera gear. At all stages of luggage transfer, from airport to dive center to dive boat, Wakatobi’s staff takes extra precautions with camera equipment, freeing you from the need to play mother hen over your gear.

Space is another common limitation underwater photographers face, but not at Wakatobi. Both the resort’s dive center and the dive yacht Pelagian provide photographers with a dedicated, climate-controlled work room with numerous charging stations and workbenches. Should you want to take your cameras with you, there’s ample space in the bungalows and villas to spread things out without having them get in the way. The same is true of our dive boats, which, though nearly 70 feet in length, never carry more than a dozen passengers, and provide large camera tables, shelves and generous helpings of personal spaces under sheltering roofs. As on land, our boat staff knows how to handle camera equipment gently and properly, and they are always there to assist when you are entering or exiting the water.

No other location in the world can offer the same combination of imaging opportunity, infrastructure, service and diving diversity. Photo by Leon Joubert

Creative freedom

Once in the water, photographers enjoy significant creative freedoms. Because divers are split into small groups of four and no more than six, there is no pressure to keep pace with a crowd, and photographers are generally able to linger and devote ample time to favorite subjects. The underwater landscape usually allows for long, multi-level profiles of an hour or more, giving shooters plenty of time to fill memory cards. And, of course there’s no shortage of photo opportunities. As one of the most bio-diverse marine habitats in the world, Wakatobi provides a wealth of subjects ranging from the tiny to the expansive. With more than 40 sites nearby to choose from, along with a three-mile stretch of the House Reef, shooters will run out of memory cards before they run out of possibilities.

Wherever your imaging interests lie, and whatever your current skill level, a trip to Wakatobi represents the ideal opportunity to get into underwater photography and create some lasting memories or portfolio pieces. No other location in the world can offer the same combination of imaging opportunity, infrastructure, service and diving diversity.

For more information about our pro photography courses contact our team at office@wakatobi.com or complete a quick trip inquiry and include a brief note in the request or special requirements box.

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