MALDIVES - PHOTOSUB WORKSHOP
Weeks 5 to 12th & 12 to 19th
September
Would you like to make the most of your camera or take up underwater photography?
Would you like to take pictures which were something more than souvenirs?
Are you ready to take the step towards the aim of understanding the world of underwater photography and learning Rafael Fernandez’s tips to take better pictures?
Go on board the Maldives Blue Force One to make the Central Atolls route and throughout the cruise you will be helped and adviced by Rafael Fernández Caballero, who will show you everything you need, from basic concepts to understand the most complex tricks to the latest techniques to take original photos and go beyond the limitations of your camera by editing them.
Rafael Fdez. Jr won the World and European Champion of underwater photography. He has won several awards in national and international photography competitions since 2012. He has been diving since he was a little child. This young man has devoted all his free time to travelling to different places, camera in hand, getting the most of every destination. All those trips have let him take lots of incredible photographs which he has used afterwards to take part in championships and even to be published in several magazines.
During this cruise will take place this interesting Underwater Photography Workshop.It is aimed to all different levels. In his scheduled daily talks and photo reviews Rafa will show not only the basic concepts of photography and photography composition but also his personal knacks and the techniques he used in his championships. Besides, you will get familiar with a more artistic vision of underwater photography.
Thanks to living together, practicing and commenting on many different pictures, you will be able to learn in a quick, simple, pleasant and personalized way. And as we said before, learning to get over the limitations of the camera by using photography editing tools will be another aim of the workshop.
To sum up, this workshop will not only give you the opportunity to take pictures which are more than a simple souvenir, but it will give you the opportunity to take meaningful and impressive shots.
HANIFARU - Manta Expedition
Life is not measured by the times we breathe but by the moments that have left us breathless.
This statement can respond to a philosophy of life and helps us explain what Hanifaru and the BLUE FORCE “MANTA EXPEDITION” can be.
Being able to visit such a place on the planet is something unique, special and exclusive. What happens each season in Hanifaru Bay has become one of the most amazing natural discoveries of recent times.
You cannot miss the chance, come, live the Blue Force Experience and take your breath away!
Discover HANIFARU and “take your breath away”
One manta ray, two manta rays, three manta rays, … and so and so counting up to six, seven or eight together in a single dive site is common on a trip to the Maldives. But when the count starts to hit forty or fifty and it’s literally impossible to keep calculating the exact number of manta rays swimming in all directions, you can only be in one place: Hanifaru Bay.
Hanifaru is a unique place in the world, here we will be able to see one of the largest agglomerations of reef manta rays (Mobula Alfredi) in the world, with an average size of 2-3 meters, only surpassed by the giant oceanic manta (Mobula birostris) that can reach more than 5 meters wingspan.
Logically, after its discovery by a scientific team, in a few years Hanifaru became one of the main attractions of the north of the Maldives, not only because of the huge numbers of manta rays that can sometimes be observed, but also because of an increasing number of whale sharks that also take advantage of the large amounts of food in the form of plankton that they find here. To avoid a more than likely overcrowding, in 2011 UNESCO declared the Baa Atoll a Biosphere Reserve.
Subsequently, the Maldivian government established strict regulations and supported scientific projects that currently continue to be developed here and in other areas of the archipielago, related to this species. Time has shown the success of such measures with the progressive increase in the number of sightings.
To swim with these giants in the famous bay, only snorkeling is allowed. Divers and bubbles would clearly affect the behavior and feeding in continuous movement of the manta rays. Not forgetting that after a few minutes in the water one realizes that diving would not be the best option to enjoy the amazing show that takes place so close to the surface.
Liveaboards do not freely access the atoll area where the mantas are feeding to avoid disturbing them and avoid the decrease of specimens in the area, in addition, snorkeling guests must pay a fee to contribute to the maintenance of the reserve. Visitors will access the water only after receiving detailed instructions on how to behave at any given time, in limited groups, and under the supervision of a certified local guide.
Although it may seem somehow restrictive, soon after and without any effort, the mantas will end up swimming close, even very close, to anyone who respects their space and their way of feeding, either collectively “in a row” or individually performing loopings without cease.You have to stay calm and observe the route the manta rays make uninterruptedly along the channel. The comings and goings are constant, so even in a short time you will even be able to recognize some individuals with unmistakable marks such as spots or even bites, some of them scarred but others also recent
Although the main restrictions are established for Hanifaru Bay, diving is allowed in other areas of Baa Atoll. So many congregations of individuals feeding in the bay explain the large number of sightings by divers outside the atoll, not only of manta rays but also whale sharks if you are a little lucky. The “official” season in Hanifaru is from May to November, although the largest congregations of mantas usually happen between the months of July and September.
MALDIVES OFFERS !!!
- We have extended our travel insurance coverage (already included in the price), improving the cancellation, medical expenses, quarantines, civil liability and all those extras that this COVID-19 situation can require.
-
Here is an excellent offer for those customers that due to this situation, require a double cabin on a single use basis.
DOUBLE CABIN, SINGLE USE:
August and September: there will be only a charge of 500 $ for the single use of a double cabin.
October until the 20th of December: You will only pay for one and a half places to enjoy a double cabin just for yourself. - We also have a great offer for those willing to spend two weeks in a row in our amazing boats. SECOND LIVEABOARD WEEK: If you would like to extend your trip one more week, we offer a 50% discount on the second week onboard.
Book with CONFIDENCE
- You only need to pay 200€ to make new reservations for any Blue Force cruise.
- Final payment: 45 days before departure.
- If you cannot travel or cannot make the cruise through the COVID-19, there are no cancellation fees. The 200€ delivered can be used for any Blue Force cruise whenever you want.
Offers & Schedule
Brochure
