Galapagos Photo Workshop May 2023

May 2023 Galapagos Underwater Photo Workshops

This will be an epic 10-night trip to see hammerheads, mantas, penguins, batfish, seahorses, Galapagos sharks and more. The trip is timed for the best hammerhead encounters, best visibility, and best water temps. The trip will be on the excellent Galapagos Master.

WHY JOIN THIS TRIP?

• 25% off rental photo gear from Bluewater Photo
• Best time for  hammerhead encounters
• Modern luxury liveaboard - the Galapagos Master: great amenities and spacious cabins
• FREE daily photo workshops
• Timed for best water temps and visibility

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Trip Overview

"I have put together an epic trip to the Galapagos, where we will help people get incredible photos of hammerhead sharks, mantas, penguins and more. I have picked a boat with the best possible itinerary for this purpose at the best time of year - this will truly be a trip of a lifetime." - Scott Gietler

The unique and isolated islands of the Galapagos are home to truly extraordinary creatures: Schooling hammerheads and a large variety of other sharks, mantas, sea turtles, and sea lions, as well as endemic species such as penguins, flightless cormorants, and extensive schools of fish.

Photos taken during a Bluewater group trip led by Tim Yeo in 2019

Scott has done extensive research to choose the best possible time of year and route for this trip. He will be making sure photographers and non-photographers alike have an incredible trip.

The Galapagos Master is a first-class yacht with capacity for just 16 divers. Its spacious cabins and well-designed dive amenities ensure a comfortable and relaxing trip. A spacious indoor lounge boasts cushioned bench seating and a plasma screen for photo viewing, and there is an indoor camera set-up station with numerous charging points and storage drawers situated to the rear, providing ample room for a full photography charter group. Further camera preparation areas can be found on the rear deck next to the dive deck.

Read the reviews on diving Galapagos here

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Marine Life to Photograph

Thanks to their extreme isolation, the Galapagos Islands have some of the most unique marine life on the planet. Here are just a few examples of marine life you're likely to see: dolphins, sea lions, penguins, turtles, marlin and large schools of fish, silky sharks, Galapagos sharks, whale sharks, reef sharks, hammerhead sharks, eels, and manta rays. This is a wide-angle photographer's paradise, but don't leave the macro lens at home: frogfish, octopus, seahorses, nudibranchs and other small subjects are found at various dive sites. 

Diving Conditions

The trip takes place during the warm season in the Galapagos, with the highest water and air temperatures. We may experience afternoon rain showers,  but the sun shines again after the rain.

Water temperature is 21-30C (70-86F) with some cooler thermoclines at depth. The northern islands are generally warmer. Visibility stays at an excellent 12 to 33 meters (40-100 feet).

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Inclusions

• Accommodations
• 3-4 guided dives per day, conditions permitting
• Tank and weights
• All meals and snacks throughout the cruise
• Coffee from the espresso machine, tea, fruit juice, and soft drinks
• Land-based tours
• Airport transfers

Exclusions

• Fuel Surcharge
• Park fee ($100 cash, paid upon arrival)
• Ingala Transit Card ($10 payable at Guayaquil International Airport)
• Nitrox ($225)
• Airfare, additional transfers, and hotels
• Alcoholic beverages
• Equipment/computer/underwater torch rental
• Gratuity
• Dive insurance
• Travel Insurance: click here to learn more about our preferred plan

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Trip Schedule

The itinerary can be variable and will be planned according to the direction of the trip leader and cruise director on board. They will have a good idea at that time of the conditions at the various locations.

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About the Galapagos Master

The new Galapagos Master liveaboard used to be the "Deep Blue" - a very well-laid out boat. The Master Liveaboard fleet, owned by the Siren Fleet (WWDS), has refitted the boat with new engines, new compressors, new generators, new water-makers, individual air-con, an entertainment system in each room, a dedicated camera station, new dive gear for rent, and Nautilus lifelines, along with many other small improvements.

Read the report on our previous Galapagos trip and great reviews of the Galapagos Master!

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Flight Information

• The trip will begin and end in San Cristobal.
• When the time comes (no sooner than 1 year before departure) we can assist you with flight suggestions and booking.
• Guests will fly into Guayaquil International Airport (code GYE) or Quito (code UIO), then take one of the daily 1-hour flights to San Cristobal (code SCY).
• Embarkation begins on May 15th; it is recommended that guests arrive on the 14th and stay in a nearby hotel, although if you are tight on time it is still possible to arrive on the 15th and immediately board the boat.
• Disembarkation is the morning of May 25th; you will take one of the daily flights out of San Cristobal back to GYE or UIO. Have at least 3-4 hours layover before your international departure, or stay a night near the airport if you want to play it safe. 

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About The Trip Leader

Nirupam Nigam is a dedicated underwater photographer and fisheries scientist. While growing up in Los Angeles he fell in love with the ocean and pursued underwater photography in Southern California's Channel Islands. He received degrees in Aquatic and Fisheries Science and General Biology, as well as a minor in Arctic Studies, at the University of Washington. He spent some time as a fisheries observer on fishing vessels in the Bering Sea and North Pacific, collecting data for NOAA. When he is not at sea, he is traveling with his wife and taking photos.

As the Editor-in-Chief of the Underwater Photography Guide and the Chief Marketing Officer at Bluewater Photo & Video, Nirupam is one of the world's few full-time underwater photography editors. You can get in touch with him at nirupam@uwphotographyguide.com(link sends e-mail) or through his website www.photosfromthesea.com. Read more about Nirupam here.

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Payment Schedule

• Deposit: $800
• Payment 2: $2,400 - Due 3/15/22
• Payment 3: $4,000 - Due 12/15/22
• Final Payment: Due 12/15/22

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Photo Gallery 

Galapagos Photos & Video from Previous Trips

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