Anilao Photo Academy

I am so very happy that I ended up not only diving at APA but was lucky enough to join a macro photo course with Tim Ho. I am an instructor at a dive center in Komodo, so I know what it takes to manage a dive operation and Rina does an outstanding job. Everything ran so smoothly, the dives, the accomodations, the food. The guides are top notch, I was with Aladin and he was fantastic! He was able to find the smallest of things that I was unable to see with my naked eye. I can not recommend APA enough, if you are an underwater photographer or an aspiring photographer, this is a must. They have thought of everything and have all equipment to properly clean gear after dives. Thanks to everyone at APA, I will definitely be back!

Dec 2025

🌊 An unforgettable stay at Anilao Photo Academy! 🌊 My experience at APA was absolutely incredible from start to finish. From the moment I arrived, I was welcomed with genuine warmth and care that made me feel instantly at home. 💙 Rina and Wayne, and the entire team, go above and beyond to make every guest feel comfortable, supported, and part of their ocean-loving family. Their hospitality, attention to detail, and passion for diving and underwater photography create such a special, inspiring environment. Early in my stay, I ran into every underwater photographer’s nightmare — my camera housing broke! 😅 I was heartbroken at the thought of not being able to shoot. But thanks to the incredible kindness and generosity of the team, they lent me one of their own housings so I could keep photographing. That gesture meant the world to me. Their support truly saved my trip. 🙏📸 Every dive was pure magic — filled with learning, laughter, and discovery. A huge shout-out to William, my amazing dive guide, for his patience, attentiveness, sharp eye, and calm guidance. He was always there helping me perfect my lighting, spot the tiniest critters, and make every shot count! 🥰 🐠 Jason also deserves a special mention 🙌 — he was not my guide but he generously shared his incredible knowledge of the Olympus TG and gave me so many helpful tips to improve my photography. His passion and willingness to help others learn are truly inspiring. 🙏 One of the highlights of my stay was experiencing blackwater diving for the first time — an absolutely surreal and mesmerizing experience. Drifting in the dark, focusing on tiny glowing macro life suspended in the water column, felt like floating in another world. The team made everything perfectly organized and safe, allowing me to simply enjoy the wonder of it all. 🦑🐙🪼🐡 The resort itself is perfectly designed for divers and photographers — comfortable rooms, delicious food, excellent camera facilities, and a peaceful atmosphere that makes you never want to leave. It’s the perfect mix of professionalism, passion, and heart. 💕 I left Anilao Photo Academy with a full heart, a memory card full of images I’m proud of, and an even deeper love for the ocean. Huge thanks to Rina, Wayne, William, Jason, and the entire team for turning what could have been a stressful trip into an unforgettable experience. I can’t wait to come back! 😍

Oct 2025

APA, was the highlight of my Philippines trip! I got dragged by my friend to check this place out, and it was the best decision of my life to get dragged along! APA is a HAVEN for underwater photographer enthusiast! A mini resort fully catered to photographers - professional, amateurs and enthusiast, the likes. Did my first blackwater dive there, and it was truly a whole different experience that wasn’t even on my bucket-list. The rooms were very very comfy for a dive resort, and the ‘facilities’ catered for dive photographers were on point! Individual adequate workstations, power points/charging stations, compressed air blowers, VERY VERY knowledgeable team/crew/DMs. Food was good too, not the ‘best-of-the-best’. But it gets you there, balanced meal and they can cater to one’s dietary needs if need be too. Comfy common area to lodge around and usually very friendly guests/clients to strike up good conversations, especially about the things they came there for (for obvious reasons lol). Kudos to Rina for being such a friendly host, and not forgetting our DM Rodel for this trip. Super friendly and such a great guide too! But of course not forgetting the other DMs there too, such a pleasant environment.

May 2023