Travel
Eyes on the prize: Peacock mantis shrimp are just one of the many bucket-list macro treats on offer in Dumaguete’s waters
Winning in an underwater photography competition is always an incredible honor, but sometimes the prizes become just as memorable as the recognition itself. After earning Gold in the Conservation category and Silver in the Cold Water category in DPG Masters Underwater Imaging Competition 2025, I was fortunate to receive a seven-night stay at the world-renowned Atlantis Dumaguete Resort in the Philippines.
Before anything else, I would like to extend my sincere thanks to DPG, the judges, and all of the sponsors for once again organizing such an outstanding competition. A special thank you also goes to Atlantis Dive Resorts and Liveaboards for providing such an incredible prize. When I learned that I would be spending a week diving and photographing one of the world’s premier macro destinations, I couldn’t have been more excited.
A clownfish in the protective embrace of its anemone home
Mission: Macro
Until about a year before this trip, my photography was almost exclusively focused on wide-angle subjects. My travels had taken me all over the world in search of large marine life—whales, sharks, orcas, leopard seals, and other iconic ocean giants—primarily on liveaboards or daily long boat runs. Although those adventures were unforgettable, I realized that becoming a more complete underwater photographer meant stepping outside my comfort zone. That realization led me into the fascinating world of macro photography.
Over the past year, I’ve spent countless hours diving my local site, Blue Heron Bridge in South Florida, developing new techniques and learning to appreciate the incredible diversity of small marine life. In many ways, Blue Heron Bridge became the perfect training ground. Like Dumaguete, it is internationally recognized for its exceptional muck diving, where patience and observation are often rewarded with extraordinary subjects hiding in plain sight. By the time this trip arrived, I couldn’t wait to see an entirely new collection of marine life through my lens.
Making the journey with me was my wife, Lisa, who is also an avid underwater photographer. Sharing dive trips with someone who understands both the excitement and the patience that underwater photography demands has always made the experience even more rewarding. Whether we were comparing images over dinner, discussing lighting ideas between dives, or celebrating each other’s photographic successes, having her along made an unforgettable trip even more special.
It doesn’t get more challenging—or more rewarding—than capturing the super-tiny hairy shrimp
Coming from Florida, reaching the Philippines is no small undertaking. After nearly 30 hours of flights and airport layovers, we finally arrived in Manila for a brief night’s sleep before connecting to Dumaguete. Throughout the planning process, the Atlantis staff made everything remarkably easy. They assisted with arranging our overnight accommodations in Manila and coordinated our domestic flight to Dumaguete, allowing us to focus on the trip rather than the logistics.
Upon arriving at Dumaguete Airport, an Atlantis shuttle was waiting to transport us to the resort, located roughly 30 minutes away. It didn’t take long to realize why Atlantis has earned such an outstanding reputation for hospitality. As soon as we stepped out of the van, we were greeted by the concierge with a smile and the reassuring words, “Don’t worry about your luggage—we’ll have everything waiting in your room after we show you around the property.” After nearly two days of travel, hearing those words was incredibly refreshing. Instead of immediately checking in, we were welcomed with fresh tropical fruit and a cold juice while receiving an introduction to the resort. It was exactly what we needed after such a long journey and instantly set the tone for the week ahead.
The “Shaun the Sheep” sea slug is a miniscule marvel that’s impossible not to love
Pampered by Atlantis
Following the resort tour, we met our dive guide to discuss the week’s diving schedule, the local dive sites, and our personal photography goals. We talked about the boats, dive lockers, rinse tanks, and perhaps most importantly the dedicated camera room. As underwater photographers know, camera preparation can often be one of the least glamorous parts of a dive trip. Depending on the destination, assembling a housing sometimes means balancing equipment on a bed, the floor, or a tiny desk while trying desperately to keep dust away.
Atlantis solves that problem beautifully. Each photographer has an individual workstation complete with ample space and, to my surprise, an air hose specifically designed for blowing dust from housings and ports before sealing everything up. It may seem like a small detail, but for someone who is admittedly meticulous about keeping dust out of my housing, it was one of my favorite features of the resort. Everything about the dive operation reflected years of experience catering specifically to underwater photographers. After assembling our camera systems and settling into our room, we enjoyed an excellent three-course dinner before finally calling it a night.
Overcast skies didn’t dampen our enjoyment of Atlantis Dumaguete’s comfortable rooms, top-class cuisine, and exceptional hospitality
Bliss for photographers: Atlantis Dumaguete’s well-appointed camera room for all our setting up and maintenance needs
Life at Atlantis quickly settled into a rhythm that was both efficient and relaxing. Breakfast began each morning at 6:30am, followed by the first dive briefing at 8:15am and splash time 15 minutes later. The second dive followed at 10:30am before everyone returned to the resort for lunch. One of the biggest advantages of diving Dumaguete is the proximity of the dive sites. The boat rides average only about five minutes from the shore, which means divers return to the resort between each dive, providing time to recharge or change batteries, review photographs, relax, or enjoy a meal before heading back out.
The afternoon schedule included another dive at 2:00pm, followed by several options depending on individual interests. Guests could choose an additional afternoon dive and one of several unique night diving experiences, including muck dives, blackwater dives, or fluorescence dives. The other option would be a dedicated mandarinfish mating dive. For photographers, it was almost impossible to run out of opportunities.
Dauin—where Atlantis is located, about 10 miles south of Dumaguete City—hosts one of the highest concentrations of frogfish diversity on the planet
The Bucket List: Extended Edition
Although I knew I’d be thrilled photographing anything I encountered, our dive guide asked if there were a few species I especially hoped to find. My list included blue-ringed octopuses, mimic octopuses, flamboyant cuttlefish, Shaun the Sheep, ornate ghost pipefish, porcelain crabs, peacock mantis shrimp, and anemonefish. He laughed when I mentioned the anemonefish. To him, they were everywhere. When I explained that we don’t have them in my local waters back home, he immediately understood why they had earned a place on my wish list.
That brief conversation highlighted something I love about underwater photography: The subjects we sometimes overlook because they are common in one part of the world can be completely new and exciting to someone visiting from halfway across the globe. Fortunately, I wouldn’t have to wait very long. On only my second dive of the trip, our guide excitedly pointed toward a small patch of sand and rubble where an unmistakable blue-ringed octopus was moving across the bottom. I could hardly believe my luck. Even more surprising, several guests who had already been at the resort for nearly a week hadn’t yet seen one. Their patience was finally rewarded on the very dive we shared.
Top of the wish list? The small but deadly blue-ringed octopus
Flamboyant cuttlefish? Check!
Mimic octopus? Double check!
The week was off to an unforgettable start. The surprises continued throughout the remainder of the first day. Our guide managed to locate Shaun the Sheep, porcelain crabs, ornate ghost pipefish, multiple frogfish, countless shrimp, including the minuscule hairy shrimp, and plenty of other little critters. That evening’s night dive proved even more memorable. We spent time photographing a mimic octopus as it glided across the sandy bottom before disappearing into its burrow, and only moments later we encountered two flamboyant cuttlefish just a short distance away from each other. I climbed back onto the boat that night in disbelief. After only one day of diving, I had already photographed nearly every species on my wish list! I remember thinking there was no way the rest of the week could possibly live up to such an incredible start.
Amazingly, I couldn’t have been more wrong. Over the following days, we alternated between Dumaguete’s famous muck sites and its colorful coral reefs, each dive revealing another collection of fascinating marine life. One of the things that impressed me most was the knowledge and dedication of the dive guides. Having spent years diving these sites, they seemed to possess an almost supernatural ability to locate subjects that I would have swum past without ever noticing. It became almost comical. By the time I finished photographing one subject and looked up, my guide was already waiting, enthusiastically pointing his muck stick toward my next opportunity. Their ability to understand not only where the animals lived, but also how photographers wanted to approach them, made an enormous difference. Every dive felt thoughtfully paced, allowing plenty of time to compose images without ever feeling rushed.
By the fourth day, I asked if we could revisit several of my favorite sites. I’ve always believed that returning to a location is one of the best ways to improve as a photographer. The first visit is often spent simply appreciating the subject, while subsequent visits allow you to refine your composition, experiment with different lighting techniques, and execute ideas that only occur after reviewing your photographs from the days before. I also had one final request. The peacock mantis shrimp remained the only animal left on my original wish list. My guide smiled, nodded, and said we’d see what we could find. And not only did he find one… he found three! That dive perfectly summarized the week. Every time I thought expectations couldn’t possibly be exceeded, the Atlantis dive team somehow managed to do exactly that.
They may be “everywhere” in the Philippines, but photographing these beauties never gets old
Unplanned Topside Time
The plan for the following day was something I had been especially looking forward to—a three-dive excursion to Apo Island, one of the Philippines’ most celebrated marine sanctuaries. Famous for its spectacular coral reefs, healthy fish populations, and abundance of sea turtles, it promised a welcome change of scenery from the muck diving that had dominated the week. Unfortunately, after completing 18 dives in just four days—more diving than I had ever done in such a short period during my 26 years as a scuba diver—I began feeling pain in my left ear. I went to bed hoping a good night’s sleep would solve the problem, which it did not. The next morning I couldn’t equalize that ear, and I knew my diving for the week had come to an end. Breaking the news to our dive guide was surprisingly difficult. In fact, he almost seemed more disappointed than I was. That reaction spoke volumes about how invested the Atlantis guides are in making sure every guest has the best experience possible.
One aspect of the resort that truly stood out was how quickly the staff responded. After speaking with the concierge, a doctor was at the resort within 30 minutes to evaluate my ear. The diagnosis was a significant ear infection, and I left the appointment with antibiotics and clear instructions for treatment. Of course, I was disappointed to miss the Apo Island visit, and my final day of diving, but perspective is important. In just four days, I had completed 18 incredible dives, photographed every species I had hoped to see (and then some), learned an enormous amount about macro photography, and experienced some of the finest muck diving anywhere in the world. Missing the final portion of the trip certainly wasn’t how I had envisioned the week ending, but it did nothing to diminish everything I had already experienced.
A teeny-tiny, translucent bubble coral goby perched atop its namesake home
During my unexpected time topside, I had the opportunity to appreciate another side of Atlantis Dumaguete, which is the hospitality. From the moment I arrived until the day I reluctantly departed, every member of the staff greeted me with a smile and a friendly, “Hello, James. How are you?” It wasn’t something they occasionally did—it was simply part of the culture they had created throughout the resort. With a little extra downtime, I also had the chance to experience the resort’s spa, which overlooks the beautiful pool and offers a wide variety of massages and wellness treatments. It was the perfect place to relax and unwind, and a welcome bonus for both divers looking to soothe tired muscles and for non-diving guests seeking a peaceful retreat.
The restaurant staff were equally impressive. Every meal was beautifully prepared, with enough variety that I looked forward to each breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Whether Filipino specialties or familiar international dishes, the quality consistently exceeded my expectations. I honestly found myself looking forward to the meals almost as much as the diving! Behind the scenes, the dive operation was equally exceptional. The boat captains and guides handled everything with remarkable efficiency, loading tanks, assembling equipment, carefully transporting cameras, rinsing gear, and hanging BCDs to dry each evening. Those little details allowed photographers to spend less time worrying about logistics and more time doing what they came to do—create images.
Another Costasiella usagi sea slug does a fine ovine impression
Seen It All? Not a Chance!
Looking back, what impressed me most wasn’t any single dive or individual photograph. It was how seamlessly every part of the experience came together. It was the outstanding diving, an incredibly knowledgeable guide, exceptional service, comfortable accommodations, excellent food, and a purpose-built facility designed with underwater photographers in mind. Winning in the DPG Masters competition provided me with an unforgettable opportunity, but it was Atlantis Dumaguete that transformed the prize into one of the most enjoyable dive trips of my life.
I arrived in the Philippines hoping to become a better macro photographer. I left with a memory card full of images, a much deeper appreciation for the remarkable diversity of small marine life, and a renewed excitement for a style of photography I had only recently begun to explore.
Although an ear infection brought my diving to an early end, it never overshadowed the experience. If anything, it simply gave me another reason to return.
The frilly splendor of an ornate ghost pipefish
For more of James’ amazing work—both macro and wide angle—head over to his Instagram page and give him a follow. For more great images from Atlantis Resorts, check out our recent Destination Portfolio.
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