You can contact us for any questions and reservation requests.
+90 216 418 22 44 / 90 541 349 56 01
info@ayisigidiving.com
WORKSHOP OVERVIEW This workshop is an intensive field and classroom workshop designed to provide participants with in-depth knowledge and expertise in creative lighting, subject isolation techniques, and various artistic approaches in underwater macro photography. Participants will learn and apply the fundamentals of topics ranging from standard exposures to advanced multi-light setups, the use of snoots, shallow depth of field, subject isolation, and compositing techniques. WORKSHOP DETAILS AND REQUIREMENTS: Minimum Prerequisites • Open Water Diver (50+ logged dives) • Excellent buoyancy control • Good basic proficiency with your own camera system • Enriched Air Nitrox certification Dive Environments - Sites • Volcanic Black Sand and Mud Slopes • Shallow Reef Gardens and Wreck Sites • Vertical Reef Walls and Gorgonians • Open Water Column (Night Dive) Recommended Equipment • DSLR / Mirrorless + Macro Lens, Compact Camera • Flash or Flashes + Focus Light • Optical / Conventional Snoot • Wet Diopters (+5 to +12.5)
3-DAY WORKSHOP PROGRAM;
DAY 1: BASICS, EXPOSURE, AND ISOLATION [Focus: Black Backgrounds and Using a Snoot] Morning Dives: Dive 1 (Mud/Sand): Basic exposure, f/14–f/22, ISO 100, neutralizing ambient light. Dive 2 (Debris/Wall): Snoot sensitivity and isolating the subject from a complex background. Afternoon Session: Theory (2.5 hours): Macro fundamentals (1:1 ratios, working distance), exposure triangle dynamics at high magnification, black background technique, flash positioning, and snoot usage Evening: Visual Review and Technical Evaluation (1–2 hours): DAY 2: CREATIVE OPTICS AND BACKGROUND ART [Focus: Bokeh and Super Macro] Morning Dives: Dive 3 (Reef Wall): Wide aperture (f/2.8–f/5.6) + diopter use on complex textures. Dive 4 (Algae/Coral Area): Bokeh placement using hydroids, tunicates, and background glows. Afternoon Session: Theory (2.0 hours): Analysis of specular bokeh, micro-focusing with wet diopters (+10/+12.5), pre-framing background selection, and managing extremely shallow depth of field. Night Dive: Dive 5 (Sand/Mud): Lighting and painting with continuous light on nocturnal subjects. (Optional)
DAY 3: ADVANCED LIGHTING AND IN-CAMERA ART [Focus: Double Exposure and Motion] Morning Dives: Dive 6 (Slope): Backlighting semi-transparent subjects and applying color gel filters to the flash. Dive 7 (Portfolio Challenge): Applying two selected creative techniques to target subjects. Afternoon Session: Theory (2.0 hours): Backlighting/rim lighting, color gels, rear-curtain sync with slow shutter speeds (1/8s–1/15s panning), in-camera double exposure (Additive/Light), and in-camera RAW editing. Evening: Final Evaluation (2.0 hours): RAW workflow presentation, portfolio review, and participant presentations.
Tour Itinerary: · Meet at the Turkish Airlines (THY) counter at Istanbul Airport at 10:00 p.m. on Friday, November 13, 2026. Check-in and baggage drop-off · Saturday, November 14, 2026: Flight TK 84 departs Istanbul for Manila at 1:45 a.m., arriving in Manila at 6:10 p.m. After passport and customs procedures, a private transfer of approximately 2.5 hours to the dive center/hotel. Check-in to rooms around 9:30–10:00 PM, · November 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, and 20, 2026: 3 boat dives per day / 18 total boat dives, · Saturday, November 21, 2026: Check-out from the hotel and transfer to Manila for Flight TK 85 departing at 21:35 from Manila to Istanbul. Arrival at Istanbul Airport on Sunday, November 22, 2026, at 5:45 AM.
Tour Price: 2,985 USD, VAT included. The tour is limited to 10 participants.
Installment Payment Plan: August 25, 2026. : 950 USD September 25, 2026 : 950 USD October 25, 2026 : 1,085 USD USD transfers will be collected into our company’s Garanti BBVA USD account or, based on Garanti Bank’s USD selling rate on the payment date, in Turkish Lira (TL) into our company’s TL account.
General Information:
The hotel is a small boutique hotel, located 2 hours from Manila via the highway, with clean and spacious rooms. The shower and toilet are inside the room. Rooms are equipped with air conditioning and a fan. The dining/breakfast room and dive center are on the lower floor. Boats depart from in front of the center, and there is generally one boat for every four divers. There is one guide for every two divers. The guides are knowledgeable about marine life and basic photography, and they serve as both assistants and guides.
There are three dives per day. The boat departs at 8:30 AM; after two dives, we return for lunch, then head out for the third dive around 3:00 PM. Alternatively, we can bring lunch on board and organize all three dives without returning to shore. The boats are classic Filipino vessels known as “Bangkas.” Dive sites are close by and easy to plan. The maximum depth is 30 meters, with marine life generally concentrated between 20 and 15 meters.
The camera room is well-equipped, and depending on the available gear, you may have the opportunity to try out different diopter lenses or strobes. Subject sizes range from classic macro at 5 cm to super macro at 5 mm, allowing for diverse and creative macro shots using various lighting techniques—which is both possible and very enjoyable.
Meals are prepared in the hotel kitchen and tailored to the group’s specific needs (allergies, pork, dietary restrictions, etc.). The food is tasty but simple. Breakfast typically includes eggs, omelets, toast, jam, etc. Tea, coffee, and water are always available. Snacks and fruit are also provided in the breakfast area.
During the orientation meeting on the first day before the dives, we discuss your goals and share the marine life you’d like to photograph with your guide; these topics remain our priority throughout the 6-day trip. Night dives, blackwater dives, and bonfire dives are must-try experiences—each offers unique features and excitement. They usually take place after 6:30 PM and last about an hour.
This contract includes the policy for the prevention of the safety for the attendants (customers) and tour guides for problems in domestic and international tours and diving travels by Ayışığı Entertainment Tourism Trading and Industry Limited Company - Leopar Tourism Agency.
GENERAL POLICY OF TOUR AGREEMENT
PAYMENTS:
1. During the registration of domestic and international tours by Ayışığı Entertainment Tourism Trading and Industry Limited Company - Leopar Tourism Agency 40% of the total tour payment is taken as pre - payment. The other part of the payment must be paid 60 days before the departure. Otherwise. It's presumed that the costumer cancelled to join the tour and the 100% of the total payment as ‘’recantation compensation’’ is billed to the consumer.
CANCELLING - RECANTATION - CHANGES
2. Because of the subjects below, if the costumer could not join the tour, the extension of the insurance is limited 500 € for the international and 500 TL for the domestic tours.
3. For the Egyptian Visas, the attendans of the tour must give their updated documents to Ayışığı Entertainment Tourism Trading and Industry Company - Leopar Tourism Agency 8 weeks before the departure.
4. If visa cannot be taken, Ayışığı Entertainment Tourism Trading and Industry Company - Leopar Tourism Agency has not any responsibility.
5. Ayışığı Entertainment Tourism Trading and Industry Company - Leopar Tourism Agency could cancel the tours 7 days before the registered (scheduled) or declared departure because of the inadequate number of the attendants or in necessary conditions. The customer can take all the payment back. In this condition, there isn’t any ‘’customer compensation right ‘’situation.
6. In international tours, attendants should accept and commit to pay 50% of the total payment if they cancel their tour 61 days before the departure. If their request for cancellation occurs 60 days before the departure they should pay 100 % of the total payment to the agency.
7. If there is a cancellation 30 days before the departure in domestic tours, the attendants should accept and commit to pay 50 % of the total payment, if the cancellation is 15 days before the departure they should accept and commit to pay 100% of the total payment ıf the customer transfers his/her tour to an another person 15 days before the departure, extra payments because of the changes should be paid by that person.
8. There isn’t any repayment in 15 days and earlier cancellation of the charter flights. If the customers couldn’t have a written legal report by a full constitution public hospital for their or their first degree close relative’s illness duration at least 10 days or, in a loss of his/ her own life (roommates or accompanying persons are not included), the should pay 40% of the total payment for the cancellation of the hour 8 – 15 days before the departure. If this cancellation occurs 7 days before the departure of charter flights, there will be no repayment to the customer.
9. If the costumers couldn’t have a report from a public hospital for their or their close relative’s illness durated 10 days or death (roommates or accompanying persons are not included) they should pay 40 % of the total payment in cancellation 8 – 15 days before the departure. If this cancellation occurs 7 days before the departure, they should pay 100 % of the total payment to Ayışığı Entertainment Tourism Trading and Industry Company – Leopar Tourism Agency. The details about this condition are included in insurance policy agreement.
10. The customers who did not pay their total payment during the declared period for any reason, they should accept and commit to pay the amounts of payment the limits of payment concerned below even they cancelled their reservations.
11. In charter flights, names can be changed. But in scheduled flights, it’s not possible. The customer should pay for tickets they lost. Tickets bought online from internet cannot be returned and the names cannot be changed. Customers should pay for the ticket re-arrangement payments.
12. If the customers missed the beginning of the tour and want to join the tour, they should report it. If there is not any report written by the customer, the company has right to cancel the customers no repayment to the customer.
GENERAL CONCLUSIONS
13. The passports should be valid at least 6 months during the international tours.
14. Ayışığı Entertainment Tourism Trading and Industry Company - Leopar Tourism Agency is an agent between the passenger and the flight company. The departure times and routes can be changed and should be confirmed 24 hours before the departure.
15. Our company is not responsible of the delays or time changes according to the airline companies. We’re also not responsible for persons could not sit together in the plane because of the fullness capacity. To present this condition it’s advise to go to the airport earlier from the check-in time. Extra fees for luggage’s over the permitted maximum weight given by the airline company is under the responsibility of the passenger.
16. Tour program is a sample program. The including schedule is unchangeable, but according to the flight departure times and route alternatives, his sample program can be changed because of the flight company’s decisions.
17. The check-out from the hotel (leaving time) is 12:00 pm, check-in time (registration) for the hotels is 14:00 pm. It’s applicable for the hotels in all over the world. Ayışığı Entertainment Tourism Trading Industry Company - Leopar Tourism Agency can change the hotel names, transferring vehicles, departure times and places or transferring the customer to another agencies under the strict circumstances of the standards including the scheduled program. The programs given during the registration are sample programs. The organization times of the extra tours noticed in the tour programs can be changed by the initiatives of the tour guides. The customer accept the accommodation for nights and the class and categories of the resort.
18. In any visa requests from Ayışığı Entertainment Tourism Trading Industry Company - Leopar Tourism Agency the customer must have valid passport (at least 6 months during the travel period). Passports and requesteddocuments must be given to Ayışığı Entertainment Tourism Trading Industry Company - Leopar Tourism Agency for transferring to the consulate of concerned country on the requested time by the consulate.
19. In visa applications, Ayışığı Entertainment Tourism Trading Industry Company - Leopar Tourism Agency is a negotiator. Our company is not responsible for ungiven (undelivered) visas. If the concern consulate did not confirm the visa, all the cancellation procedures below will be applicated.
20. The customers have no signature on the contract, but have registration for the domestic or international travel or hotel organization in that agreement contract, are assumed that the person who represented them for their registration should read and accept the policy of agreement and sign the contract. They don’t have the right for rejection eventhought they did not sign the contract. This agreement was valuable between the customers and the agency. Our customers who had reservation or bought service would read and know all the requirements on line from the web site and accept all of them before the departure. Returns, repayments and cancellations will be given to the customers as their requested. When the tour was bought, the conditions below would be accepted and committed by the customer.
21. For customers who bought travel insurance service or travel insurance package, the insurance limits of the damage, hazard, fault service or lost items were assessed by the policy contract by the insurance company. The agency has no responsibility for the including of these assurances, limits or serving methods.
22. If the customer didn’t finish the tour and left because of fault-based service, they have no write a letter about the reasons of leaving the tour and give it to the person who represents the agent and the hotel. Otherwise, this condition is described as the customer left the tour and used the service he/she bought.
23. It’s a duty of goodwilling of a customer to write all the things the he/she complained about. If the customer uses the service that he/she complained about, there will be any return or repayment rights for the booking service.
24. Ayışığı Entertainment Tourism Trading Industry Company - Leopar Tourism Agency conduct customer’s request about selecting their rooms, but can not guarantee it will be done. There is not any check-in until 14:00 pm on the arrival day. Customers should have check out until 10:00 am on the departure day.
25. According to section 9 of the package tour agreement contract, tour costs may increase maximum 5% of the total amount, with the requirement of the declaration to the customer 20 days before the departure. If there will be an increase of more then 5%, the customer has right to return and cancellation. But for the constituents, fees like landing taxes for the ports and airports, there in not any return or cancellation right.
26. Ayışığı Entertainment Tourism Trading Industry Company - Leopar Tourism Agency is responsible for the changes after the departure according to harmful, disadvantageous changes caused by the amount of compensation estimated by TURSAB KUTAHYA CHART CONCLUSIONS (TURSAB Tourism Customers Requirements Conclusions Chart) and can be repaid to the consumer as money or service return. Also, these compensation can be retrieved by extra services (not included in total payment) presented to customer during the tour. If these extra service retrievals or booking used by the customer, there will be no right for compensation requirement by the customer.
27. Items are not written in this agreement were convention items of 1618SY, 4077SY, 26345SY, IATA, IHA, UFTAA, Civil Aviation law, BK, TTK, international agreements included Turkey and regulation by-law, guide, circular letter, announcement belongs to these items applicated in Turkey with TURSAB KUTAHYA SCHEDULE which is applicated by using internationally accepted ‘’Frankfurter Tabelle’’ in Turkey.
28. The disagreements by reason of this contract, will be soluted by TURSAB Arbitrational Committee and procedures by this committee are applicable.
29. Customers are responsible for the accuracy of the names they wrote (as in the passport) in the agreement contract. If there will be differences between the copies of the agreement taken by the customer and Ayışığı Entertainment Tourism Trading Industry Company - Leopar Tourism Agency, the records and the copy in Ayışığı Entertainment Tourism Trading Industry Company - Leopar Tourism Agency is predicated on
FLIGHT BAGGAGE CLAIMS
30. The weight of baggages are assessed by the airliner company. Baggages in the cabinet were limited by measurements and also weight is limited of 8 kg. If the baggage is overweight and overmeasured, the amount of extra payment is between the customer and airliner company. Money, jewellery, valuable papers must not be carried in baggages. Ayışığı Entertainment Tourism Trading Industry Company - Leopar Tourism Agency is not responsible for the lost belongings in the baggages.
31. This present tour package agreement written between to behalfs (parties) with all attachments to was arranged, read, controlled and accepted for the both sides of the document. The behalfs (parties) together accepted and signed performances and commitments of this present agreement contract. Participiants and or individuals (persons who represents someone) whose names were written on the contract will join the tour, accepted and signed the agreement contract, also accepted all the legal responsibilities and commitments in the name of the persons who they represented.
OUR TOUR WILL BE CONDUCTED THROUGH THE TURSAB-CERTIFIED LEOPAR TRAVEL AGENCY. OUR TOUR IS COVERED BY TRAVEL INSURANCE. THE FOLLOWING CONTRACT TERMS APPLY TO TOURS ORGANIZED THROUGH TURSAB-LICENSED AGENCIES. THE CONTRACT SHALL BE DEEMED SIGNED UPON PAYMENT FOR THE TOUR.
All divers must present a valid diving certification, logbook, and diving insurance, and must sign a medical declaration and liability waiver. For safety reasons, a dive computer, a signal buoy, and a dive light must be carried on every dive. To participate in the dive tour, it is recommended that you hold an Advanced Diver certification or equivalent and have completed at least 30 dives. Participation in all dives is subject to each guest’s diving proficiency and experience. Strong currents must be taken into account. Phone and internet access may be intermittent depending on the physical distances between dive sites, GSM coverage, and weather conditions. All dive sites are subject to approval by local authorities, coast guard, and port police. All itineraries are subject to change and may be modified at short notice due to weather conditions or official orders. If dives are missed or dive sites cannot be reached due to weather conditions or other unforeseeable changes, the agency is not liable for refunds or compensation, including for technical issues as well as all National Park fees and port fees.