2028 Dates TBD | Price $TBABest of North Sulawesi: Blackwater & Macro Intensive
10 Days in North Sulawesi Indonesia at two world renowned dive resorts. Photographing some of the worlds rarest marine life and best Blackwater subjects.
What to Expect
❋ Intentional StructureWe are pairing two legendary destinations to create a blackwater and macro intensive never done before: Murex Resort in Manado Bay and Lembeh Resort in the Lembeh Strait
❋ Collaborative EnergySharpen your technique with daily image reviews, constructive feedback, and technical presentations from two lead photographers, delivered in a collaborative, non-competitive atmosphere.
❋ Expert FacilitationLed by Lawrence G Watkins V and Charly Clerisse—two accomplished photographers with years of daily experience shooting and guiding North Sulawesi’s waters.
❋ A Supportive SpaceDesigned by photographers for photographers, this intensive prioritizes image-making, skill progression, and shared insight at every stage of the journey.
Schedule BreakdownWith over 25 dives across Manado Bay and the Lembeh Strait, this schedule is built to maximize your time behind the lens and at the editing desk. Upon arrival, we settle into North Sulawesi’s easygoing atmosphere—unpacking rigs in the camera room, dialing in setups, and getting to know your fellow photographers before hitting the water. The adventure begins now.
*Current schedule may change slightly.
Your Schedule for the week.
Arrival Day at Murex Manado, Gear setup / Resort & Trip Orientation.
Day 18am - 12:30 Morning Dives in Bunaken National Park. (Wide-angle)
2:30pm Afternoon Dive.
5:00pm Blackwater Basics Presentation.
6:30 Blackwater Dive.
Day 2Optional
Morning Double dive In Bunaken National Park (Wide-angle) OR Late Morning Single House Reef (Macro) Dive
2:30pm Afternoon Dive
5:00pm Presentation
6:00pm Double BW.
Day 3 8:30 - 9:30 Breakfast
9:30 - 10:30 Image Review
10:45 - 2:30 Bunaken National Park Dives w/lunch on the boat.
2:30pm Afternoon Dive in Manado Bay(Macro),
6:00pm Double BW
Day 48:30 - 9:30 Breakfast
9:30 - 10:30 Image Review
10:45 - 2:30 Bunaken National Park Dives w/lunch on the boat.,
Double BW
Day 510:45 - 2:30 Bunaken National Park Dives w/lunch on the boat
4:00pm Transfer via car to Lembeh Resort
Night off / Happy Hour in Lembeh.
Day 68:30 - 9:30 Breakfast
9:30 - 10:30 Image Review
10:45 Morning Dive,
2:30 Afternoon Dive,
6:00 Double BW
Day 78:30 - 9:30 Breakfast
9:30 - 10:30 Image Review
10:45 Morning Dive,
2:30 Afternoon Dive,
6:00 Single BW
Day 8Normal Dive schedule,
End of week slide show.
Day 9Dry Day / Departure day.
Day 10
Meet Your Trip Leaders
Lawrence G Watkins V
Lawrence is a North Sulawesi-based Photo Pro, underwater photographer, and Divemaster specializing in macro, blackwater, and creative lighting. Known for his hands-on equipment expertise and rig troubleshooting, Lawrence brings years of intimate local field experience to help shooters dial in their setups, master tough techniques, and capture world-class imagery.
Charly is an award-winning underwater photographer, diving instructor, and the Dive Center Manager at Lembeh Resort. Having called North Sulawesi home for years, Charly harbors an obsession for blackwater exploration and tracking down rare pelagic subjects. His extensive local knowledge, keen critter-spotting eye, and passion for marine conservation make him an invaluable mentor in the water and at the critique table. Learn more about Charly here.
Charly Clerisse
Why is Manado Bay a perfect location for Blackwater Diving?
Blackwater imaging begins and ends with bathymetry. The submerged volcanic topography of Manado Bay gives us immediate access to depths greater than 1,800 meters (6,000+ feet) just minutes from the coast. As oceanic currents from the Celebes Sea circulate against these vertical walls, they generate nutrient-rich upwellings in the heart of the Coral Triangle. For photographers, that means prime conditions for pelagic drift: paper nautiluses, diamond squid, and alien larval stages suspended above these depths.
Why is the Lembeh Strait a perfect location for Blackwater Diving?
Moving around the tip of the peninsula, the Lembeh Strait delivers the benthic counterpart to deep-ocean drift. Reaching only 240 feet (73 meters) at its deepest point, the strait functions as a high-flow corridor compressing plankton-rich waters between the mainland and Lembeh Island. For the blackwater and macro shooter, this convergence is pure gold: it blurs the line between the abyss and the reef. On any given drift or muck dive, your viewfinder shifts from open-ocean voyagers to pelagic larval stages of Lembeh’s celebrity fauna—from translucent wunderpus paralarvae and juvenile soapfish to tiny, free-swimming larval frogfish.
Your Questions, Answered
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This workshop is designed for the underwater photographer who is deeply interested in Blackwater & Macro Photography.
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A mirrorless or interchangeable lens camera is highly recommended.
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Yes, if you are new to Blackwater or Macro photography this would be the perfect oportunity to build your image portfolio and develop the necessary skills to become a confident macro photographer.
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Yes, you absolutely can.
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Contact Lawrence or Charly with your expression of interest and they will get you in touch with the correct reservations team for completing your booking.