SIPADAN PHOTOQUEST

Capture and create superb images in warm tropical waters

Monday 12th May - Wednesday 21st May 2003 (10 days)

Leader: Martin Edge

Group size limit: 12 divers plus leader and assistant

Martin Edge is widely acknowledged as one of our leading underwater photographers and is probably the finest teacher of underwater photography skills in Britain today. His students range from those who have just acquired their first underwater photography equipment and are keen to master the art of underwater photography to those who are professional photographers still striving to perfect their skills. Martin's expeditions combine the stimulus of diving with a group of like-minded people who constantly discuss and exchange ideas on underwater photography with continuous input from Martin in superb diving locations. Martin Edge's remarkable teaching skills are amply demonstrated by our Divequest Gallery. Many of the photographs included in the gallery have been taken by photographers who have studied with Martin. The standard of their work speaks for itself.

Why Sipadan? Well, in Martin Edge's opinion, "There is simply no place like it on earth!"

Martin has made a series of pilgrimages to Sipadan. From his first visit he was totally captivated, his fellow divers and students entirely besotted! Throughout that period Martin got to know the dive sites intimately, learning all about the marine creatures and their behaviour. He soon recognized the underwater photography potential and was able to choose a specific dive site for a particular subject or photography technique. Martin developed skills in how to photograph the larger marine animals such as turtles and sharks, creating new techniques and methods by which to record on film the huge schools of jacks and barracuda.

In May 2003 Martin is returning to Sipadan and, in his own words, "You can come too. I will share my photography tips and tricks of the trade with you. You will return from Sipadan with plenty of images of turtles of all shapes and sizes: sleeping, flying through the water, being friendly, being playful. You will regularly see turtles when diving. They are virtually guaranteed!"

Sipadan Dive Centre will once again host our photography trip and our group will entirely occupy the resort. The centre occupies one of two prime positions on the island and the staff are exceptionally photo-friendly. Sipadan Dive Centre has recently been refurbished and re-vitalized. By virtue of the number of divers allowed on the island at any one time, this trip will be strictly limited to 12 places, plus Martin and his wife, Sylvia. Sylvia Edge will accompany the group and assist with trip logistics and organization. Her role includes some teaching demonstrating techniques of underwater modeling, informal discussion, slide critique and one-to-one tuition.

Sipadan is a paradise. It has to be seen to be believed. A shallow, circular lagoon of aquamarine water surrounds the island. The celebrated Sipadan Drop-off is situated just a very short distance from the dive centre. With unlimited shore diving and three boat dives per day (where the choice of dive sites will be left to the group's discretion) diving is plentiful and unrestricted. The furthest dive-site is no more than a 10 minute boat ride away. Once the initial orientation dive is completed the group will be free to dive when, where and as often as desired. Shore diving has easy access for photographers (bootees are essential), so enthusiastic photographers and divers can easily pack four (or more!) dives into one day. For the early risers the most popular dive of the day is a dawn shore dive. Just after sunrise the golden sunlight is ideally placed to pervade the often mirror calm surface and illuminate the shallow hard corals.

Perhaps the most popular boat dive is the legendary Barracuda Point. Here sharks and turtles are assured and, with the right lens, are very easily captured on film. Macro subjects also abound and here you (or our very experienced guides) will find leafish, frogfish, Ghost Pipefish and Mantis Shrimp, to name but a few of the species. On Barracuda Point there is a coral outcrop affectionately known as Turtle Rock. Here turtles can literally be photographed in numbers! There are very few dive sites in the world so easy, so accessible for diving and where such stunning marine life can be found.

Scubazoo have a full video and photography studio on Sipadan and will be providing daily E6 film processing. Drop into the water, take the shots and then have them developed. Mistakes can be rectified, techniques developed, skills honed.

During the week, under the experienced leadership of Martin and with support from Sylvia, you can expect to learn the following: how to photograph turtles, schooling barracudas and jacks and Bumphead Parrotfish, working with shallow water and sunlight, and macro techniques. E-6 slide critiques will be included. Exploration of new techniques and experimentation will be encouraged. Teaching methods will include informal discussions and seminars with some one-to-one sessions.

In Martin's words, "There is so much to be learned, not only from us but from fellow underwater photographers. We have come to realize that most of the participants regard the underwater photography courses, workshops and expeditions as an opportunity to gain access to something far more important and interesting than purely the medium of underwater photography: that is their creative selves!"

Sipadan is surrounded by white sand and dense tropical jungle. A beach walk around the island can take no more than 30 minutes, but if you find that this is the case, then do it again because you may have missed the point. Sipadan is a jewel, a gem, an underwater heaven on earth. If you have never visited then it is time you did. We know that you will not be disappointed.

Please note: As Martin uses his own 'think and consider' approach to underwater photography it is advisable that clients wishing to apply for places on the Sipadan Expedition should have attended one of Martin's weekend courses in the UK. Details of these courses can be obtained by contacting the Divequest office.

Itinerary

Monday 12th May: Malaysia Airlines midday flight bound for Kota Kinabalu via Kuala Lumpur.

Tuesday 13th May: Late morning arrival in Kota Kinabalu, connecting with the Malaysia Airlines early afternoon flight to Tawau Transfer by road and boat to Sipadan, arriving in the late afternoon for a seven nights stay.

Wednesday 14th May-Monday 19th May: Six full days of diving on Sipadan.

Tuesday 20th May: After a final lunch on Sipadan, transfer by boat and road to Tawau airport to catch an early evening flight back to Kota Kinabalu and onwards to Kuala Lumpur and London.

Wednesday 21st May: Morning arrival at London (Heathrow).

£1510 London/London (non-divers: £1440)

Includes:

· Scheduled flights London (Heathrow)/Kuala Lumpur/Kota Kinabalu/Tawau/Kota Kinabalu/Kuala Lumpur/London (Heathrow) by Malaysia Airlines.

· Transfer by coach and boat to Sipadan.

· 7 nights full board accommodation, including tea, coffee, orange squash, on a twin/share basis at Sipadan Dive Centre.

· 6 days of diving (3 boat dives daily and unlimited shore diving including night dives), dive guide on boat dives, cylinders and weights.

· Services of Martin Edge as group leader and Sylvia Edge as assistant.

Single Occupancy Supplement: £360. Please note that, while we will endeavour to find a room-mate for those on the expedition who are travelling alone and would prefer to share accommodation, in the event of a room-mate not being available the single occupancy supplement will apply. Room-mates will be allocated on a first-come first served basis.

Deposit: £300

For details of the diving, accommodation and flights, please see the Sipadan entry earlier in this brochure.

Note: Flights between Kota Kinabalu and Tawau are operated daily so it is quite simple to extend your holiday on Sipadan if you wish. Alternatively, we can arrange for you to extend your holiday at Sipadan Water Village on Mabul Island (noted for the quality of the macro photography, see the Mabul brochure entry). Why not stay on for a few days and put into practice what you have learned? It is possible to break the journey in either direction and stay at the luxurious Shangri La's Tanjung Aru Resort in Kota Kinabalu.