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South-East Asia

THE BORNEO PHOTOQUEST: LANKAYAN

Underwater image making with Martin and Sylvia Edge

Underwater images have the power to thrill the mind, to make one wonder at the marvels of the deep, the colours that nature arranges, the patterns and the shapes. And what admiration we have for the underwater photographers who have achieved these visual marvels. Can we do the same? Can we create such miracles of shape, texture, colour and light? Apply a little vision, a lot of imagination and a touch of guidance from Martin and Sylvia Edge and you will soon find that you are ‘making’ images, not just ‘taking’ images.

Martin and Sylvia have worked with Divequest from the earliest days of its inception and have many years of experience on which to draw to develop the most stimulating, rewarding and enjoyable trips. Your photography skills will be propelled in leaps and bounds towards that ultimate, perfect underwater image. Martin is a great underwater photographer, for sure, but what really drives him and stimulates his interest more than anything else is teaching others. Little wonder that Martin’s students refer to him as their ‘guru’!

Photoquests are not about how much you know, how much equipment you use or even how much experience you have. They are about making wonderful images, about achieving your potential and, ultimately, having fun. Being amongst a group of like-minded friends who are also keen and eager to improve their photography is a huge advantage over taking a trip with the general diving public.

Photoquests are not about diving in large groups, following a timetable of events, attending formal talks or lectures. You dive when you want and with whom you choose. You don’t have to follow the dive guide unless you choose to! Some divers go their own way; some prefer to dive with Martin or with Sylvia and pick up ‘tricks of the trade’ by observation or by demonstration. Do things at your own pace. While as much photo dive time as possible will be provided, it will be up to you to decide how best to spend your time. Regimentation is avoided at all costs.

Why travel with Martin and Sylvia when you could go it alone? Firstly, Martin has no secrets. Everything he knows he will share with you. Secondly, if you chose, Martin will dive and take pictures with you, side by side: dive together, shoot together. Martin will point out both macro and wide-angle opportunities: teach you how to use your eyes, your mind, your memory and your imagination to enable to see ‘in pictures’, to see in your mind’s eye what the lens may capture.

Sylvia works along side Martin to compliment the work he does. Careful management of trip logistics ensures that the topside service and diving management works for each individual in as efficient manner as possible. During the ‘working’ day, Sylvia will conduct a series of modelling workshops and tutorials both in and out of the water. Topics include working with your model, selecting the right mask, fins and wetsuit to maximise the visual impact of the image and using a handlight to improve your images.

Sylvia is usually on hand to provide an effective buddy service or model. Her optional ‘Compositional Class’ is a popular speciality.

Lankayan Island has been chosen by Martin and Sylvia because if offers something new. Considered frontier diving in the Sulu Sea, Lankayan provides a combination of super macro diving, shallow and quality wrecks and reefs along with the possibility of encounters with larger fish, including the sought-after Whale Shark. The usually calm conditions and the opportunity for shore diving are an added attraction for any underwater photography enthusiast. There are a number of wrecks in the area and there is the possibility of wreck penetration as well as the chance to work with marine life on the exterior of the hull. Jetty Wreck was created by scuttling a small fishing boat just in front of the jetty at Lankayan and you can follow the guide rope from the jetty at any time of the day or night! In a few minutes you will be there, along with the batfish, a couple of frogfish and some Blue-spotted Stingrays. There is much more to see, of course, and your search will be particularly rewarding at night when the nocturnal creatures venture forth. Though Whale Shark records are more usual in April and May, the boat men are constantly on the look out and if there are any in the area they will certainly let you know.

Beguiling bizarre creatures, weird wreck-lurkers and curious coral-dwellers are waiting for you to make them in to photo-stars!

Combine the quality of the teaching and photo support, the dive management, the ease of diving (day and night) and the relaxing island environment and you have the ideal ingredients for a great photoquest.

For more details of the diving and accommodation to be found at the delightful Lankayan Island Dive Resort, please see our general Lankayan, Borneo holiday description.

OUTLINE ITINERARY

Saturday 23rd January: Malaysia Airlines midday flight from London (Heathrow), bound for Kuala Lumpur.

Sunday 24th January: Morning arrival in Kuala Lumpur, where we connect with an onward flight to Sandakan, arriving in the early afternoon. Transfer to the Sabah Hotel for an overnight stay.

Monday 25th January: After breakfast transfer to Sandakan Pier. Transfer by boat to Lankayan Island Dive Resort for a 12 nights stay. Settle in to your room, sort out your gear then take a check out dive.

Tuesday 26th January-Thursday 4th February : Diving and exploring the rich reefs of Lankayan. Three boat dives daily, ‘unlimited’ shore dives in front of the dive centre and night shore dives in front of the dive centre.

Friday 5th February: Dry out the gear, snorkel or take a couple of shore dives.

Saturday 6th February: Depart Lankayan at 0700 after an early breakfast. Transfer to Sandakan Airport. Malaysia Airlines afternoon flight from Sandakan bound for Kuala Lumpur where we connect with a evening flight bound for London.

Sunday 7th February: Morning arrival at London (Heathrow).

£1995 (non-divers: £1245) Sandakan/Sandakan

Includes:

• Airport/hotel transfers in Sandakan.

• 1 night room and breakfast at Sabah Hotel, Sandakan on a twin/share basis.

• 12 nights full board (breakfast, lunch and dinner) on a twin/share basis in a Standard Bungalow at Lankayan Island Dive Resort.

• 11 days of diving (including 3 boat dives daily for 10 days and ‘unlimited’ diving in front of the dive centre for 11 days).

• Lankayan Island Conservation Fee.

• Services of Martin Edge and Sylvia Edge as leaders.

Single Occupancy Supplement: £792. Please note that, while we will endeavour to find a room-mate for those on the tour who are single travellers 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: £500 (for Sandakan/Sandakan arrangements)

Note: Should two people travelling together apply for the last place on the tour, we may, at our discretion, increase the group size by one.

Flights: From about £870 to Sandakan.

HOLIDAY COMBINATIONS, STOP-OVERS AND ADDITIONAL ARRANGEMENTS: Flights to and from Sandakan are available with Malaysia Airlines on a daily basis so it is easy to arrange to arrive early or stay longer. Why not take a land tour to visit the rainforest and the Orang Utan Sanctuary, or climb magnificent Mount Kinabalu? Stop-overs are available in Singapore, Kota Kinabalu and Kuala Lumpur. Talk to ius about the possibilities.