INDONESIA

NAD LEMBEH CRITTER GEEK WEEK

A Photographic Workshop in the Macro Mecca of Indonesia

Giant Frogfish (Image by Serge Abourjeily)

Divequest has collaborated with NAD Lembeh to offer a unique diving trip that is ideal for both critter fanatics and photographers.

More about Simon and Serge

Simon has owned almost every type of camera housing; Subal, Nexus, Canon, Aquatica,  and is currently using a Nauticam.  His first cameras were film cameras such as the Nikonos V and Nikon F90.  His background gives him a rounded skill set that includes housing repairs. It also makes him appreciate his current line up of equipment!

Serge has been working in South East Asia since 2005 and he came to Lembeh Strait in 2009. He was the Manager/Photo Pro at Bastianos Lembeh for 2 years before joining NAD in 2011.  Serge is a Canon shooter and loves Bokeh Style Images.  In the German UW Photography Scene he has been know since the old Digideep.com days.

NAD Lembeh - Lembeh's Newest Critter Capital!

Located in its own quiet and secluded bay, NAD Lembeh is a resort specifically set up by photographers for photographers.  Offering an unrivalled one staff to two divers ratio, they pride themselves on personal and comprehensive service.

NAD has access to over 60 different dive sites in Lembeh and they adhere to a strict limit of 15 divers per site maximum to avoid overcrowding and stress on the reef systems they visit.     

NAD’s Spacious Camera Room and Photography Facilities

Specifically catering to an underwater photographer’s every whim, NAD has a spacious camera room that features individual workstations for each room and overspill benches for those who like to spread their gear out. Each workbench has a shelf for our chargers, 8 (yes, eight!) power points (Indo / European 2 pin plugs – adapter strips available and plentiful), a mini spotlight, towel hangars (for camera towels, not your speedos), a rubberised matt for your camera and a mouse-mat style camera mat for your delicates.  There is also space for the largest pelican cases underneath and a lower shelf for your additional charging needs.

At sea, fresh water rinse tanks are provided for your gear.

NAD’s highly skilled local guides work with each of the guests to both spot the most amazing critters and allow the best angles for photography.

The resort also has a gift shop with diopters and floaty arms (and more) should you need.

Simon is a certified Nauticam technician but he is very well versed in the operation and repair of many different housings used by divers visiting NAD.

Technical and Rebreather Facilities

Nitrox divers are well catered for at NAD and the cost to upgrade to Nitrox on your trip is around USD$20 or £13 per diving day.

For divers on rebreathers there are sorb and oxygen boosters on site at NAD plus three rebreathers.  While not completely necessary, a private boat and guide can be made available to assist rebreather divers.

A Uniquely Friendly Experience

NAD Lembeh is a resort that is far more than just a hotel with a guest experience.  A family run resort, NAD Lembeh fosters a culture of friendship and inclusiveness. 

Divequest has collaborated with NAD Lembeh to offer a unique diving trip that is ideal for both critter fanatics and photographers.  Timed to coincide with warm waters and calm weather in Lembeh, the workshop includes:

• 7 nights in an ocean front room on a twin share basis
• Return airport transfers from Manado
• Full board (breakfast, lunch and dinner) daily including snacks
• 17 boat dives on air
• Tanks and weights
• A guest to guide ratio of 2 to 1
• A welcome dinner on arrival for the group
• A tailored photographic program

Not included in the price:

• All alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages
• Gratuities
• Night and Mandarin Fish Dives
• Nitrox

Another day in NAD Lembeh

A draft schedule of the workshop will be as follows:

Day 1

Arrive in Lembeh

A 30 minute pre-dinner orientation of the resort and Lembeh that highlights:

• Diving style
• Dive sites
• Critters
• Best of Lembeh slideshow

Day 2

Post dinner – Lighting discussion

• Homework assignment:  Background / subject isolation

Day 3

Post dinner – Shallow depth of field

• Homework assignment:  DOF background isolation

Day 4

Post dinner - Critter Identification Workshop and Quiz.

• Learn how to identify commonly mistaken critters in Lembeh 

Day 5

Post dinner – Finding your own subjects

• Homework assignment:  Shoot an example given in the lecture

Day 6

Post dinner – Uncommon Lembeh subjects

Day 7

Post dinner – Lembeh Movie and an overview of Simon’s work

• Final guest slideshow

The post dinner activities each day start when dessert is served.

At lunch time either Simon or Serge will be in and around the camera room to answer any questions you may have before dive 3 starts at 1300 hours.

On days 2, 3 and 4, the projector / soapbox will be opened to guests on the trip to present their own photography related work to the group.

Combination Trips

This workshop can easily be combined with other experiences in Sulawesi.

Extending at NAD Lembeh – why not stay on at the resort for a few days to practice what you have learned?

The other side of Sulawesi - you may wish to spend a few days more exploring the coral reef systems on the northern side of Sulawesi and see what it's like 'on the other side'.

Tangkoko Nature Reserve - On mainland Sulawesi the stunning Tangkoko Nature Reserve flanks the side of an ancient volcano.  Trips ranging in length from 1 day to 4 days can be arranged to coincide with the workshop at NAD Lembeh.  Tangkoko is one of the few places in Asia where you can see the world's smallest primate, the Spectral Tarsier, in the wild.  It is also home to Black-crested Macaques and a wide variety of birds.

USD$ 1298  £822  EUR 1139

Single Occupancy Supplement:  Please contact us.

Air Travel: Our in-house IATA ticket agency can arrange your air travel in connection with your holiday from a departure point anywhere in the world, or you may arrange your own air travel if you prefer. We can tailor-make your itinerary to your personal requirements, so if you would like to make a stop-over or two, make a side trip to some other destination, or travel business class rather than economy, we will be happy to assist. Please contact us about your air travel requirements.