We will board the liveaboard in Saumlaki, one of the easternmost islands in Indonesia. We'll then sail north through the Banda Sea through a chain of islands and atolls known as the Forgotten Islands. One of the attractions of the Banda Sea, besides us most likely being the only boat in the area, are the reefs. They are absolutely mind-blowing. The coral is so dense that you will be hard-pressed to see any patches of the reef's limestone foundation. Many of the reefs consist of expansive fringing hard coral plateaus that extend from the island or atoll and then eventually drop off into the deep blue. These walls or slopes are covered in sponges, colorful soft corals, and sea fans. Additionally, there will be plenty of reef dwellers like dazzling schools of tropical fish, larger pelagic species like tunas, jacks, and batfish passing in the blue, and juvenile reef sharks patrolling the shallows. It's also the time of the year when the blue whales start their migration south to Australia. Thus, it may be possible to spot one or several from the boat.

A Quick Teaser

A quick video showcasing the house reef at Komodo Resort in Indonesia.

Experience the best of Indonesia overland and underwater on our 15-day snorkel and wilderness safari through North Sulawesi and the fabled Raja Ampat. Traveling through these iconic areas the highlights should include encounters with manta rays and turtles, exploring some of the richest reefs found anywhere on the planet, and remote snorkeling sites backdropped by stunning scenery.

A quick video showcasing what you can see on one of our Cuba snorkel safaris.

A quick video showcasing what you can see on one of our Wakatobi snorkel safaris.

The spectacular coast of Baja California Sur hosts the biannual migration of the magnificent Mobula Munkiana. There are three species of Mobula rays to encounter in the sea of Cortez; Mobula Mobular , Mobula Thurstoni, and the most famous Mobula Munkiana which we plan to spend hours snorkeling with, among other big animals like sea lions, dolphins, whalesharks, whales, and possibly orcas!

Join us as we explore one of the most iconic areas of Indonesia's Bird's Head Seascape-Cenderwasih Bay. Cenderwasih Bay is well known as one of the best spots in the world to find quite large congregations of whale sharks, not to mention beautiful reefs and lots of fish. Cenderwasih Bay is a very remote region in  West Papua and as a result,  there has been very little impact from humans which means the reefs are still in amazing condition and the marine life is abundant. Liveaboards are the only way to access this remote area and so we've charted an amazing luxury wooden Liveaboard built in the traditional Indonesian 'phinisi' style to be our floating resort for this 10-night snorkeling safari.

Highlights from our Belize Snorkel Week with Turneffe Island Resort.

Join us as we explore some of the most iconic areas of Indonesia's Bird's Head Seascape-Cenderwasih Bay and Raja Ampat. Cenderwasih Bay is well known as one of the best spots in the world to find quite large congregations of whale sharks, not to mention beautiful reefs and lots of fish. Raja Ampat on the other hand is home to some of the world's most bio-diverse reefs which top the global "Species Count" charts for corals and marine life. This is a two-stop safari rolled into one, and as such, we've aimed at making it a "best of both worlds" safari, so we've charted an amazing luxury wooden Liveaboard built in the traditional Indonesian 'phinisi' style for the Cenderwasih portion, and will later transition to an outstanding resort built right over the water in Raja Ampat.

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One of the big reasons why Alor and Komodo are such suitable destinations for snorkeling photography workshops is that each destination offers us something very unique as underwater photographers, not to mention that each location is outrageously beautiful. In Alor we will be surrounded by vast shallow coral plateaus, walls, and sloping reefs where we'll have the opportunity to explore and understand the nuances of wide-angle underwater photography. Not only that, but just in front of Alami Alor Resort- our host resort for the duration of our stay- is an outstanding house reef where critters like nudibranchs, a myriad of lionfish species, cuttlefish, and really rare species, like mandarin fish, call home. With untethered access to this house reef and its inhabitants, we'll really be able to spend our time learning how to capture beautiful fish portraits and up-close macro shots. Komodo, on the other hand, combines many of the same wide-angle opportunities we will have had in Alor- stunning shallow coral reefs and a house reef teeming with marine life big and small-with opportunities to encounter big fish and turtles. Komodo is one of Indonesia's oldest protected marine reserves, and as a result, the area is home to a robust population of manta rays, several species of sea turtle and reef shark, and large schools of big fish up in the shallows. Given this quintessential combination of vast reef systems and marine life, we will switch gears a bit and start focusing more on how to photograph these larger marine subjects, but also how to approach species like mantas and turtles so as to preserve the interaction for as long as possible, giving us the best opportunities to capture these beautiful marine giants.

Siladen Island Resort is located on Siladen Island, the smallest island in the Bunaken National Marine Park. The 343 square miles of the protected marine park boasts an astounding variety of hard and soft corals, beautiful fans, seven species of giant clams, 33 types of butterflyfish, Bumphead Parrotfish, a huge population of turtles, and a massive variety of other fish species. When it comes to an exclusive island experience, Siladen Resort is hard to beat. Your private, well-appointed accommodations are meters from a white sand beach with beautiful garden views. The resort has a pool, lounge, and spa to pamper yourself with a massage or scrub.

This is truly a one of a kind tour that we have tailor made with the help of our hosts at Pelagic Safari in Cabo San Lucas. This tour is all about getting in the water and snorkeling alongside some of the ocean's most charismatic creatures. For one week we will indulge in the bounty that the Sea of Cortez offers with stops in Cabo San Lucas, La Paz, and Magdalena Bay on the Pacific coast. March is arguably the best month for snorkeling the Sea of Cortez as it's when all the big animals congregate here. With a bit of luck and the first hand knowledge of the team at Pelagic Safari we can expect to swim along side whale sharks, playful colonies of sea lions, sea turtles and a variety of shark species like blue sharks, silkie sharks and possibly smooth hammerheads. What's more is that this time of year coincides with whale season, so you are not only likely to see humpbacks, gray whales, blue whales, and orcas from the boat, but you may be able to swim along side them as well!

Triton Bay is widely considered the pinnacle of the planet's marine biodiversity. This destination lies within a coastal region known as the Bird's Head Seascape in the eastern part of Indonesia which is home to over 1,700 species of fish, more than 600 species of coral, and 17 different species of whales and dolphins.