Backscatter MF-2 in Action: Kontiki Night Dive and Photography Practice

Sometimes, the universe aligns in our favor—and on May 25, 2025, everything came together for another unforgettable day of underwater photography with the tribe. From new gear to perfect weather to deep camaraderie, this Sunday was more than a dive—it was a celebration of passion, practice, and pushing limits.

Gear Upgrades and Growing the MF-2 Tribe

The night before the dive, excitement buzzed in our group chat. Joan had just joined the Backscatter MF-2 club, following Cristy's recent acquisition last week. That brings our tally to four—Grethel, Chu, Cristy, and now Joan. Though Chu still doesn’t have a snoot, his skills with the MF-2 setup are rapidly evolving.

Everyone was hyped to dive. To shoot. To improve.

Sunday Morning Warm-Ups

While Val was leading a Discover Scuba session in the morning, Nino and I were paddling hard during our regular Dragon Boat training. Right after that, I went to Sto. Niño Mactan Church for a short but meaningful Mass. A quick lunch and power nap followed—and then it was time to prep my gear.

Just before I left, Ikuo called via our CCTV to remind me to bring an extra strobe wire. Turns out Joan needed one for her MF-2 setup. Of course, our tribe always has each other’s backs.

First Dive: The Snoot Struggle and Creative Experimentation

I arrived at Kontiki before 3 PM. The tide was high, the sun was scorching, and for once, the tables were mostly empty. Joan and Nino had already completed their first dive. Chu, Grethel, and Doms were there, with Grethel generously offering her fresh low-carb bread for everyone to enjoy. Thank you, Grethel—and also for the hot brewed coffee that’s now a post-dive tradition with Chu.

At exactly 4:28 PM, we descended for our first dive.
Max Depth: 16.3 meters
Average Depth: 11.4 meters
Duration: 77 minutes

As always, the sardines near the buoy made for an energetic welcome. I spent much of the dive experimenting with my improvised snoot paired with my Sea & Sea YS-01 strobe. It wasn’t easy—light refraction meant that even when my focus light was dead-on, my actual strobe burst would land inches off. I had to constantly adjust and guess, trying to predict where the light would fall.

I tried shooting a pistol shrimp and goby pair. No luck. Spotted a mantis shrimp, too, but it wouldn’t fully reveal itself from its lair. At one point, I searched the school of cardinalfish hoping to find a brooder like last time—but no dice.

Meanwhile, others were honing their skills with their MF-2s. Every light burst underwater told a story of persistence and passion.

Surface Interval: A Feast of Friendship

Back on land, we gathered around our table like a family after Sunday mass.
Lechon manok, puso, siomai, popcorn, bread, and nuts made up our tribal feast. Everyone had something to share—especially laughter and stories about missed shots, creative angles, and lighting breakthroughs.

A Kontiki instructor passed by and casually mentioned seeing a harlequin shrimp just five meters deep. That was enough to fire us up for the next dive.

Night Dive: 100-Minute Adventures and Familiar Faces

At 7:42 PM, we entered the water again, a moonless night covered with clouds.
Max Depth: 16.5 meters
Average Depth: 7.7 meters
Duration: Up to 100 minutes (I surfaced at 87)

We followed our triangle route—left to Buyong, right to JPark, and back to Kontiki. Sadly, the harlequin shrimp remained elusive. But we had black frogfish encounters again, and Chu and Grethel were lucky enough to spot a Cyerce. I focused on nudibranchs, finding comfort in their elegant forms as I continued refining my lighting technique.

I was the first to surface, giving me time to wash and pack my gear before the others returned.

Snoot Dreams and Small Victories

The night wrapped up with more talk about MF-2 techniques, lighting challenges, and gear envy. While four in the tribe now own the coveted Backscatter MF-2, I still stick with my homemade snoot—a symbol of ingenuity and perseverance.

But who knows? If Backscatter ever offers us a discount, we’d be more than happy to upgrade and push our photography even further.

In the End: It's Not the Gear, It's the Grit

We left Kontiki around 11 PM, tired but fulfilled. It wasn’t the perfect dive. Some subjects escaped, some shots missed, and some lighting just didn’t hit. But that’s all part of the journey.

What mattered was that we showed up. We practiced. We experimented. We learned.
Because every dive brings us closer—not just to marine life—but to the photographers we’re meant to become.