My First Hired Underwater Photography Trip: Lessons from Camiguin

Some opportunities don’t come twice.

Last Sunday, March 15, I received a message from my diver friend Joms:

“Master, can you do a shoot with me in Camiguin this Thursday?”

It was a project under the Department of Tourism – Tourism Promotions Board (TPB). He was hired for wide-angle and video, and he needed someone to handle macro.

He thought of me.

Saying Yes Before You Feel Ready

The problem?

My wife had both our cameras and strobes with her in Tubbataha.
What I had left was:

• Olympus TG-5

• Tray

• 2 video lights

• No housing. No strobe.

Still, I told him I’d confirm on Monday.

Monday came. I filed leave.
Then Joms asked for my final answer.

I paused… then said:

“Yes.”

Because this wasn’t just a dive.
This was trust.

The Tribe Behind the Photographer

That same night, I rode to Cristy’s house in Talisay.

Without hesitation, she lent me everything:
camera, housing, strobe, tray, fiber optics, batteries.

Dixon also said yes.

That moment reminded me:

I didn’t get this opportunity alone.
I was carried by people who believed in me.

Preparation and Pressure

I practiced with the borrowed setup.
Different housing. Different feel.

Packed carefully.
Checklist done. Reviewed twice.

I barely slept — not from fear, but from excitement.

Reality Hits in Camiguin

We arrived in Camiguin thinking everything was ready.

It wasn’t.

No dive shop.
Only a banca.

We searched.

Closed shop.
Capsized banca.

Then finally — Jenbollz of Isle of Camiguin Dive Shop said yes.

“Sir, I can accommodate.”

That was our first small win.

The Night Before

We stayed in Caramelo Guest House.
Simple. Comfortable.

15 people in one team.
Shared dinner. Good energy.

But inside me, one question kept repeating:

“What if I don’t find macro subjects?”

I searched online.

Nothing.

That made me nervous.

Shoot Day: Not Everything Goes as Planned

Call time: 5:30 AM
Reality: Heavy rain

We arrived at the island late.
Miscommunication.

We started behind schedule.

Dive 1: Finding Confidence Again

36 days no diving.

It showed.

• Breathing off

• Not my camera

• No weights → floating

I had to stay deeper just to stay neutral.

Then Joms asked me to model at 5 meters.

Holding breath. Fighting buoyancy. Staying composed.

Then finally…

I found two eels.

Click.

Relief.

Then a Nembrotha nudibranch — but moving too much.

Hard to get a clean shot.

We surfaced.

Tank empty.

Confidence… still building.

The Hard Part: When It Doesn’t Work

Snorkeling shoot with talents.

Problems:

• Murky water

• Strong current

• Non-swimmer models

We tried everything.

Still not good.

When Joms showed the output…

You can feel it.

“Hindi pa okay.”

That silence hit harder than any current.

Dive 2: Do Your Job Anyway

Visibility: 3–4 meters

Not ideal. Not even close.

Still, we worked.

Saw:

• 2 turtles (swam away)

• Clownfish

• Crinoid shrimp (my best macro shot)

• School of ilac fish

One of my favorite frames?

A clownfish centered inside a heart-shaped anemone, with sun rays above.

I know it’s a good shot.

But for now…

I can’t show it.

Because this is professional work.

After the Shoot

We submitted all photos.

Now?

Still waiting.

• Waiting if they will use my shots

• Waiting for payment

• Waiting for final output

That’s part of the process.

What Stayed With Me

After everything, I asked Joms:

“Kamusta?”

He said:

“Okay ang macro shots.”

Simple words.

But for me?

That was enough.

Lessons from My First Paid Shoot

This trip wasn’t perfect.

But it was real.

1. Say Yes — Even If You’re Not Fully Ready

You grow into the opportunity.

2. You Don’t Control Conditions

You only control how you respond.

3. Community is Everything

Without my friends, I wouldn’t even start.

4. Professional Work is Different

No perfect visibility. No perfect timing.
You deliver anyway.

5. Sometimes, You Won’t See Your Best Work Yet

You shoot it.
You submit it.
Then you wait.

Final Reflection

This trip wasn’t about perfect photos.

It was about:

• Showing up

• Adapting

• Staying calm under pressure

• Trusting the process

Because being an underwater photographer is not just about getting the shot.

It’s about:

Doing your best — even when nothing goes your way.

And this?

This is just the beginning.