Why Anilao?
Story-Rich Dive Sites
Anilao offers slow, behaviour-driven subjects — perfect for filming natural movement, interaction, and sequences rather than fly-by footage.
Shallow, Stable Filming Depths
Most videography happens shallow, giving longer run times, stable lighting, and reduced task loading.
Variety in a Small Area
Reefs, muck, slopes, and walls all within minutes — ideal for learning different filming styles in a single course.
WHY CHOOSE BLUE RIBBON?
Learn From an Actual Fulltime Professional Videographer
We work with Gary Tyson, a professional underwater photographer. Courses can be tailored to your camera system, experience level, and goals — from compact cameras to full-frame mirrorless rigs.
Filmmaker-Friendly Diving
Owned by a Videographer
Jon’s Anilao footage has been featured in multiple international documentaries — and that passion drives how we support photographers and videographers every day.
What You Learn
Camera Setup for Video
We teach techniques that work across all camera types — from Divevolk housings and smartphones, compact cameras like Go Pros and DJI Action cams, through to mirrorless and full DSLR systems. The focus is on understanding your tool, not being limited by it.
Movement & Shot Stability
How to move slowly, hold framing, avoid jerky footage, and create smooth, watchable clips.
Lighting & Visual Storytelling
Using video lights effectively, avoiding hotspots and backscatter, and filming with intent — not just recording dives.
Course Structure
Academic & Pre-Dive Briefing
The course begins with a focused theory and equipment session where we look at your specific camera setup and goals. We cover camera configuration, basic imaging principles, dive planning, and safety considerations, all tailored to the type of shooting you want to do — macro or wideangle— and the equipment you’re using, from phones to full DSLR systems.
Two Open Water Dives
You’ll then complete two open water dives focused entirely on underwater video. These dives are slow, deliberate, and objective-driven, giving you time to practise buoyancy, positioning, subject approach, lighting, framing, and camera handling in real Anilao conditions.
Basic Video Editing
After the dives, we move into footage review, basic editing, and enhancement. You’ll learn simple post-processing workflows, how to improve colour, contrast, and stability, and how to select and refine your best clips — using either mobile apps like CapCut or PC-based software such as DaVinci Resolve — turning raw footage into polished, watchable video.
Course Prerequisites
Certification: SDI Open Water Scuba Diver, SDI Junior Open Water Scuba Diver, or equivalent.
Minimum age: 18, or 10 years old with parental consent.
You need to complete a Medical Form to make sure you are safe for diving, please review it prior to your course
Some Professional Work By Gary
Meet Your Instructors
Gary Tyson
Gary Tyson is a professional underwater photographer and videographer with a background in military and commercial photography. His work has been published by National Geographic, and he has spent decades refining his craft across land, sea, and challenging environments worldwide.
Now based in the Philippines, Gary focuses on underwater imaging and visual storytelling, working with everything from smartphones and compact cameras to full professional photo and video systems. His teaching style is practical, adaptable, and equipment-agnostic — helping divers capture better images while maintaining excellent buoyancy, control, and respect for the marine environment.
Jonathan Venn
Jon is the founder of Blue Ribbon Dive Resort in Anilao, Batangas, established in 2010. With over three decades of diving experience, he combines his background as a technical diving instructor with a deep passion for underwater photography and video.
For more than a decade, Jon has worked extensively in macro photography and underwater video, refining techniques for lighting, composition, camera control, and subject approach. Known for discovering new dive sites around Anilao, he has spent countless hours documenting rare critters and unique behaviors both shallow and deep.