the Editor says: Those of you in the Chinese-speaking diving community are probably no strangers to the name Music Lin — the sharp-eyed dive guide known for her signature excited screams underwater. Many of you have been wondering where this lively girl disappeared to. It turns out Music Lin headed to Romblon, hailed as the Philippines' next macro mecca, to deepen her skills. During the months she spent there, she turned over every reef rock in front of the island, meticulously documenting the local macro marine life in preparation for welcoming divers from around the world. The Romblon dive resort is set to open in 2020 — is your camera ready? Full article republished from the Music Lin 林音樂 我是潛水教練 Facebook page.
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I'm opening this blog post with a tiger-pattern Cyerce nudibranch 📷 tg6 with a regular Flash Light[/caption]
I've been on this little island — Romblon — for a while now.
If you follow underwater photography closely, you've almost certainly heard of this place.
Back in Taiwan, I used to see this magical little destination popping up in my feed every day, showcasing creatures I rarely got to see myself — and so I dreamed of coming here.
After discovering the black Cyerce nudibranch at Xiaoliuqiu, I thought maybe I didn't really need to make this trip after all.
But the truth is, I found out...
The whole environment is completely different, and the marine life is worlds apart~~~
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The critters here are so relaxed and unhurried 📷 tg6 with a regular Flash Light[/caption]
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They don't run — so you can shoot at your leisure~ 📷 tg6 using natural light[/caption]
The marine life is calm and relaxed — practically ideal shooting conditions!
Everything moves at a gentle pace, which means you get more time to observe and frame each subject~
Best of all, the water is crystal clear, the surface is calm, and the sun is blazing!!!
That alone bumps the diving experience up several notches~
And here's something special: it's rare to find a macro environment with a white sand bottom — that's not something you come across often in the Philippines~
So the overall look of the photos can be incredibly clean and fresh — ahhhhhhh~~~~
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Even the Clownfish had to be this adorable, right!? 📷 tg6 using natural light[/caption]
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Hey there! I live in Romblon! 📷 tg6 using natural light[/caption]
This shot won an Olympus award — it was my competition entry
Honestly, it was just a casual snapshot, taken right here in Romblon, without even using a strobe!
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I'm this cute — aren't you coming?? 📷 tg6 using natural light[/caption]
All that rambling was just to tell you one thing: this place is incredibly photogenic!!!
So incredibly photogenic!!!
I came back from shooting here and aced every exam with a 100!!!
So how do we get there??
Taipei to Manila — I personally take the China Airlines afternoon flight departing at 13
.(Budget airline prices, but a full-service flight schedule — ahhhhhh!!!)
It's not a budget carrier, so the experience is relaxed, and you get 30 kg of baggage allowance!!!!
Arrival in Manila is around 16
in the afternoon.Once you've collected your luggage, you hop into the vehicle arranged by the dive resort and head to the port~
Here's a short clip:
2GO ferries depart every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday at 21
heading to Romblon. A one-way ticket is around NT$1,000+~But you save on one night's accommodation each way, so it's actually a great deal~~
(That's why the flights are also scheduled for Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays.)
Book a bed in a four-person cabin in advance, and once you're on board, you can go straight to sleep~
The ferry arrives at your destination at 5
the next morning, and the dive shop team will be right there at the port to welcome you~~Fly in the afternoon, and by early the next morning you're already diving — no time wasted, just dive and shoot to your heart's content~~~~
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📷 tg6 with a regular Flash Light[/caption]
The biodiversity here is genuinely no joke~
Even a super grumpy little crab hanging right by the entrance~
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📷 tg6 using natural light[/caption]
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📷 tg6 using natural light[/caption]
The cute little fish are easy to find too~
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📷 tg6 using natural light[/caption]
Because the sunlight is so strong and the water so clear, I absolutely love shooting in natural light here~
#FlyInTheAfternoonDiveFirstThingNextMorning
#SaveTwoNightsOfAccommodationSoWorthIt
#WhoWantsToSpendTwoDaysOnABoatWeveGotABetterWay
#ButIfYouWantToWingItAndWasteTimeGoAheadJustDontBlameThedistance
#TuesdayThursdaySaturdayDeparturesAreSuperConvenient
#WednesdayFridaySundayReturnFerries
#WakeUpAndDive_PrettySweet
Related links:
- The First Essential Lesson for Underwater Photography — dive guide Music Lin's Journey
- A Millennial Female Dive Instructor Who Fearlessly Rides Against the Wind — Music Lin
- Must-See Macro Underwater Photography from Kenting — Music Lin
- Music Lin 林音樂 我是潛水教練 Facebook page
- Romblon dive resort website: www.diveromblon.com
