Dumaguete's Macro World Unleashed! 5 Must-Know Tips for Epic Muck Diving Madness

[@bepchiwo]

Enjoyed your (both) works. At 67, (certified in 1979) I have decided to venture in to muck/macro photography. Recently picked up the Divevolk setup w/ iPhone 15 ProMax and off to learn for 20 days in Dauin, Malapuasca and yet open week in Spring 2025. Thanks for the encouragement and tips!

[@leeannaxanthos-mcqueen8225]

Absolutely loved seeing all the critters again..esp Karina's Mimic octopus! I'm ready to get on a plane and head back!

[@philbaker75]

Great post. Just back from the Philippines too and loved our muck dives. So many good tips including ‘don’t be a hog’.

[@atlantisdiveresorts]

Thank you for this wonderful video :) We enjoyed showing you the thrills of muck ;)

[@Daniel_Megaptera]

The pictures are insane!!! Absolutely fantastic 🤩

[@DiversReady]

Glad you like them!

[@unclemot2]

Absolutely beautiful videography! Thank you for sharing!

[@TheCavecrawler]

Great vid James, thanks for the tips. I’m just starting my photo/video journey and have invested in a TG6 and backscatter mf2 with snoot. Based in the Uk not too far from the south coast I’m looking forward to getting in the water as soon as the uk weather allows!

[@kevindavison6019]

Nice shots I'm progressing in my diving and photography such that I am looking at a new camera for next season. My issue is that I like to take pictures while I dive but don't want to spend the whole dive just to get a perfect shot, especially If I spent lots of $$ on a vacation I want to see everything possible. Trying to get an all around camera setup better than a go pro but not so cumbersome as to impede normal movement underwater. I've done some muck diving but without a guide I've missed alot. I just don't get excited by every species of tiny shrimp. Good tips on taking turns with the subjects. On my last trip I got in line to take a couple of quick shots then moved back to the end of the line so after everyone had their chance I could move back in and take some more time to change angles or camera settings to try for a better shot and if I scared the creature away i wouldn't ruin any one elses chances of seeing it.

[@ramytk1]

Amazing video man. Pretty awesome.

[@weibinglee5297]

James, your macro footage is very good. Well done!👏👏👏👍👍👍

[@DiversReady]

Many thanks!

[@rosco1pug]

Thanks for posting on this one. Was called on to do a muck dive by our guide in Raja Ampat, just off an island beach. Had some reservations especially as the current was strong, but taking the time to appreciate what's happening at micro level over a relatively small distance did prove worthwhile. Our ability to hold position in the current was tested, with choice positions in the lee of small bommies in high demand.

[@optionchuc1]

Great job... definitely a step forward for your macro skills.

[@adampilot8275]

Amazing macro footage. Top clip and very interesting dive site.

[@johnmontgomery2735]

Well done mate. In fact at first i wasst sure if it was you shooting or Mattias.

[@asecret900]

Very nice work again James

[@TheAgcrov]

I would say that while having a guide is important and it’s also great to find one specialized on macro, not every guide is focused in it. Talk to the locals, they know where to spot certain things. If you are going to a place then look at whatever pictures you may find of the region you are going to, that way you will know the potential encounters you might have and also pay attention on the surroundings of the animals, that will tip you off where probably you will find them. Be aware of seasonal changes of marine life. Buoyancy is key. Using nitrox is key if you are going to a range of 20-30 meters depth. Be aware that dives could be much longer than usual ones so you accumulate nitrogen a lot, even more if you find something nice and start taking videos and photos at that depth. Be patient and enjoy! Saludos desde Amed

[@pablojacebal6569]

Very Nice Video and Music

[@gee4526]

I think your photography was great. there was so much more detail than in some of your other shots in the past. I hope that someday I too will be able to capture the same quality in my photos. Being an armature, I am no where near to your level of filmography. If I may ask what set up were you using? and which filters worked best. Thank you so much for sharing this footage. Gee

[@HBHeroDive]

Hey man, thought I recognized you but didn’t want to say anything. Were you the one who taught me to clear my ears today? I’ve watched your videos for awhile and was a little struck when I saw you! If so thank you because I was super upset I couldn’t get down to the grove today at first!

[@andrecandrade]

Someone is taking great macro shots! Congrats! 👏👏👏

[@DiversReady]

Thank you buddy!

[@DelcoTrash]

I feel like someone like NatGeo would pay a premium for the rights of this footage. Really good.

[@otnipraccoon1828]

Great video! Two other "that guy"s too -- Forget buoyancy, just rest on the bottom, and swimming in under someone while they are looking or setting up a shot.

[@gmen1305]

James - how did you like the XIT 494 tripod legs? I was in Lambeth back in August & shot stills without a tripod, wondering if it would make any improvements or if they just get in the way?

[@CaptKenneth]

Awesome videos! May I know what sort of lighting and lens you are using for the videos? I can’t seem to get used to using the Snoot. Lots of adjustments because the Snoot is pretty much a single point.

[@DiversReady]

In the description, Sir!

[@CaptKenneth]

@@DiversReady wooops thank u Sir!

[@thomasternus2110]

Did you make it to bohol brutha?

[@yechielrechtschaffen5257]

This is dauin city. Very nice place to dive. Right across the straight there is apo island. One of the best diving place in the world. So many tutrles corals and other reachness of the sea. I even saw a mantis shrimp there.

[@ericramosmd]

Great content James. I have a dive trip to NAD Lembeh in July, so your video is timely. I'm a new diver and don't want to be that guy who's disrupting the bottom. I plan on spending next month working on my frog kicks and trim. Do you have any recommendations or videos to help improve these skills? BTW, your macro videos are looking great! Was this due to Mathias input or just trial and error? Thx for sharing this video!

[@CritterHunter]

Next time, we dive together. I'll show you the secret spots

[@turgutvelettin6727]

Brilliant ❤❤❤

[@adrianozoa4454]

Dumaguete is actually the capital city of Negroes oriental. You are in dauin. 😊❤

[@mattmarsch7882]

I thought muck diving was in limited visibility. Wish I could have visibility like this every dive. Learned something new.

[@ValeryKasinski]

We had a bit opposite experience about 3 week ago, while doing ocean manta search dive (Maldives), our dive guide tried to show us every single shrimp or prawn (I've no idea) she could find. And she literally hovered over every invisible creature for 4-5 min. So, while other team was observing mantas we were watching muck things ). And all guides used metal sticks banging over cylinders to attract attention, so, when 3 people start doing this - it's really annoying.

[@davidroot2679]

Living inland and diving lakes when I speak of muck diving there is one more element to muck diving, visability.

[@moolo1061]

One other thing to mention is not to roast the wee creatures with video lights and strobes….. I was very upset with two divers on a LOB in Raja Ampat, who were so inconsiderate of the creatures large (human) and small (Pygmy seahorses) with their darned strong lights. Wouldn’t switch them off between ‘filming’, just awful!

[@DelcoTrash]

I will only go out with a guide after a solid 12 month relationship and engaged to them at minimum