8th-20th November 2027. FULLY BOOKED

More Mustard In Lembeh is organised by Scuba Travel. Contact Caroline@scubatravel.com for waiting list places and other information.

Scuba Travel are very happy to launch the final instalment of the More Mustard In Lembeh trilogy! Alex Mustard and Nick More agreed to join forces for three workshops in Lembeh in 2025, 2026 and this one in 2027. So this is your last chance (for a while, at least) to join this exciting and unique macro photography workshop at the enchanting Lembeh Resort, in North Sulawesi, Indonesia. “Stay in paradise, while diving in paradise,” says Nick. Nick and Alex don’t take it in turns to teach, but run their programs at the same time so you get two workshops on one trip!

INTRODUCTION

The Lembeh Strait is one of the world’s most celebrated dive destinations, this 10 mile long sliver of sea is less than a mile wide, constrained between the forested volcanic landscape of Lembeh Island and North Sulawesi, is home to 70+ dive sites. However, despite its fame and popularity, it is important to stress (if you’ve not been before) that Lembeh is not a classic white-sand beach and blue-water coral reef destination. This is the world’s most famous spot for muck diving, where beautiful reefscapes and clear water are not the priority – people return again and again to Lembeh because of the amazing critters. A-list animals such as painted frogfish, flamboyant cuttlefish, coconut octopus, hairy frogfish, pygmy seahorses, thorny seahorse, mimic octopus, blue-ring octopuses and many more are seen daily – making this arguably the world’s most productive destination for underwater photography.

“It is a pleasure to be running another Lembeh workshop with Nick,” said Alex. “He massively enhances to the learning experience with his ‘Dive With Nick’, personal tuition approach, inspired by how Martin Edge taught underwater photography. And of course Nick is one of the world’s most successful macro shooters – his shots from Indonesia have been awarded in all the top underwater photography contests, as well as in the major WPY and GDT nature photography competitions, something I don’t think anyone else can claim with all different images. He’s a Lembeh expert, having stayed at Lembeh Resort more than a dozen times, and it is always inspiring to see up close the images he produces in these waters.”

 “More Mustard is no ordinary photography workshop,” continued Alex. “I am happy to go on record saying the last one was the best macro workshop I have run. The extended stay allows us to cover so much quality content and with the two of us teaching it in different styles it really helps people get special shots. To give you an idea of scale: during the 2025 event, for example, I gave 24 presentations, while Nick focused on 1:1 teaching and ran 33 Dive With Nick sessions during that event, passing on tips, technique and personal coaching directly to attendees. In short, More Mustard is actually two workshops running at the same time, on the same trip, which when combined with Lembeh Resort, their famous dive team and the amazing diving of Lembeh Strait, it gives you incredible opportunities.”

“There are over 30 places to stay and dive in Lembeh, but there is only one Lembeh Resort,” said Nick. “The combination of luxury accommodation, attentive staff, amazing and photographically trained dive guides and its proximity to the world renowned dive sites is unmatched. Oh and you have the man himself, Alex Mustard, to tell you exactly how it is done. During the past 12 years diving Lembeh, I’ve developed my own photographic style, concentrating on animal portraiture, but with a twist. I’m very excited to be teaming up with Alex in sharing all my knowledge and experience to help ALL workshop participants to achieve photographic success.”

“I don’t think there is another destination or workshop that is as photographically productive as Lembeh,” continued Alex. “More Mustard 2025 and 2026 were over subscribed so don’t miss out on 2027. I’ve been running workshops in Lembeh for 20 years, but at 12 nights, this package is the longest workshop I have ever offered, with the most diving, the most spotters, the most teaching, the most photography. It is a real chance to indulge yourself. Yes, a longer workshop with lots of diving costs more than a shorter one, but with the increased costs of flying, I feel longer trips make more sense and are more cost effective per dive, even more so when considering the door-to-door cost. During the 2025 workshop our group logged 1159 dives across 41 dive sites with 562 species of critters photographed (and many other normal species too), including blue ring octopus on 6 days and hairy octopus on 4 different sites.”

DIVING DETAILS

Lembeh Resort is one of the world’s best dive resorts. I know that all our guests will be warmly welcomed and fantastically looked after individually. All the staff are so happy to have you staying with them and there is plenty of flexibility to personalise many aspects of your experience. On the diving side this means that each evening there is the choice between: a house reef dive, or going out on the boats for a standard night dive, a dusk dive, a mandarinfish dive, and blackwater and bonfire dives, all with the expert guides. Lembeh Resort is also home to the Backscatter Photo Centre, which hopefully you won’t need, but a massive reassurance if you experience have any camera gremlins, need spares, require some parts 3D printed (like a zoom gear or beam restrictors) or even want to hire an accessory like a Miniflash Snoot combo. The 12 Night workshop is available with two different dive packages: you can book either a 32 dive or the unlimited dive package. If you get the 32, you can of course add any extra dives you want in resort. The unlimited package is a special package price that Lembeh Resort only offers workshop bookings.

All dives will always be with the expert guides from Critters@Lembeh dive centre, with one guide to each pair of photographers. During the workshop photographers cannot book private guides (except if needed for safety reasons). Guides are rotated every 2 days, meaning you should dive with 6 different guides through your stay. The workshop spots are open to non-photographers (if you come with a non-photographer partner, you will essentially have a private photo guide), and we can also accommodate non-divers (at a significantly reduced price – ask Caroline – although please note that Lembeh is very much a diving destination). The group will be split across multiple boats, there will usually be between 4 and 6 photographers per boat. Alex works with Opo and the team at the Dive Centre to select the best dive sites for all the boats throughout the trip.

“The diving philosophy for this workshop is focused on photographic productivity,” said Alex. “I believe our team approach is far better than coming on your own, or even having your own private guide and boat. We take over the whole resort and my strategy is to put lots of guides into the Strait. Your guide will be there to work with you and your buddy, but they will also communicate with the other guides. More guides means more sightings, the approach turns a good dive site into a great one, a great one into a mind-blowing one! When people have an excellent dive, I make sure I send another of our boats there on the next dive, and get the guides to exchange notes, so the next group finds even more subjects. It is one of the biggest advantages of taking over the whole resort – we dive in small groups, but benefit greatly from knowing what everyone else is seeing.

The video above gives you a flavour with a peak behind the scenes of the 2025 event (apologies that you can’t hear people speaking the original music Lembeh Resort used gets muted on YouTube). If you have not travelled to Lembeh before, it is one of the easiest destinations to reach in Indonesia. Most guests arrive on the direct 3 hour flight from Singapore, landing at the small Manado airport, where you are met by Lembeh Resort staff and then it is just 45 minutes by car to the Lembeh Strait. You can also fly easily through Jakarta, but this is a longer route for most people. The workshop package also includes the transfers from Manado airport, as well as Nitrox, laundry throughout, 1 hour spa treatment etc.

MORE ON THE WORKSHOP

Alex’s workshop teaching will focus on the techniques of macro and critter photography. The lectures are not random talks, but are planned as a complete course on this style of photography, starting with fundamentals such as gear selection and optimisation, covering essential macro techniques, then discussing standout high quality and creative lighting techniques, wide angle macro, while Nick will revisit similar themes, or whatever you want in his 1:1 sessions – on the last workshop he often focused on long-exposure dancing sweetlips shots because that subject was notably abundant.

Alex typically gives technique lectures are each morning as people are finishing up breakfast to provide you with the advice and ideas you need just before you go diving. While, in the evenings, after dinner, Alex runs image review sessions, to analyse the strengths and areas for improvement in the day’s images. These also provide a great chance to see what others have produced and get inspiration and suggestions for the next day. Nick will be joining buddy teams throughout the workshop, shooting the same subjects as you will and then comparing shots later on the laptop, so he can pass on his tips and coaching more individually.

“Mindset and strategy are integral to unlocking the photographic potential of Lembeh,” says Nick. “The ‘A’ list critters are in abundance, but sometimes the truly special photographs originate in opportunities with more regularly species. Recognising potential even in a less glamorous subject is key. Remember there is always something to shoot in Lembeh. It shouldn’t be about trying to fit subjects to the technique, but rather selecting the right techniques for the subject and opportunity to truly celebrate your subjects in the best light.”

VITALS

Lembeh Resort has two room classes: the smaller Garden View Rooms and the larger Premium Luxury Cottages. Please take a moment to familiarise yourself with the options and if possible include a room request when you contact Caroline. This workshop is available with a 32-dive package or unlimited dive package (about 45-50 dives). All workshop spaces and room options are on a first come (first email to Caroline) first served basis.

The group size is whole resort – the exact number of photographers will depend on how many people take single rooms, and the number of non-photographers/non-divers joining the event etc. Please note that this trip is priced in US Dollars!

Dates: 8th-20th November 2027 (12 nights), Manado to Manado

Prices based on double occupancy – 12 Night Package Prices (with 32 guided boat dives)

Garden View Room $6785 USD

Premium Luxury Cottage: $8880 USD

Single occupancy on these rooms/packages are: $8435 USD and $11270 USD respectively.

Package includes:

Alex Mustard/Nick More Macro & Critter Photography Workshop

32 guided boat day dives  – with Nitrox. 2:1 Photographer to Critters@Lembeh dive guide ratio on all workshop dives

Unlimited self-guided house reef dives with Nitrox (typically 7am-10pm). Extra boat dives can be added very easily in resort, paid at the end of your trip (rates vary with types of dive, 2027 rates not available yet).

Manado Airport transfers. All meals, snacks etc. 1-hour spa treatment and free laundry service. Free Wi-Fi. A More Mustard in Lembeh Resort welcome pack.

Or upgrade to Unlimited Diving Package

Garden Room $7950 USD

Premium Luxury Cottage: $9990 USD

Single occupancy on these rooms/packages are: $9550 USD and $12395 USD respectively.

Unlimited guided boat dives (up to 4 per day, meaning approx 44-50 dives in total). Guided Night dives, Blackwater dives, Mandarinfish dives, Bonfire dives, House Reef dives included in package.

BOOKING

Please contact Caroline@scubatravel.com for waiting list places and further information. A deposit of 40% is required to secure your spot, with the balance due 100 days before departure.