Lembeh Sep 2026. Organised by Scuba Travel. Contact Caroline@scubatravel.com for waitlist places and information. FULLY BOOKED.

Dates: 18th-30th September 2026 (12 nights)

Scuba Travel are very happy to announce that Alex Mustard and Nick More are joining forces again to run an exciting macro photography workshop at the enchanting Lembeh Resort, in North Sulawesi, Indonesia. 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 60+ dive sites. However, despite its fame and popularity, if you have not been before, it is important to stress that Lembeh is not a classic white sand beach and blue water 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 for the amazing marine 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 – these are the main target for your lenses.

“I am really excited to be running another Lembeh workshop with Nick,” said Alex. “It is great to have him involved bringing something really fresh to the teaching, sharing the secrets behind his approach to distinctive and award winning macro photos. He has visited Lembeh Resort more than 10 times, and 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. And while we’ve photographed everything from tiger sharks to shaun the sheep slugs together, Nick’s photographic aesthetic is different from mine, so I know he’ll inspire the group to produce a greater variety of stunning images than I would alone.”

“Lembeh Resort is a home-from-home for me,” said Nick, “the combination of luxury accommodation, attentive staff, amazing, knowledgable dive guides and its proximity to the world renowned dive sites is unmatched. My images can appear simple, but creating pictures with stunning subjects with clean, uncluttered and complimentary backgrounds can be challenging. 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. “Add to that the beautiful Lembeh Resort as a base, surely one of the world’s very best dive resorts, the amazing dive team and famous guides at Critters@Lembeh, and I am certain this will be a really special experience. September is a fantastic month to visit, typically with sunny weather and cooler water bringing more key critters in the shallows. Fingers crossed!”

“More Mustard 2025 was heavily over subscribed, so we’re arranged a repeat for 2026, both for those that didn’t get a spot in ’25 and for those that want to do it again. At 12 nights, this package is the longest I have ever offered in Lembeh,” says Alex, “so a real chance to indulge yourself and your photography.”

Alex says, “I know that many of you will have scrolled straight past all the text straight to the booking info, as Lembeh Resort, Lembeh’s photography and my workshops there are all a well-known quantity! But to give you more details: the package is 12 Nights with options of either a 32 dive or the special unlimited dive package (some guests may get close to 50 dives – this is only available on special trips like this). If you book the 32 dive package you can add dives very simply in resort, when you want to do them. Lembeh Resort is a high quality retreat that really treats everyone as an individual: 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 you have option: with night, dusk, mandarin, blackwater and bonfire dives all possible. You can also duck out of any boat dive to dive the house reef and your guide will be there to accompany you.”

Workshop dives will always be with the expert guides from Critters@Lembeh, with one guide to each pair of photographers. During the workshop photographers cannot book private guides (except when needed for safety reasons), and the most experienced guides will work exclusively with each pair of photographers. Guides will be rotated every 2 days, meaning you should dive with 6 different guides through your stay. The workshop spots are open to non-photographers, and we can also accommodate non-divers (ask Caroline, although 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 will work with the team at the Dive Centre to select the best dive sites for all the boats throughout the trip. One of the big advantages of taking over the whole resort is that it means we can efficiently identify and repeat the richest sites, so everyone has extended opportunities in the most productive places and with high value subjects.

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. The workshop package also includes transfers from Manado airport, Nitrox, laundry throughout, 1 hour spa treatment etc.

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 fundamental macro techniques, then discussing high quality and creative lighting techniques, wide angle macro, while Nick will cover more innovative approaches for creating standout images. These technique lectures are typically given each morning after breakfast to provide you with the advice and ideas you need just before you go diving. While, in the evenings, after dinner, image review sessions, usually led by Alex, are ideal to analyse the strengths and areas for improvement in the days’ images. They also provide a great chance to see what others have produced and get inspiration and suggestions for the next day. Inspired by Martin Edge, Nick will be joining buddy teams on all his dives throughout the workshop, shooting the same subjects after you and then comparing shots later on the laptop, so he can pass on his tips and coaching.

“I will share my secrets for using slow shutter speeds to capture movement,” said Nick. “Utilising shallow depth of field, through open apertures, combined with ND filters or using high magnification to create separation and smooth backgrounds, making subjects really ‘pop’. Of course, I can also teach classical black background macro if you ask! Mindset and strategy are integral to unlocking the photographic potential of Lembeh. 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.”

“Lembeh is always a treat. The Resort is a paradise and the diving is off the scale in productivity. We hope you will join us for a truly special workshop experience,” adds Alex.

VITALS

Lembeh Resort offers a variety of rooms at different price points (see their website for more). The cottages are large and provide lots of room for sharing. Please take a moment to familiarise yourself with the options and include a room request when you contact Caroline. This workshop is also available with a 32-dive package or unlimited dive package (about 45-50 dives). All spaces and room options are on a first come (first email to Caroline) first served basis.

Note that this trip is priced in US Dollars for everyone’s convenience, as exchange rates have been volatile recently!

Dates: 18th-30th September 2026 (12 nights)

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

  • Garden Room $6225 USD
  • Premium Luxury Cottage: $8145 USD
  • Single occupancy on these rooms/packages are: $7700 USD and $10345 USD respectively.

Package includes:

  • Alex Mustard/Nick More Macro & Critter Photography Workshop
  • 32 guided boat day dives  – with Nitrox
  • Unlimited self-guided house reef dives with Nitrox (typically 7am-10pm)
  • 2:1 Photographer to Critters@Lembeh dive guide ratio on boat dives
  • Manado Airport transfers
  • All meals, snacks etc
  • 1-hour spa treatment and free laundry service
  • Free Wi-Fi

Extra dives can be added very easily in resort, paid at the end of your trip.

Or upgrade to Unlimited Diving Package

  • Garden Room $7300 USD
  • Premium Luxury Cottage: $9200 USD
  • Single occupancy on these rooms/packages are: $8765 USD and $11375 USD respectively.

The package adds:

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

Photographic group size is whole resort – the exact number of photographers will depend on how many people take single rooms, the number of non-photographers and non-divers joining the group etc. All dives 2 photographers to each guide.

BOOKING

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