Underwater Modeling Workshop - Roatan

march 29 - april 5, 2025

Welcome to the Ultimate Underwater Modeling Workshop in Roatan!

Join us for an unforgettable week on the lush tropical island of Roatan, where the turquoise waters of the Caribbean Sea set the stage for creating breathtaking ocean-inspired art. From March 29 to April 5, 2025, immerse yourself in an unparalleled underwater modeling workshop at the luxurious Turquoise Bay Resort. This exclusive workshop offers a unique blend of professional instruction, hands-on practice, and breathtaking scenery, making it the perfect setting to enhance your underwater modeling skills. This week promises not only to elevate your artistry but also to create lasting memories in one of the most beautiful destinations in the world.

workshop highlights

• All-Inclusive Luxury: Enjoy the exclusive use of Turquoise Bay Resort, an all-inclusive paradise where you can model, dive, or simply unwind. 3 meals a day plus snacks and alchohol are all included.
• Comprehensive Training: Participate in detailed workshops covering all aspects of underwater modeling, from breath control and posing techniques to working with underwater props and costumes.
• Expert Guidance: Learn from the experienced Submerge team, who will share their tips, tricks, and techniques for underwater modeling.
• Personalized Coaching: Receive one-on-one coaching and feedback throughout the week to enhance your skills and confidence.
• Unique Shooting Environments: Explore a variety of aquatic settings, including vibrant coral reefs and mysterious underwater caves, to capture breathtaking photo and video content.
• Stunning Portraits: Transform yourself into an aquatic work of art and participate in several exclusive SCUBA-assisted photo sessions with renowned underwater photographer Justin Lutsky. Leave with professional-quality images and videos that set you apart from everyone else.
• Networking Opportunities: Connect with like-minded individuals and professionals in the underwater modeling and photography community, fostering valuable relationships and collaborations.
• Diving Adventures: Take advantage of numerous diving excursions all week long to explore the rich marine life and stunning underwater landscapes of Roatan, guided by experienced dive guides.
• Unparalleled Safety: Your safety is our top priority. Our workshops are conducted with stringent safety protocols and supervised by certified dive professionals. We ensure that all participants are equipped with the necessary knowledge and gear, providing a safe environment for underwater modeling. Whether you're an experienced diver or a newcomer to the underwater world, our team will guide you through each step with meticulous care, allowing you to focus on creating stunning art with complete peace of mind.

WHAT'S INCLUDED

• Pre-Trip Consultation: Work with the Submerge team on wardrobe, hair, and makeup for underwater modeling. Know what to bring and how to prepare.
• Underwater Modeling Presentation: An overview of the unique skills and techniques required for successful underwater photo shoots. We cover key aspects such as breath-hold training, buoyancy control, and movement techniques to achieve fluid and graceful poses. The presentation also emphasizes the importance of safety protocols and effective communication with the photography team. You'll gain insights into the challenges and artistic possibilities of underwater modeling, preparing for both the creative and technical aspects of this specialized field.
• Breath Hold Coaching Session: Learn the skills and techniques needed to hold your breath safely and effectively while posing underwater. We'll cover essential areas such as proper breathing techniques to maximize lung capacity, relaxation methods to conserve oxygen, and both static and dynamic apnea practices to build confidence and endurance.
• Model Coaching Session: Learn the fundamentals of posing underwater and mastering buoyancy control from the safety of the resort pool. Learn to control your body positioning, manage props or costumes, and maintain relaxed, photogenic expressions. Then spend time learning specific techniques for modeling in open water environments. Throughout the trip models will get hours of quality breath hold and pose coaching in various settings.
• 3 SCUBA-Assisted Open Water Portrait Sessions: Taking underwater modeling to the next level! Venture out into the ocean on private dive boats to explore the shallow reefs that surround Roatan. Here, several one-of-a-kind photoshoots will be staged at various open water locations with the full support of an experienced safety dive team. With the expertise and guidance of a dedicated safety diver, you'll confidently explore the art of underwater modeling using compressed air. This innovative technique allows you to maintain buoyancy effortlessly, giving you the freedom to strike dynamic and graceful poses amidst the mesmerizing underwater landscape.
• Deep Dive Debriefs: A valuable opportunity to convene each evening and review the day's underwater images. During these sessions, models can provide and receive constructive feedback, discuss techniques, and share insights on what worked well and what could be improved. This collaborative environment fosters learning and growth, ensuring everyone gains a deeper understanding of underwater modeling and photography.
• Online Image Gallery: Get access to a preview gallery of all images from the trip. Favorites can be selected for retouching.
• 8 Professionally Retouched Digital Images: High quality and professionally edited masterpieces of each model’s favorite shots.
• Boat Dives: 3 dives daily + 1 night dive are available.
• Surprise Land Tour: Take a break from the fish and visit things with feathers and fur.

Optional Extras

• Exclusive Mertailor Experience Package: Ever wanted to be a real life mermaid? Mertailor and Submerge created an exclusive tail design only available to workshop participants. Own your very own custom monofin and tail! Package includes: 1 Mertailor Fantasea Fin Three Monofin, 1 Exclusive Submerge Whimsy Fantasea Skin, and 2 additional retouched images.
• Beach Sunset Portrait Session: Dry off and clean up for an epic sunset photoshoot on the beach. Nothing says tropical like a stunning portrait on the beautiful beach swings hanging just above the water.
• Evening Pool Portrait Session: After the sun sets is the perfect time to spice things up with dramatic and colorful lighting for a more intimate and alluring vibe. Perfect for those sultry silhouettes and theatrical flair. Wear as much (or as little) as you want for this private 30-minute evening portrait session in the pool. 2 additional retouched images from this session are included.
• Extra Open Water Portrait Session: A special opportunity for those wanting to dive deeper into underwater modeling. Book an additional SCUBA-assisted, open portrait session beyond what's already included. 3 additional retouched images from this session are included.
• Fine Art Prints: Want something tangible, something to proudly display? Then a physical print is the solution. All photos will be captured in incredible detail making large format printing at any size and on any material possible. Price varies per size and medium.
• Additional Retouched Images: All models will receive 8 professionally retouched digital images as part of the package, but if 8 doesn’t suffice more images are available.
• Behind the Scenes Content: We'll capture BTS content of all your amazing underwater moments, perfect for social media reels and more!
• Personal Highlight Video: A custom edited highlight video (up to 2-minutes) of each model’s personal photo session experience.

the Hosts

meet the submerge team

Roatan

Roatan is the largest and most developed of the Bay Islands, situated about 30 miles off the north coast of Honduras and in the western regions of the Caribbean Sea. At 36 miles long and less than 5 miles wide, Roatan has a total land mass of about 32 square miles and sits atop the world’s second largest coral reef. For a small island, Roatan’s geography is amazingly diverse. Visitors can experience everything from flat sandy beaches, rocky volcanic shores, mangrove forests, lush valleys, and steep rainforest-covered hilltops.

Location: Caribbean • Country: Honduras • Archipelago: Bay Islands • Total Islands: 7 • Area: 32 square miles • Length: 36.7 miles • Width: 5 miles • Highest Elevation: 1011' • Population: 110,000 (2020) • Largest Settlement: Coxen Hole • Time: UTC+6hrs • Currency: Honduras Lempira (LPS) • Electricity: 120V (same as USA) • Industries: tourism, agriculture, lumber and fishing • Official Languages: Spanish

weather and climate

Roatan is located almost midway between the Tropic of Cancer and the Equator, which gives the island a tropical climate. Like most Caribbean destinations, Roatan has a rainy season and a dry season, known locally as invierno (winter aka cooler season) and verano (summer aka wet season). November to February is considered winter and May to October is considered summer. July weather can be defined as caliente (that means hot in Spanish), and it is also the time of year with the highest sea water temperatures (divers will be grateful).

July Averages - High Temp: 89°F • Low Temp: 78°F • Sea Water Temp: 84°F • Daylight Hours: 13 • Sunshine Hours: 6.4 • Rainy Days: 4.6 • Precipitation Totals: 5.9 in

Turquoise Bay resort

Your Home Away from Home

Nestled amidst tropical gardens with stunning ocean views, Turquoise Bay Resort offers comfortable accommodations, gourmet dining, and exceptional amenities, ensuring a relaxing and inspiring stay. Located on Roatan's Northeast shore, Turquoise Bay is the only dive resort in this lush and remote area of the island providing you with the opportunity to dive uncrowded dive sites. The resort is set on a hillside with spectacular ocean views and includes not only a relaxing stay in one of their Ocean View or Garden View rooms, but also exclusive access to a wide range of resort amenities. Cool off in their tropical pool or sunbathe on the terrace overlooking the beach and sparkling waters of the Caribbean Sea. Guests can also enjoy the privacy and tranquility of the longest private beach in Roatan. Their white sand beach has palapas, palm trees offering shade, a beach bar, and lounge chairs. The bay is protected by a mangrove island and the offshore reef so the water is calm and perfect for swimming, snorkeling, or exploring with complimentary kayaks! And of course, enjoy full waiter service at the beach bar and poolside.

Dining: Udarau Restaurant • Breakfast: Included • Lunch: Included • Dinner: Included • Snacks: Included • Alcohol and Drinks: Included • WiFi: Included • Airport Transfers: Included

ACCOMMODATIONS

OCEAN VIEW • HILLSIDE GARDEN VIEW • GARDEN VIEW (KING OR DOUBLE ROOM)

All of Turquoise Bay’s rooms are 250 sq. ft. and offer the same amenities. The Ocean View and Hillside Garden View rooms are perched on a low-lying bluff rich with tropical foliage overlooking swaying palms and the azure sea below, while the Garden View rooms are located closer to the restaurant, dive shop, pool, and beach.

TURQUOISE DIVERS

Turquoise Bay Resort’s on-site dive center is operated by Turquoise Divers. They are an Elite PADI 5 Star Instructor Development and National Geographic Dive Center. Turquoise Divers opened for business in April 2001 (as Subway Watersports) and soon became well known for its quality and personal service. The facility at Turquoise Bay opened in March 2006. They offer small groups of 6-12 divers per boat and a PADI Divemaster guides all dives. The dive sites are close by so guests often come back to the dive shop for their surface intervals. When going to some of the further dive sites, a two-tank dive will be conducted in the morning and one tank in the afternoon. Again, they are the only dive operator diving on this part of Roatan which means it is unlikely to see other scuba operators during the dive.

All-inclusive dive packages include three boat dives per day. Should the sea conditions not allow diving on the Roatan North shore, guests will go by bus to an alternate location on the South side of Roatan. When diving on the South side, two boat dives per day are offered instead of three.

OPTIONAL WAIHUKA SHARK DIVE

“Cara Cara”, which in Spanish means “face to face”, is a famous shark dive in Roatan. It is organized by the Waihuka Dive Center situated on the south side of the island. Here, divers are literally “face to face” with a dozen, all female, Caribbean reef sharks measuring up to 10 feet in length.

It is a 10-15 minute boat ride from the Waihuka Dive Center to the “Cara Cara” dive site. All dives start with a detailed briefing by the staff prior to entering the water. The maximum depth is 70 feet and bottom time 30-35 minutes. Visibility is typically 80+ feet. Cara Cara may have mild to strong current so divers must use a descent line down to the flat plateau. The dive starts in a stationary position, with a little wall behind everyone so that the sharks will never come from behind. The divemaster manages a closed bucket of dead fish which attracts the sharks. Based on the divemaster's discretion (and if the current is not too strong) divers have the ability to swim around with the sharks!

Towards the end of the dive, the divemaster requests that everyone returns to their initial position. He then opens the bucket, and the real show begins! All the sharks fight for the best bite. Usually, the sharks leave when the bucket is empty. Empty bucket means it is time to surface.

REQUIREMENTS: Advanced Open Water Diver

FLIGHTS

SAMPLE ITINERARY AS OF SEPTEMBER 1, 2024



OPTION 1: LOS ANGELES - ROATAN

DEPARTING: SATURDAY, MARCH 29 • RETURNING: SATURDAY, APRIL 5

ESTIMATED COST: $1,590

OPTION 2: LOS ANGELES - ROATAN

DEPARTING: SATURDAY, MARCH 29 • RETURNING: SATURDAY, APRIL 5

ESTIMATED COST: $865