Underwater Photography Expedition with Dan Taylor | 23-26 August 2026
A 4-day diving shared trip in Komodo National Park with Dan Taylor: expedition leader, divemaster, conservationist, underwater photographer, and former documentary film crew member. This trip is open to anyone passionate about underwater photography, or anyone curious about what expedition life and documentary filmmaking look like in practice.
Dan founded Uncharted Expeditions and has spent extended time underwater on documentary productions. On this trip, he dives alongside you, shares what he knows, and takes questions that don’t normally get answered on a standard dive charter.
August Conditions
August is dry season in Komodo. Visibility is at its best, surface conditions are flat, and the park is fully open across the Central, North, and South zones. Expect strong currents at the channel sites, mantas at Manta Point, and dense reef life throughout.
11 dives in total, including at least one night dive.
Ask Dan About
- Leading people into the wild
- What expedition leadership actually involves day to day
- Behind-the-scenes of underwater documentary productions
- Stories from filming the ocean that didn’t make the final cut
Meet Dan Taylor
Born in Mexico City and raised across different countries, Dan moved to Baja California in 2017 to be closer to the ocean. He is a divemaster, freediver, professional underwater photographer, instructor, conservationist, surfer, and kayaker. Water is the common thread through all of it.
With a background in luxury hospitality, he combined that experience with his knowledge of the ocean to found Uncharted Expeditions: a platform for education, conservation awareness, and bringing people into meaningful contact with the sea. He is also a Backscatter Photo Pro, teaching underwater photography to divers who want to capture what they see below the surface.
Dan’s travels diving and exploring coastlines have shaped his view of what an expedition company can be: not just a business, but a way to build a community of people who care about the ocean and the problems it faces.
« With every person I come across, I see an opportunity to share my passion and deep knowledge about the ocean, with the hope to inspire and create a ripple effect with others. »
Dan Taylor
Instagram: @dantaylor_photo
Pricing
Per person, in IDR and USD (approx. at 16,000 IDR/USD).
| Cabin | Description | IDR | USD |
|---|---|---|---|
| Master Cabin | Upper deck, queen bed, bathtub, balcony. Max 2 guests. | IDR 24,500,000 | ~$1,530 |
| Deluxe Balcony (double) | Main deck, queen bed, balcony. Max 3 guests. | IDR 19,500,000 | ~$1,220 |
| Deluxe Balcony (single) | Main deck, single bed, balcony. | IDR 17,500,000 | ~$1,095 |
| Signature Ocean | Upper deck, queen bed. Max 2 guests. | IDR 17,500,000 | ~$1,095 |
Each expedition in this series puts you in the water alongside a professional: an underwater photographer, videographer, or expedition leader, in Komodo National Park. The format is simple. Small group, liveaboard, real diving, and structured time each day to improve your images or footage with someone who does this for a living.
These expeditions are organized by Archipelago Reserve and run aboard Sundari Voyages, a traditional phinisi built in 2024 for dive and photography trips in Komodo. Every departure has a different guest leader, bringing their own discipline and approach.
What These Expeditions Cover
Komodo is one of the most photogenic dive environments in Indonesia. Strong currents push clean water through the national park, which means visibility is consistently good and the marine life is dense. Mantas at Manta Point. Reef sharks at Castle Rock and Crystal Rock. Turtles, pygmy seahorses, and nudibranchs across the reef sites. Above water, Padar Island and Komodo Island give you landscape and wildlife that match what you find below.
Every departure in this series includes:
- Guided dives in Komodo National Park, including Manta Point and top sites across Central, North, and South zones
- Padar Island trekking
- Pink Beach visit
- Komodo dragon encounter on Komodo Island
- In-house underwater photographer onboard throughout the trip
- Daily image or footage sharing and feedback sessions
The guest leader, their specialty, the number of dives, the skill level required, and the specific learning focus vary by departure. Check each departure page for those details.
Who These Expeditions Are For
Each departure targets a different skill level and discipline, so check the occurrence page before booking. Some trips are designed for beginners curious about underwater photography. Others are built for advanced shooters working on composition and wide-angle videography. Some are open to anyone interested in expedition life and ocean documentation.
Across all departures: max 12 divers, serious diving, and direct access to a working professional in your field.
About Archipelago Reserve
Archipelago Reserve runs purposeful dive expeditions in Komodo, built around responsible marine interaction. Their director joins every trip personally. They donate 1% of every booking to free scuba diving programs for local students under 22, run in partnership with P3Kom, the Professional Divers Community of Komodo.
When you book through Ocean Earth Travels, you’re booking directly with an authorized partner of Archipelago Reserve.
More info on archipelagoreserve.com
The Boat: Sundari Voyages
Sundari Voyages is a 34-metre wooden phinisi built in Bira, Bulukumba in 2024 and launched in 2025. She carries a maximum of 12 divers across 8 air-conditioned ensuite cabins, spread across the main and upper deck.
Onboard: indoor dining room, sundeck, dedicated dive deck with camera table and rinsing tanks, freshwater showers, and Starlink WiFi in the Master Cabins. The crew includes a cruise director, dive instructor, two divemasters, and an in-house photographer/videographer.
Full boat info here: Sundari Voyages Liveaboard
Practical Info
Fly into Labuan Bajo (LBJ), Flores. Pricing is listed in IDR and approximate USD. August departures fall in the dry season with optimal visibility and flat conditions. October to November departures bring more manta ray activity as the season transitions.