Underwater & Drone Sessions - Safety & Supplier Picks

Underwater frames that shimmer and drone shots that glide over turquoise coves can elevate your honeymoon album—if you plan them safely. Use this guide to choose calm windows, handle permits, and build a tiny crew so the water, wind, and light work in your favor.

Safety first, always

• Pick gentle conditions: light wind, small swell, slack or neap tides, 10m+ visibility if possible.
• Buddy + spotter: one swims, one watches; boatman keeps eyes on current and traffic.
• No-touch rule: float above coral, avoid sand kicks, keep distance from turtles.
• Boundaries matter: some beaches/parks restrict drones or entry; confirm with the LGU/park office and property.

For permit basics (island/resort approvals, environmental fees, drone notes) and timing cues, keep this practical primer close: photoshoot rules, golden-hour spots, and typical pricing.

Underwater session playbook

Where it shines: Sugba Lagoon rafts and glassy coves in Siargao, protected shallows in El Nido/Coron, and calm reef skirts in Panglao.
Best window: early morning or slack tide; avoid strong shorebreak and busy boat lanes.

Minimal kit

• Mask that fits (anti-fog rinse), snorkel, short fins, reef shoes for rock entries.
• Camera with housing or action cam on a short grip; float strap; silica packs.
• Light fabrics that move underwater; skip trailing veils and heavy jewelry.

How to shoot

• Go slow, exhale, then glide—bubbles clear faces.
• Work three beats: surface-to-under, belly-to-sun, silhouette from below.
• Build in 10–15 minute warm-up dips before real frames.

Want a pro who already knows the tide and leeward coves? Start a shortlist of island lens teams here: couple shooters who read the light and water.

Drone session playbook

Pick locations with space—open sand arcs, headlands, or sandbars with clear takeoff zones.
Wind discipline: fly when gusts are low; avoid crosswinds funneling between cliffs.
People and wildlife: maintain distance; skip nesting areas and crowded beaches.
Respect ground control: parks/resorts may require a spotter, ID, or specific flight corridors.

If you’d love motion as well as stills, consider a small crew used to sea breeze and short flight windows: island videographers who pack light.

Permits, insurance, and weather windows

• Permits & site rules: municipal/LGU + property/park; some coves cap boats and drone flights per day.
• Coverage worth having: trip delay/cancellation, medical/evac, and gear riders.
• Plan around the sky: hold a flex slot and watch 48–72 hr forecasts; this calm guide helps you adapt routes, holds, and backups: typhoon-smart tactics for shifting weather.

Crew & roles you might book

• Camera lead: directs pacing, guards batteries/cards, and calls off unsafe shots.
• Water safety/boatman: watches current, traffic, and tide line.
• Stylist/assistant (optional): secures fabrics, towels gear, and shade.

If you’d rather one point person wrangle permits, boats, and timing, hand logistics to detail-minded coordinators who know island rules.

Half-day combo timeline (drone + water)

• 06:00 meet and brief; wind/tide check; quick safety plan.
• 06:20–06:50 drone arcs over empty shoreline; land with 30% battery buffer.
• 07:10–08:20 shallow-water stills and surface dips; rotate rests to avoid chill.
• 08:30 blue-hour-style portraits if clouds linger; pack out quietly.

Quick etiquette & gear care

• Rinse housings and zips with fresh water; dry in shade.
• Keep props, lines, and towels weighted—breeze is sneaky.
• Pack out every tie, clip, and wrapper; leave the cove cleaner than you found it.

Shot ideas that always work

• Hand-in-hand float over rippled sand.
• Silhouette from below with sunburst peeking.
• Overhead drone track as you walk the tide line, then a slow 180° reveal of the bay.
• Sandbar “dot” wide shot—two figures, a long shadow, and miles of blue.

Wrap it into the bigger trip

If a styled shore lunch will double as a set, time it with tides using this gentle how-to: sandbar and private-picnic playbook. For routes, months, and budgets that make the whole plan glide, zoom out to the Philippines honeymoon guide.

Leave the day with two things: a handful of frames you’ll print and a quiet swim just for you—no camera, just memory.