DIVE HAPPY

Micronesia's Yap is famous for seeing squadrons of manta rays - and photographing them too. The Yap Photo Workshop provides an unforgettable crash course in mastering underwater photography in the midst of Yap's spectacular marine life

I so want to go on this course. It's not until June 2007, but I'm already contemplating if I can justify going as it falls just after my birthday. (Am sure the girlfriend will be thrilled with that logic).

Here's some of the blurb:
"What: Learn How To Photograph Mantas, Macro and More

Who: Join Pros Mike Veitch, Tim Rock and Simon Buxton. Special Presentation from Manta Man Bill Acker

Where and When: From June 20 thru 27 an informative, fun and rewarding photo course is being held on the Island of the Mantas, Yap, Micronesia at the Manta Ray Bay Hotel.

Why: Because you want to improve your underwater skills and have fun doing it. Yap is the perfect undersea studio."

You can read the complete rundown of the Yap Photo Workshop on the ShootUnderwater site, along with details of their other workshops around the South East Asia region.

For my part, I'd like to do the course to learn how to use my newly purchased Nikon D70s better, not just through tips from pros (though that will be invaluable) but through the process of spending a solid week doing nothing but taking underwater pix and being able to assess them afterwards - and, naturally, I would absolutely love to see the mantas in Yap.

There is a staggering photo in the current issue of Scuba Diver Australasia magazine (sadly not available online) which shows a train of four - four! - manta rays in Yap moving in a perfect single file line through the water. Whether or not I managed to photograph it, I would dearly love to see it.