ROATAN • JULY 13-20, 2024

Justin Lutsky, a bonafide underwater photography magician (his work on this page doesn’t lie), and Abbey the Everyday Mermaid, have combined forces to develop their latest Submerge experience: the Roatan 2024 Underwater Modeling and Photography Workshop. In fact, this is more than a workshop, it’s an adventure! Set against a lush tropical island and the Caribbean Sea, the week is dedicated to creating stunning ocean-inspired art. Basecamp is the all-inclusive Turquoise Bay Resort, where guests will have the entire property available to model, shoot, dive or simply relax. Participants will learn underwater modeling tips, tricks, and techniques, plus have the opportunity to shoot in new aquatic environments with the support of the Submerge team. Meanwhile, photographers will have the chance to plan and produce a variety of photo shoots with experienced underwater models and dive professionals. Want a private pool, overwater bungalows, and private dive boats? Deal. Want all meals and drinks included too? Done. And while most tourists take home t-shirts and cheap airport jewelry as souvenirs, models enrolled in this workshop will leave with gorgeous photo and video content unlike any other.

It’s gonna be sick!

Who is this for? Underwater model enthusiasts and professionals alike, as well as aspiring or seasoned underwater photographers, who want to create stunning unique content in a private, all-inclusive setting. From first timers to accomplished mermaids and photographers, this trip will not disappoint! The Submerge team will assist, instruct, and educate every step of the way.

SAMPLE ITINERARY

TURQUOISE BAY RESORT UDURAU RESTAURANT HOURS
Coffee 6:30am - 9:30am • Breakfast 7:00am - 9:30am • Lunch 12:00pm - 2:30pm • Snacks 4:00pm - 5:30pm • Dinner 6:30pm - 9:00pm • Bar 10:00am - 10:00pm

TURQUOISE DIVERS DIVE CENTER HOURS
Daily 7:30am - 5:00pm (8:00pm on Wednesday until the night dive concludes)

COMPLIMENTARY AIRPORT SHUTTLE SERVICE
Daily resort departures 6:00am, 8:15am, 10:00am, 12:15pm, 2:15pm

*All dives are conducted from a boat. Shore diving is not offered at Turquoise Bay Resort. Diving is only available for certified divers.
All activities, amenities and meals listed above are included in the Seasick package unless noted. Optional activities have an additional fee and are not included in the package.

MODELS WHATCHA GET

Pre-Trip Consultation: Work with the Submerge team about wardrobe, hair, and makeup for underwater modeling. Know what to bring and how to prepare.

Model Coaching Sessions: Learn the fundamentals of posing underwater, breath hold techniques and mastering buoyancy control from the safety of the resort pool. Then spend time learning specific techniques for modeling in open water environments from the comfort of the resort’s private, overwater bungalows. Throughout the trip models will get hours of quality breath hold and pose coaching in various settings.

Pool Portrait Session: Start things off in the pool with a bright and sunny portrait session. Great for swimsuits, colorful wardrobe, and long flowy dresses.

Ocean Reef 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 shallow water locations.

Mermaid Tail Rental: Ever wanted to try mermaiding? This is your chance! Submerge will have a selection of quality mermaid tails on hand to try for any of the photo sessions, along with plenty of tips and techniques for swimming in a tail. Mertailor Fantasea Fins plus Fantasea and Whimsy Tails provided. Try it. Model it. Love it.

Online Image Gallery: Get access to a preview gallery of all images from the trip. Favorites can be selected for processing.

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 (certified divers).

Surprise Land Tour: Take a break from the fish and visit things with feathers and fur.

Plus: Items and services listed in the “Package Includes” section below

PHOTOGRAPHERS WHATCHA GET

Pre-Trip Consultation: Work with the Submerge team about camera gear, dive equipment and other essentials to stage underwater portrait sessions with models. Know what to bring and how to prepare.

Photography Coaching Session: Learn the fundamentals of shooting with models underwater, camera gear, lighting techniques and safety considerations. Then spend time learning specific techniques for shooting in controlled pool environments as well as in open water environments.

Pool Portrait Session: Start things off with our experienced models in the pool with a bright and sunny portrait session. Great for swimsuits, colorful wardrobe, and long flowy dresses.

Ocean Reef Portrait Sessions: Taking underwater photography 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 with experienced models at various ocean reef locations.

Boat Dives: 3 dives daily + 1 night dive are available (certified divers).

Surprise Land Tour: Take a break from the fish and visit things with feathers and fur.

Plus: Items and services listed in the “Package Includes” section below

MODELS OPTIONAL WORKSHOP 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. This isn’t borrow or rent a tail, this is own a 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.

Night 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.

Deep Water Portrait Session: A special opportunity for those wanting to dive deeper into underwater modeling. Model with the assistance of two dedicated safety divers, allowing for image acquisition at deeper locations. 3 additional retouched images from this session are included.

Private Portrait Session: Can’t get enough? Schedule an additional private 30-minute portrait session. 2 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.

Personal Highlight Video: A custom edited highlight video (up to 2-minutes) of each model’s personal photo session experience.

PADI Mermaid Certification: Learn basic mermaiding principles and focus on practicing skills in a pool or confined water location. Understanding the underwater world’s physical properties and how they affect an individual as a mermaid is also included. Discover additional routine, exhibition and problem-handling skills. The PADI Mermaid course includes knowledge development and water skill sessions that develop more dynamic mermaid skills, including many skills that make mermaiding an underwater self-expressive art, separate from other types of diving.

PADI Advanced Mermaid Certification: Elevate the mermaiding experience in open water, while refining and improving mermaid diving skills. In the PADI Advanced Mermaid course, students will build on their PADI Mermaid certification and apply it to the open water environment. Learn the basics of how the open water environment differs from a pool or confined water (larger, deeper, more variable conditions) and be introduced to open water mermaiding techniques. Plus learn about aquatic life – what to expect, affects, and how to avoid harm.

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. 

It has a mountainous backbone surrounded by warm waters. Positioned at the southern terminus of the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef System, the island is enveloped by coral reefs, which provide calm, clear protected beaches for swimming, snorkeling, and hosts many varieties of sea life for divers. Honduras is said to have about 70% of the sea life in the Caribbean as it attracts an array of marine life from macro critters to the largest fish in the sea, whale sharks (fingers crossed)!

Guests who want to take a break from diving can indulge in some of the fantastic land activities Roatan has to offer. Imagine flying on a zipline 330' over treetops and soaring through the tropical vegetation high above the forest. Or how about an afternoon gettin' muddy on a buggy or ATV excursion? There are also more relaxed land tours such as the Monkey and Sloth Hangout (shhhh, it’s a surprise)!

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

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.

Number of rooms: 26 • Dining: Udarau Restaurant • Breakfast: Included • Lunch: Included • Dinner: Included • Snacks: Included • Alcohol and Drinks: Included • WiFi: Included • Airport Transfers: Included

Day-use overwater bungalows • Private beach • Beach cabanas • Beach sun loungers • Outdoor pool • Spa services • Bar • Lounge • Indoor dining • Outdoor dining • Kayaks • Complimentary airport shuttle • Complimentary area shuttle • Multilingual staff • 24-hour front desk • Gift shop • Porter and bellhop • Laundry services • Concierge • Daily maid service • Safe-deposit box at front desk • Molly the Donkey

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.

DIVING

Roatan (part of the Bay Islands) is a world-renowned scuba diving destination. Turquoise Bay is the only dive resort in this area of the island which means few, if any, other dive operators will be at the dive sites. The North side of Roatan offers scuba divers the unique opportunity to experience the largest variety of reef topography on the island. Roatan is surrounded by the world’s second largest barrier reef which is also one of the healthiest in the Caribbean due to the Roatan Marine Park and the local dive community which encourages conservative diving practices. Explore sloping plateaus which are perfect for spotting macro life, sheer walls with large soft corals and barrel sponges, wreck dives abundant with life, crevices, trenches, overhangs and cavern systems.

Depth: 10'-130'+ • Visibility: Generally 75'-100' • Currents: Minimal • Skill Level: Beginner - Advanced • February Water Temp: 80°F • Dive Sites: 50+

Featured Creatures: There are more than 300 identified fish species in Bay Island waters. Divers may see dolphins, groupers, rays, barracudas, angelfish, squids, butterfly fish, parrotfish, yellow tail snappers, horse eye jacks, octopuses, lobsters, crabs, moray eels, nurse sharks, and even an occasional whale shark.

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

REQUIREMENTS: Advanced Open Water Diver
COST: $130 US cash or credit card (includes 19% tax and service charge). Paid to Turquoise Bay Resort

“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.

NOTES: Underwater photo and video cameras are allowed, however GoPro cameras are not allowed. A professional video is also available for sale after the dive.

THE HOSTS

FLIGHTS

SAMPLE ITINERARY AS OF DECEMBER 15, 2023

OPTION 1: LOS ANGELES - ROATAN
DEPARTING: SATURDAY, JULY 13 • RETURNING: SATURDAY, JULY 20
ESTIMATED COST: $855

OPTION 2: LOS ANGELES - ROATAN
DEPARTING: SATURDAY, JULY 13 • RETURNING: SATURDAY, JULY 20
ESTIMATED COST: $990

TERMS AND CONDITIONS

DEFINITIONS: “Company” is defined as Underwater Exposures, Inc. dba Seasick Productions, incorporated in terms of the laws of California, United States of America. "Company Affiliated Parties" is defined as the Company, Justin Lutsky, Abbey Blake, Submerge, its directors, members, partners, employees, agents, consultants, suppliers, and contractors. “Guest” is defined as any person or persons placing a booking (whether provisional or confirmed) with the Company and who contracts with the Company for any of the Services together with his/her spouse, dependents and companions. “Services” is defined as the provision of accommodation, transport, transfers, scuba diving and snorkeling activities, tours or any other activities or services provided by the Company and the procurement by the Company of the provision of accommodation, transport, transfers, scuba diving and snorkeling activities, tours or any other activities or services by any Third-Party Contractors.

GENERAL: Price based on double occupancy group rate. Single supplement, extensions, additional services, and all other items not listed in itinerary are not included. All prices subject to change without notice. A $1,000.00 deposit per person is required with each Guest reservation. Company reserves the right, without advance notice, to make changes or cancellations, in part or in whole, as circumstances dictate. Any deposit or payment made to Company or any representative of Company shows acceptance and acknowledgement of the terms and conditions as stated herein.

CHANGES TO RESERVATIONS: Any request by Guest to amend or change a booking once it has been confirmed, may be accommodated by Company subject to availability. If Company is able to assist, a reasonable administrative fee may be charged. Any such administrative fees shall be invoiced to the Guest and must be settled as per the standard terms applicable to the booking. If the invoice is not paid within such time, Company may construe such non-payment as an act of cancellation on the part of the Guest and the provisions of the cancellation clause shall apply. All reservations, confirmed bookings, and Company’s services are non-transferable.

CANCELLATIONS TO RESERVATIONS: Refund (less cancellation fee) may be issued if reservation is cancelled four months prior to departure date and if another Guest can fill the vacancy. All authorized refunds will be assessed a $300.00 cancellation fee. No refund or credit will be made for Services not utilized by Guest. No cancellations shall be accepted within 30 days of trip departure.

FORCE MAJEURE: “Force Majeure Event” is defined as any event which is beyond the control of the Company, including, but not limited to a national strike, act of war, armed conflict, insurrection, civil commotion, terrorism or the threat of terrorism; any act of God including but not limited to epidemic, pandemic, lightning, earthquake, flooding, fire, cyclone, hurricane, typhoon, tidal wave, storm, volcanic eruption and other unusual and extreme adverse weather or environmental conditions; any event which falls within any of these categories that is suffered by Third-Party Contractors of the Company, who are involved in the receipt or provision of the Services; and or any other cause or contingency beyond the control of the Company. The Company shall not be deemed to be in breach of any of its obligations to Guest due to any Force Majeure Event. If the Company is affected by a Force Majeure Event, it may in its sole and absolute discretion, amend or cancel any of the Services or the remainder thereof, or to make any alteration in route, accommodation, transportation or arrangement in the event of the Services or any part thereof being rendered impossible, illegal or inadvisable.

GUEST INSURANCE: If scuba diving is a Service used by Guest, Company requires Guest to possess a dive accident insurance policy prior to using any of Company’s Services. If scuba diving is not a Service used by Guest, Company requires Guest to possess an international accident and medical evacuation insurance policy prior to using any of Company’s Services. Information on dive accident insurance can be found at the Divers Alert Network’s website: www.diversalertnetwork.org. In addition, Company recommends trip insurance in the event a Guest must cancel the trip. Information on trip insurance can be found at the Divers Alert Network’s website: www.diversalertnetwork.org or the DiveAssure website: www.diveassure.com.

RESPONSIBILITY: Company acts only as agents for the Third-Party Contractors providing transportation, accommodations, diving and other Services. All tickets and vouchers issued constitute the sole contract between the Guest and Company. Company or its representatives shall not at any time be responsible in any way for loss, injury, or damage arising from any Force Majeure Event, act of government, theft, sickness, customs regulations, delay, cancellation error, or any cause beyond its control. Company or its representatives accepts no liability for the consequences of the personal activities of any Guest who is personally responsible for decisions concerning health, safety, fitness for diving and snorkeling, or any other circumstances beyond its control.