Underwater Photography

Underwater Photography

One of the highlights of scuba diving is appreciating how amazing and colorful life is underwater.  It is so breathtaking and different that it is often difficult to explain to a non-scuba diver just how pretty it is.  The only way people who don’t dive can understand the marvels of underwater marine life, the coral reef and the impressive array of colors is to look at underwater photography.

Most divers get their first taste of underwater photography during their Advanced Open Water diving certification, when it is offered as one of the specialties.  It is at this point when they realize and begin to understand the complexities of snapping photos underwater.

Underwater photography is one of the most complicated and challenging forms of photography.  Expensive, specialized equipment and well-honed techniques are needed.  The major problem with taking photos underwater is the loss of color and contrast when at significant depths.  Some colors, particularly red and orange, are the first to be lost underwater, because of their longer wavelengths, so everything appears blue-green.  It is also very difficult to photograph things that are a certain distance away from you.  To counteract these problems, dive photographers always take photos from as close up as possible, and use very wide-angle lenses.

To be a good underwater photographer, you usually have to be quite a proficient scuba diver, and have your buoyancy under control (a skill which comes with diving practice).  Snorkelers can also take photos underwater, but they are limited in depth and also how long they can spend underwater.

Digital cameras are preferred for underwater photography, and many waterproof housing cases can now be purchased and fitted to your everyday land camera.  To compensate for the fact that many normal cameras do not have wide enough lenses, some of these casings are complete with a dome shape in front of the lens to act as a wide-angle lens.

To compensate for the lack of light and consequent lack of colors, divers can use flash or strobe technology, but it is complicated.  Usually, artificial light is combined with natural sunlight to preserve colors, but in the case of wreck, or cave diving, this is not possible and flash or strobe is used alone.

Another point to bear in mind is that people naturally hold their breath when taking photos.  Underwater, holding your breath can be a deadly mistake, so photographers should consciously breathe throughout the photo-taking process.