Essential Underwater Photography Tips for Beginners

By Jaruda Suppakarnpanich Date 11 Oct 2024

Learn essential tips for underwater photography, including camera choices and techniques to capture stunning marine life photos.

Underwater photography has become a popular hobby for divers who want to capture the beauty of the ocean. However, learning to take great underwater photos can be difficult, especially for beginners. This guide will walk you through essential underwater photography tips, making capturing beautiful images easier while diving. We will also discuss why you should enroll in an Advanced Open Water Diving course with Giant Stride.

Getting the Right Camera

To take good underwater photos, you need the right camera. Not all cameras can handle being underwater, so it's important to pick one that suits your needs. Here’s a quick comparison of some popular options:

GoPro: GoPros are small, waterproof action cameras that are easy to use and don’t require an extra waterproof case, which is ideal for beginners. They’re great for capturing wide-angle shots and videos. However, they may not offer the same image quality as more advanced cameras. Examples include the GoPro HERO11 Black and GoPro HERO10 Black.
Compact Camera (Olympus TG-6): This is another good choice for underwater photography. It’s a tough, waterproof compact camera that’s easy to carry and does not require a waterproof case, like the GoPros. It offers better image quality than GoPros and is ideal for those who want more control without a bulky setup like the DSLR cameras.
Mirrorless Camera: If you’re looking for higher image quality and more control over your settings, a mirrorless camera like the Sony a7R V and Sony a1 is a great option. These cameras are smaller and lighter than DSLRs, making them easier to handle underwater. However, they usually need special waterproof housing.
DSLR Camera: DSLR cameras like the Canon 5D Mark IV or Nikon D850 offer clearer image quality and more control over your photos than the other three options mentioned above. However, they are heavier and bulkier and require a waterproof case, which can be expensive. They are best for professional photographers who want to capture the finest details.

Shoot In Shallow Waters

Understanding light underwater can make a big difference. The deeper you go, the less light there is, and the colors fade. That’s why staying in shallow waters is best, especially if you're just starting. The sunlight is stronger in shallow areas, and your pictures will look brighter and more colorful.

Stay within 5-10 meters (15-30 feet), where sunlight can reach the entire area. Shooting between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. will give you the best light, as the sun is directly overhead.

However, if you want to take photos at deeper depths, it's essential to use additional lighting, such as a strobe or underwater video light. Without proper lighting, photos taken below 10 meters will appear dark, and the colors will be washed out. Strobes and lights help restore the lost colors and bring out the natural beauty of the underwater scene. They work by mimicking sunlight, providing the bright light necessary to illuminate the subject and make the colors pop again.

Master the Rule of Thirds

One of the most important rules in photography, both on land and underwater, is the rule of thirds. This is a simple trick that can help make your photos look more balanced and interesting. Imagine your photo is divided into nine squares by two horizontal and two vertical lines. Instead of placing your subject in the middle, position it along one of these lines or at the points where they meet. This makes the photo look more natural and draws the viewer’s eye to the subject.

Practice Your Buoyancy

Good buoyancy control is one of the most important skills for underwater photographers. When you can control your buoyancy well, you can hover in one spot or move slowly through the water without disturbing the marine life around you. To hover, you can use your breathing to help. When you inhale, you will float up slightly. When you exhale, you will sink a little. This helps you stay in one place without moving too much. More on this will be taught if you register for the PADI Advanced Open Water Diver course.

Breathe Slowly

Marine animals are not used to the bubbles divers create. Try to take deep, calm breaths. Instead of quick breaths that create lots of bubbles, focus on breathing slowly and evenly. This makes it less likely that marine life will notice you. Sometimes, you may also need to hold your breath briefly while taking a photo to help you stay still and avoid producing bubbles.

Common Underwater Photography Challenges

A scuba diver photographer taking photos of fish

Handling Reflections and Backscatter

When you take photos underwater, you might see reflections and backscatter, which can make your pictures look blurry or cloudy. Try positioning your camera at an angle to avoid reflections to reduce these issues. Using a strobe or light can help, too. If you point your light at your subject instead of directly into the water, you’ll get brighter colors and less backscatter.

Dealing with Water Movement

Water movement can make it difficult to get a stable shot, especially if you’re trying to photograph a fast-moving subject. One way to improve stability is by controlling your buoyancy. Staying still in the water will not only help with your photography but also prevent you from disturbing the environment.

Editing Your Underwater Photos

Adjusting Exposure and Color Balance

When you take underwater photos, you might need to adjust the exposure and color balance to improve the appearance of the images. Exposure refers to how bright or dark your photo is. If your pictures are too dark, you can increase the exposure on your camera.

Improving Details and Reducing Noise

After taking your underwater photos, you may want to enhance details and reduce noise to make them look even better. Improving details means ensuring your images show clear and sharp features, which can be done using editing software like Lightroom or Photoshop. These programs have tools that let you sharpen the image, bringing out textures and patterns in your photos.

Take an Advanced Open Water Diving Course

If you’d love to learn to dive and capture stunning images for yourself, we recommend starting with an Advanced Open Water Diving course. This course is designed for certified open water divers who want to dive up to 30 meters (about 100 feet) and focus on improving their skills and gaining more confidence while having more fun underwater.

In addition, this course builds on the skills you learned during your Open Water course, making it ideal if you’ve just finished your Open Water certification or have completed a few dozen dives. By the end of the course, you’ll have additional skills that will enable you to enjoy open water diving in places that go beyond what your open water license allows.

At Giant Stride, we know that every diver has unique needs and budgets, so we partner with trusted dive vendors nationwide to offer various courses. Get in touch to book your course today.

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