A Beginner’s Guide to Underwater Photography and Video

Diving opens up a world of wonder beneath the waves, and capturing those moments through underwater photography and video is an exciting way to share your experiences. 

Whether you're interested in photographing vibrant coral reefs, playful marine life, or documenting your dive adventures, getting started with underwater imaging can be both rewarding and accessible. In this guide, we'll explore why you should learn underwater photography and video, what you can do with your footage, and how you can achieve great results without breaking the bank. 

Plus, we'll cover the value of having a diving mentor to help develop your skills.

Underwater photography and video allow you to capture the beauty and uniqueness of the underwater world in a way that few others can experience. Here are a few compelling reasons to take up this incredible hobby:

1. Share Your Adventures: Whether you're exploring tropical waters or local dive sites, having a camera allows you to capture and share your experiences with friends, family, and fellow divers. Your images and videos can inspire others to appreciate the underwater world and even take up diving themselves.

2. Enhance Your Diving Skills: Using a camera underwater can make you a better diver. You'll learn to maintain buoyancy, control your movements, and improve your awareness as you position yourself for the perfect shot. Photography and videography give you a purpose and focus on each dive, helping you become a more skilled and mindful diver.

3. Preserve Memories: The underwater world is dynamic, with ever-changing conditions and diverse marine life. By capturing photos and videos, you can preserve those fleeting moments for years to come, creating lasting memories of your underwater adventures.

4. Raise Awareness: If you're passionate about marine conservation, your underwater images and videos can be powerful tools to raise awareness about the beauty and fragility of marine ecosystems. Your work can contribute to efforts to protect the oceans, highlighting conservation issues like coral bleaching, plastic pollution, and endangered species.

1. Social Media and Blogs: Share your best shots on social media platforms like Instagram, YouTube, or a personal blog to connect with other divers and inspire your followers. You can even start an underwater photography series or a vlog documenting your dive trips.

2. Create a Dive Portfolio: If you're considering becoming a dive professional, having a portfolio of your underwater photography can showcase your skills to potential employers or dive centers. It’s also a great way to document your dive experiences for future reference.

3. Prints and Gifts: Turn your favorite underwater photos into stunning prints for your home or to give as gifts. Many divers enjoy turning their photos into calendars, greeting cards, or canvas prints.

4. Dive Presentations: Your videos can be used for dive club presentations, dive training, or to educate others about marine life and conservation. They can also be a fun way to relive your dive trips with fellow divers.

Getting into underwater photography and video can be a costly endeavor, especially if you’re aiming for professional-grade results. High-end underwater camera equipment can easily run into thousands of dollars. Here’s a closer look at how expensive it can get and why starting with budget-friendly gear is a smart choice for beginners.

1. DSLR and Mirrorless Camera Systems: If you’re looking at top-tier DSLR or mirrorless camera setups, the costs can quickly add up. A high-quality mirrorless camera, like the Sony A7 series or the Canon EOS R series, can cost anywhere from $2,000 to $3,500 just for the camera body. Add a suitable lens for underwater use, such as a wide-angle or macro lens, and you're looking at an additional $800 to $2,000 per lens.

2. Underwater Housings: To protect these cameras underwater, you'll need a specialized underwater housing, which can range from $1,500 to $3,000, depending on the camera model and housing brand (e.g., Nauticam, Aquatica, or Sea & Sea). These housings are built to withstand deep depths, with precision controls that allow you to access all camera functions underwater.

3. Strobes and Lighting: Lighting is crucial for bringing out the vibrant colors of marine life, as natural light fades with depth. A pair of high-quality underwater strobes can cost between $500 to $1,000 each. Video lights, which are essential for shooting underwater video, can cost upwards of $600 per light for powerful, high-lumen options.

4. Accessories and Extras: Other essential accessories include wet lenses (for macro or wide-angle shots), arms and trays to stabilize your setup, focus lights, and high-capacity memory cards. These extras can add another $500 to $1,500 to your overall budget.

5. Total Cost: When you add it all up, a professional underwater camera setup can easily cost $5,000 to $10,000 or more. This investment is substantial, especially for those just starting out, and it's one of the main reasons why many divers shy away from underwater photography.

The good news is that you don’t need to spend a small fortune to capture stunning underwater images. Here are some affordable yet effective options to get you started:

1. Action Cameras (e.g., GoPro Hero Series): Action cameras like the GoPro Hero 11 or 12 are a fantastic for underwater videography and photography. They are compact, lightweight, and designed to be user-friendly. For around $400 CDN, you get a camera that shoots 4K video and high-resolution photos. Adding accessories like red filters, waterproof housings, and dive lights can significantly enhance your footage without breaking the bank.

Cost:

The GoPro Hero12 goes for around $400 or the AKASO Brave 4 Pro is around $165

Underwater Housing: To dive deeper, which extends its depth rating to 60 meters (196 feet) Are around $25 to $80.

Underwater Lights: range from $50 to $100

2. Olympus Tough TG-6: The Olympus Tough TG-6 is a compact underwater camera and a very popular choice among beginner underwater photographers for its durability and versatility. Priced around $650 CDN, it’s waterproof up to 15 meters (50 feet) without a housing and can go deeper with a dedicated underwater case. The TG-6 is known for its impressive macro mode, which lets you capture close-up details of small marine creatures, and it also supports 4K video recording. 

Cost:

The Olympus TG 6 is around $650

Underwater Housing: Is about $250.

Underwater Lights: range from $50 to over $200

Underwater Tray: For steadier underwater shooting, they are around $70

3. Smartphone with Underwater Housing: If you already own a smartphone, using it for underwater photography is an excellent budget-friendly option. Waterproof housings for smartphones, like the SeaLife SportDiver or Kraken Smart Housing, can cost between $250 to $400. This setup is ideal for shallow dives and snorkeling, and many newer smartphones have excellent cameras capable of capturing high-quality underwater images.

4. Accessories to Consider:

Underwater photography and video can be challenging, especially when you're just starting out. Having a mentor can accelerate your learning curve and enhance your results:

1. Expert Guidance: A diving mentor with experience is different types of diving as well as in underwater imaging can provide valuable tips on equipment setup, camera settings, lighting, and composition. They can also help you master essential diving skills like buoyancy control, which is crucial for getting clear shots.

2. Hands-On Training: Learning from someone with firsthand experience allows you to get personalized feedback on your techniques. A mentor can dive with you, demonstrate techniques, and guide you on how to approach marine life respectfully for the best shots.

3. Build Confidence: Having a mentor by your side can boost your confidence underwater, especially when trying new techniques or exploring more challenging dive sites. They can also help troubleshoot any issues you encounter with your equipment or shots.

4. Join Photography Dive Trips: Many dive instructors or mentors offer specialized underwater photography dive trips where you can practice your skills in diverse environments. These trips are great opportunities to learn, experiment, and network with other photography enthusiasts.

If you're ready to dive deeper into the world of diving and underwater photography and video, consider learning from an experienced Instructor like me, Larry Wedgewood.  I'm, a PADI Course Director and Master Instructor, offering personalized dive education, with over 35 years of diving experience, I specializes in small, flexible, personalize classes that cater to both beginner and advanced divers.

Whether you're interested in mastering underwater photography, advancing your dive certifications, or exploring new dive destinations, I offer tailored courses to suit your needs. Visit LarryWedgewoodScuba.com to learn more about my courses and upcoming dive trips.

Don’t wait to capture the underwater world through your lens. Here are some exciting ways to get started:

The course  is designed for divers of all levels who want to capture stunning underwater photos and videos using affordable, easy-to-use equipment like GoPro cameras, the Olympus Tough TG-6, and smartphone setups. You'll learn essential photography techniques, camera settings, lighting tips, and creative composition to take your underwater shots to the next level. Led by me, Larry Wedgewood, this hands-on course combines step by step guidance with real-world practice to help you build your skills and confidence as an underwater photographer. Dive in and start capturing your underwater adventures today!