How to Take Stunning Underwater Photos: 7 Pro Tips for Breathtaking Dive Photos
Underwater photography is one of the most rewarding yet challenging forms of photography. It requires technical knowledge, patience, and an understanding of the unique environment you're working in. Whether you're capturing the majesty of coral reefs or the wonders of marine life, here’s a comprehensive guide to help you take incredible underwater shots.
 |  |
1. Prepare Your Gear : The first step in successful underwater photography is making sure you have the right gear.
A leak proof Underwater Housing
Your camera must be in a waterproof housing to handle depth pressure. Before diving, ensure your housing is rated for your planned depth and check for potential leaks. The golden rule of underwater photography is to keep your camera safe and dry. Using a vacuum valve and pump is the safest way to verify a perfect seal. If you don’t have one, carefully inspect the O-ring for any wear, dust, or stray hairs that could compromise the seal. A small leak can ruin your gear—so double-check each time your open your housing!
Lenses and Accessories:
Make sure to select the right lense for your dive. Wide-angle lenses are ideal for capturing sweeping underwater landscapes and large marine life, while macro lenses are great for close-up shots of smaller creatures. Sometimes accessories like a tripod, filters, snoot and strobes for lighting can make your photo much better.
Your camera must be in a waterproof housing to handle depth pressure. Before diving, ensure your housing is rated for your planned depth and check for potential leaks. The golden rule of underwater photography is to keep your camera safe and dry. Using a vacuum valve and pump is the safest way to verify a perfect seal. If you don’t have one, carefully inspect the O-ring for any wear, dust, or stray hairs that could compromise the seal. A small leak can ruin your gear—so double-check each time your open your housing!
Lenses and Accessories:
Make sure to select the right lense for your dive. Wide-angle lenses are ideal for capturing sweeping underwater landscapes and large marine life, while macro lenses are great for close-up shots of smaller creatures. Sometimes accessories like a tripod, filters, snoot and strobes for lighting can make your photo much better.
 Prepare your gear for the dive |  Adjust your settings for the photo you want! |
Camera Settings for Stunning Underwater Photography
When you begin your underwater photography journey, starting with Auto/Program mode can be a great way to ease into taking pictures, minimizing the stress of manual settings. However, if you’re aiming for stunning, professional-level underwater images, building your confidence and learning to adjust your settings manually is essential. Mastering your camera's settings will allow you to fully unleash your creative potential and produce exceptional results. Here’s a breakdown of key features to help you improve your skills:
1. Aperture
The aperture controls the amount of light that enters the camera through the lens. A larger aperture allows more light to reach the sensor, which is especially important in low-light conditions underwater. It also plays a crucial role in the depth of field—the area in your image that stays in focus.
To experiment, try the following:
Choose a steady subject, like a nudibranch or clam, and set your aperture to a high number (like f/11). Get close, focus, and shoot. The result should show a sharp subject with a slightly blurred background.
Now, reduce the aperture to the lowest number (e.g., f/2.8), adjusting the shutter speed to maintain correct exposure, and repeat the process. This should result in a focused subject and a more blurred background, emphasizing the subject.
2. Shutter Speed
The shutter speed determines how long the aperture remains open, which controls how much light enters the camera. A faster shutter speed (e.g., 1/250th of a second) results in less light and a darker image, while a slower shutter speed (e.g., 1/60th of a second) allows more light, resulting in a brighter image.
Try this exercise to explore the effects:
Pick a subject against a blue background, such as a diver or a coral. Set your aperture to a neutral f/5 or f/6, then set your shutter speed to 1/250th of a second. Focus and shoot. You should notice a dark blue or nearly black background.
Next, reduce your shutter speed to 1/60th of a second, focus, and shoot again. This should brighten the background and make it a more vivid blue. This combination of aperture and shutter speed allows you to control the exposure and the background color.
3. White Balance
Underwater, the colors of your photos tend to shift toward blue or green, as light loses its red spectrum the deeper you go. White balance compensates for this by adjusting the colors in your image to match what you saw.
Underwater mode: Many modern cameras have an "Underwater" white balance preset that can correct the color automatically.
External red filter: If your camera doesn’t support this preset, consider using an external red filter to counteract the blue-green tint. However, this can sometimes produce inconsistent results, as the filter works best at certain depths.
Manual adjustment: For better control over your white balance, manually adjust it based on the depth you’re diving and the lighting conditions. This will give you more flexibility in capturing accurate colors in your underwater photos.
By practicing these settings, you'll gradually gain control over your exposure, depth of field, and colour balance, allowing you to capture more vibrant and natural-looking underwater shots.
1. Aperture
The aperture controls the amount of light that enters the camera through the lens. A larger aperture allows more light to reach the sensor, which is especially important in low-light conditions underwater. It also plays a crucial role in the depth of field—the area in your image that stays in focus.
To experiment, try the following:
Choose a steady subject, like a nudibranch or clam, and set your aperture to a high number (like f/11). Get close, focus, and shoot. The result should show a sharp subject with a slightly blurred background.
Now, reduce the aperture to the lowest number (e.g., f/2.8), adjusting the shutter speed to maintain correct exposure, and repeat the process. This should result in a focused subject and a more blurred background, emphasizing the subject.
2. Shutter Speed
The shutter speed determines how long the aperture remains open, which controls how much light enters the camera. A faster shutter speed (e.g., 1/250th of a second) results in less light and a darker image, while a slower shutter speed (e.g., 1/60th of a second) allows more light, resulting in a brighter image.
Try this exercise to explore the effects:
Pick a subject against a blue background, such as a diver or a coral. Set your aperture to a neutral f/5 or f/6, then set your shutter speed to 1/250th of a second. Focus and shoot. You should notice a dark blue or nearly black background.
Next, reduce your shutter speed to 1/60th of a second, focus, and shoot again. This should brighten the background and make it a more vivid blue. This combination of aperture and shutter speed allows you to control the exposure and the background color.
3. White Balance
Underwater, the colors of your photos tend to shift toward blue or green, as light loses its red spectrum the deeper you go. White balance compensates for this by adjusting the colors in your image to match what you saw.
Underwater mode: Many modern cameras have an "Underwater" white balance preset that can correct the color automatically.
External red filter: If your camera doesn’t support this preset, consider using an external red filter to counteract the blue-green tint. However, this can sometimes produce inconsistent results, as the filter works best at certain depths.
Manual adjustment: For better control over your white balance, manually adjust it based on the depth you’re diving and the lighting conditions. This will give you more flexibility in capturing accurate colors in your underwater photos.
By practicing these settings, you'll gradually gain control over your exposure, depth of field, and colour balance, allowing you to capture more vibrant and natural-looking underwater shots.
 Shutter speed control the amount of light that enters your sensor. |  Aperture control the depth of field |
2. Understand Lighting and Water Conditions :
Loss of Light and Color:
As you descend into deeper waters, light levels drop rapidly, and colors begin to disappear. Reds and oranges vanish first, followed by yellows and greens. At depths greater than 10 feet, you’ll need a strobe to bring color back into the scene. If you're taking photos at shallow depths or in well-lit conditions, you can often rely on natural light, especially during the golden hours of morning and evening.
Regardless of whether you're using a compact camera, GoPro, or professional DSLR, lighting is the key to capturing vibrant underwater images. Strobes are essential for restoring lost colors, while a focus light improves visibility in low-light conditions or during night dives. For macro enthusiasts, a wet diopter allows you to seamlessly switch between macro and super-macro photography, making it easier to capture the tiniest marine creatures with incredible clarity.
If versatility is a priority, consider adding a 1.4x teleconverter to your wide-angle setup. This handy accessory extends your lens range, enabling you to capture everything from tiny nudibranchs to majestic manta rays without changing your lens mid-dive.
As you descend into deeper waters, light levels drop rapidly, and colors begin to disappear. Reds and oranges vanish first, followed by yellows and greens. At depths greater than 10 feet, you’ll need a strobe to bring color back into the scene. If you're taking photos at shallow depths or in well-lit conditions, you can often rely on natural light, especially during the golden hours of morning and evening.
Regardless of whether you're using a compact camera, GoPro, or professional DSLR, lighting is the key to capturing vibrant underwater images. Strobes are essential for restoring lost colors, while a focus light improves visibility in low-light conditions or during night dives. For macro enthusiasts, a wet diopter allows you to seamlessly switch between macro and super-macro photography, making it easier to capture the tiniest marine creatures with incredible clarity.
If versatility is a priority, consider adding a 1.4x teleconverter to your wide-angle setup. This handy accessory extends your lens range, enabling you to capture everything from tiny nudibranchs to majestic manta rays without changing your lens mid-dive.
 |  |
3. Master Buoyancy and Stability
Before you become an underwater photographer, you first need to be a competent diver. Mastering buoyancy control is essential—not just for capturing sharp, well-composed shots but also for protecting the fragile marine environment.
Good buoyancy control allows you to stay still and hover without unnecessary movement, preventing camera shake and motion blur. The steadier you are, the clearer and crisper your photos will be.
Poor buoyancy can stir up sand and debris, causing backscatter (those annoying white specks in photos). Staying neutrally buoyant helps keep the water around you clear for cleaner, more professional-looking images.
Poor buoyancy can cause unintentional damage to delicate coral reefs, harming the very ecosystems we aim to showcase.
As an underwater photographer, you are more than just an observer—you are an ambassador of the ocean. By honing your diving skills and practicing responsible photography, you help preserve the beauty of the underwater world for future generations.
Good buoyancy control allows you to stay still and hover without unnecessary movement, preventing camera shake and motion blur. The steadier you are, the clearer and crisper your photos will be.
Poor buoyancy can stir up sand and debris, causing backscatter (those annoying white specks in photos). Staying neutrally buoyant helps keep the water around you clear for cleaner, more professional-looking images.
Poor buoyancy can cause unintentional damage to delicate coral reefs, harming the very ecosystems we aim to showcase.
As an underwater photographer, you are more than just an observer—you are an ambassador of the ocean. By honing your diving skills and practicing responsible photography, you help preserve the beauty of the underwater world for future generations.
 |  |
4. Composition and Framing Techniques
Just like any type of photography, composition is key. The ocean can be a busy environment, so framing your subject effectively is vital to creating impactful images.
Follow the Rule of Thirds:
Position your subject off-center for a more dynamic and interesting composition. The rule of thirds is particularly useful in underwater photography, where the subject can often be small in a vast seascape.
Leading Lines and Symmetry:
Use natural elements in the scene, like coral formations or beams of light filtering through the water, to lead the viewer’s eye to the main subject. These lines can add depth and dimension to the image.
Get Close and Fill the Frame:
Underwater photos often have a lot of negative space, which can make the subject appear distant and insignificant. Get as close as possible without disturbing the subject to fill the frame with the focal point.
Follow the Rule of Thirds:
Position your subject off-center for a more dynamic and interesting composition. The rule of thirds is particularly useful in underwater photography, where the subject can often be small in a vast seascape.
Leading Lines and Symmetry:
Use natural elements in the scene, like coral formations or beams of light filtering through the water, to lead the viewer’s eye to the main subject. These lines can add depth and dimension to the image.
Get Close and Fill the Frame:
Underwater photos often have a lot of negative space, which can make the subject appear distant and insignificant. Get as close as possible without disturbing the subject to fill the frame with the focal point.
 |  |
5. Respect Marine Life and the Environment
Underwater photography offers a rare chance to observe marine life in its natural habitat, but with this privilege comes responsibility. To capture stunning images while ensuring the well-being of the creatures and ecosystems you photograph, it's crucial to follow ethical practices.
Do Not Disturb
Never touch, chase, or harass animals. Doing so can cause stress and disrupt their natural behavior. Always maintain a safe distance and allow the subject to approach you or continue its natural activity. Remember: take only photos, leave only bubbles!
Avoid Damage to the Ecosystem
Be mindful of where you place your hands, fins, or camera housing. Fragile ecosystems like coral reefs can be easily damaged by human interference. Always be aware of the space around you to avoid accidentally touching or kicking the reef, as even minor disturbances can have lasting consequences.
Ethical Photography
Do not force a shot, especially if it involves putting animals or their habitats at risk. Ethical photography means capturing the beauty and serenity of marine life without causing harm or stress. Respect for the underwater world enhances your experience and ensures that it remains pristine for future generations.
Do Not Disturb
Never touch, chase, or harass animals. Doing so can cause stress and disrupt their natural behavior. Always maintain a safe distance and allow the subject to approach you or continue its natural activity. Remember: take only photos, leave only bubbles!
Avoid Damage to the Ecosystem
Be mindful of where you place your hands, fins, or camera housing. Fragile ecosystems like coral reefs can be easily damaged by human interference. Always be aware of the space around you to avoid accidentally touching or kicking the reef, as even minor disturbances can have lasting consequences.
Ethical Photography
Do not force a shot, especially if it involves putting animals or their habitats at risk. Ethical photography means capturing the beauty and serenity of marine life without causing harm or stress. Respect for the underwater world enhances your experience and ensures that it remains pristine for future generations.
 |  |
6. Post-Processing
While capturing great photos underwater is a challenge, post-processing can help you bring out the best in your shots.
Correct Exposure and Contrast:
Many underwater photos may appear too dark or have washed-out colours. Adjust the exposure and contrast in editing software to bring back details and vibrancy. Increase shadows and highlights to enhance the image’s depth.
Remove Backscatter:
Backscatter can occur when particles in the water reflect light from the strobe, creating specks of light in the image. In post-processing, you can use software tools to reduce or remove backscatter, improving the clarity of the shot.
Enhance Colors:
Use color correction tools to restore the vibrancy of the colors, particularly reds and oranges, which tend to be lost at greater depths. Adjusting white balance can also help you achieve more natural tones.
Sharpen the Image:
Subtle sharpening can help bring out details, especially if you’ve cropped your photo or if there’s motion blur. Be careful not to overdo it, as too much sharpening can create an unnatural look.
Correct Exposure and Contrast:
Many underwater photos may appear too dark or have washed-out colours. Adjust the exposure and contrast in editing software to bring back details and vibrancy. Increase shadows and highlights to enhance the image’s depth.
Remove Backscatter:
Backscatter can occur when particles in the water reflect light from the strobe, creating specks of light in the image. In post-processing, you can use software tools to reduce or remove backscatter, improving the clarity of the shot.
Enhance Colors:
Use color correction tools to restore the vibrancy of the colors, particularly reds and oranges, which tend to be lost at greater depths. Adjusting white balance can also help you achieve more natural tones.
Sharpen the Image:
Subtle sharpening can help bring out details, especially if you’ve cropped your photo or if there’s motion blur. Be careful not to overdo it, as too much sharpening can create an unnatural look.
 |  |
7. Practice and Patience
Like any form of photography, practice makes perfect.
Spend time underwater practicing different techniques, and learn from your mistakes. Some of the best underwater photos come after numerous attempts.
Patience is also key. Marine life can be unpredictable, and perfect conditions may not always present themselves immediately. Stay calm, keep your composure, and don’t rush your shots.
Spend time underwater practicing different techniques, and learn from your mistakes. Some of the best underwater photos come after numerous attempts.
Patience is also key. Marine life can be unpredictable, and perfect conditions may not always present themselves immediately. Stay calm, keep your composure, and don’t rush your shots.
 |  |
Conclusion
Underwater photography allows you to capture the breathtaking beauty of the ocean, but it comes with its own unique set of challenges. By preparing your gear, mastering buoyancy, understanding lighting, and practicing composition techniques, you can greatly improve your chances of getting that perfect shot.
Whether you’re photographing coral reefs, fish, or shipwrecks, the possibilities are endless. Just remember to respect the underwater world, take your time, and most importantly, have fun exploring beneath the surface.
Whether you’re photographing coral reefs, fish, or shipwrecks, the possibilities are endless. Just remember to respect the underwater world, take your time, and most importantly, have fun exploring beneath the surface.
RSS Feed
