Diving with Photography Equipment

Diving with photography equipment can be a rewarding experience. However, for the inexperienced it can be a difficult time. First of all getting into the water presents interesting challenges to the photographer dependant upon the experience of the diver, the size of the dive boat, and the size of the camera. Most dive companies will have a protocol on how photography gear will be handled before and after a dive. Most often they will have a Dive Master (DM) or Instructor who will be on the dive deck responsible for passing gear to divers. Some boats will have a platform that may be used for equipment in good weather. Find out what the company's protocol is and ensure you follow it.

Assemble the camera and housing as per the manufacturers instructions. After all the housing seals and connections have been checked and rechecked, turn the camera on, turn the strobes on, and check that both are in the correct modes for the diving you will be doing.

Check that the buttons and knobs are all working.

Put on your dive gear and perform your buddy check

Pass the camera gear to the DM or Instructor

Enter the water in the usual manner, swim immediately to the back of the boat, retrieve your gear, and thank the DM or instructor profusely.

Begin your dive in the usual manner descending in the water slowly, if your camera has a clear housing check that water is not entering the housing.

A good dive buddy is essential. Your buddy can keep a check of depths, times, directions etc while you snap off shots of your favourite fish. They can also spot the things that you may not see. Your buddy can also feature in some of your shots when the situation arises, like diving with turtles.

A good underwater photographer is a diver with exceptional buoyancy control. Neutral buoyancy is needed to guarantee a well composed shot whilst ensuring you don’t damage the reef. Don’t destroy what you came to enjoy.

When surfacing after a dive signal okay and pass your gear back to the DM or Instructor. Exit the water and remove your dive gear.

Often the dive boat will have a fresh water wash bucket on the dive deck. Your camera gear will usually be placed into the bucket by the DM or Instructor.

Turn off the camera and strobes. If the camera housing does not need opening before the next dive it can be left in the bucket. If the housing does need to be opened dry the equipment thoroughly and prepare for the next dive.

When planning a dive, plan for the type of photography you will be doing and what you plan to photograph. Often excellent subjects can be found in water shallower than about 15 metres. At shallower depths the colours will be better, backgrounds will often be better and best of all your dives will be longer.