Underwater Photography

[rddtld6]

So I get to chose a vacation to go on this summer and I was thinking about some underwater photography in the carribean or something. I've never scuba dived (sp), I'm a big photography fan so I thought this would a be a cool expirience. Anybody here ever done it? Do I need to take some diving lesson here before I go? Stories? Pictures?

Ryan

[ScaldedDog]

So I get to chose a vacation to go on this summer and I was thinking about some underwater photography in the carribean or something. I've never scuba dived (sp), I'm a big photography fan so I thought this would a be a cool expirience. Anybody here ever done it? Do I need to take some diving lesson here before I go? Stories? Pictures?

Ryan

I took some from a submarine in the Caymans years ago. Remember to adjust your white balance or you'll have lots of work to do in photoshop to get rid of the blue.

Mark

[HollywoodCTS]

Dont use a disposable camera. In Hawaii I was scuba diving when a 12 foot shark cruised right on by. I quickly snapped a pic of said shark, and when I got the film developed it turns out the shark was only like 3 ft. So the cameras lie.

[Steve]

Yes, I've done it. If you're gonna scuba dive you have to get certified or nobody will rent you any equipment or tanks. And, if you don't have a good underwater camera with a good strobe you won't get very good pics. If you just want to snorkel (lots of places down there have great snorkeling) you can rent good underwater cameras.

Scuba diving is one of the coolest things you can do. I'd say get certified and forget about taking pics. As a new diver you'll be too busy learning everything and looking around anyway.

[Luv_Jeeps]

I just got back from the Carib at the beginning of the year.
I tried a disposable a number of years ago, and they suck.
I bought a Canon SD900 and an Canon WP-DC7 underwater housing for it.
Here's a few of shots from swimming with some sea turtles in Barbados.

Edit: I was just snorkeling and only went down to about 15 feet using my fins.
I didn't use a strobe, but the specific underwater setting that is built in to the Canon SD900.
I couldn't justify the 1000+ cost for the housing for either the Nikon D70 or the D200 units, plus the cost of the strobe. I don't do enough underwater shooting for that. :D

http://www.nrfg.com/IMG_0108.jpg
http://www.nrfg.com/IMG_0086.jpg
http://www.nrfg.com/IMG_0113.jpg

[rddtld6]

Yeah I obviously don't have an underwater camera, but I was just thinking that there might be tours you could take that would supply you with everything. I googled a bit but didn't come up with too much.

[Hippie]

Yeah I obviously don't have an underwater camera, but I was just thinking that there might be tours you could take that would supply you with everything. I googled a bit but didn't come up with too much.


We just got back from Belize on the 14th and yes you need to get certified to scuba. Trust me on this and DO NOT go diving without getting certified even if you can find a divemaster that will take you out ;) . We went through Underwater Phantaseas in Lakewood( on Union just south of 6th). I HIGHLY recomend them for your open water cert, talk to Bill or Steve, they are great and don't try to sell you junk you don't need.

As far as the photography goes it is VERY difficult to get good pics under water because of the conditions but you can get ok results with a semi cheap set up, the best advice is get close to your subject ( 1-2 feet) and try to shoot up( not easy).

Good luck and enjoy, you will not regret taking the steps to get certified and diving it is an amazing, life changing experience :thumbsup:


BTW LUV JEEPS - great pics!!!

[DETN8R]

Those pics of that turtle almost seem like they're 3D Rendered.

[rondog]

Those turtle pics are beautiful! Awesome photos.