The underwater world has to be seen to be believed. The number of species and their infinite variations is something out of a science fiction book, but it’s not fiction. If you want to bring what you see to the surface through photographs and video footage, consider taking the Digital Underwater Photographer PADI specialty course!
As you’ve probably surmised, capturing great underwater photos involves more than just pointing a camera at your subject and pressing the shutter button. The very first skill you must master to achieve excellent underwater images is your buoyancy. Hovering as close to your subjects as possible will be key in getting good color saturation and sharp focus with many details.
You’ll need a digital underwater camera or a regular digital camera with waterproof housing to take the Digital Underwater Photography PADI specialty course and all essential scuba gear. Depending on your location, your local dive center may offer camera rentals, so you don’t have to invest in one before you take the course. While camera housings can be very pricey for specific sizes and models of digital cameras, some underwater cameras can cost $500 or less.
Any Open Water or Junior Open Water Diver aged 10 and up can get started by signing up for PADI’s Digital Underwater Photographer Online. There is also a non-diving certification that snorkelers and skin divers can attain. This online course will teach you the basics of taking still images underwater using a camera or video recorder. Interactive presentations introduce more information along with short quizzes to test your knowledge and can be done at your own pace. A final test at the end determines whether you are ready to enact what you’ve learned in the pool for one dive and in open water for the last dive.
Take a course and see if it’s for you!
Call your local dive center if you’re interested in the Digital Underwater Photography PADI specialty course, and start taking the sights of the sea home with you!
