Photographers love beautiful things, and there is no setting more beautiful than that which awaits the scuba diver.

A generation ago, purchasing an underwater camera was an expensive exercise and would not always lead to the best quality photos.

These days standard digital cameras are protected by special underwater housings that allow scuba diving photographers to capture the marine world in all its glory.

Housings are usually made with a particular camera model in mind and range in materials from cheap plastic to expensive aluminium. The great news for underwater photographers is that the user can select housings for “everyday” cameras – the very same cameras used to take happy snaps at weddings and birthday parties!

If you plan on taking underwater photos, make sure you purchase a camera with a wide-angle lens or a macro lens. The reason these options are the best is that they minimise the amount of distance (water!) you will need to have between the camera and the subject.

Underwater camera housings are strange looking contraptions, but the good part is that they allow you almost full functionality with your normal digital camera. This is because they come with buttons that extend through the casing to push the camera’s standard buttons.

Be aware that you may need to buy a camera with a strong flash function, because underwater your light will be greatly reduced. A second option is to invest in a dedicated underwater flash (also called a strobe).

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Filed under: Camera Guide

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