So you have already started to scuba dive and now you want to take it to the next step and try some underwater photography. Here are a few of my top tips to remember before you even get in the water.
Are you ready to start underwater photography?
You may have passed your open water course but are you ready to add another element to your scuba diving experience? After passing your Open Water course you are ready to scuba dive around the world. But are you truly ready to also master a camera underwater?
For most people, it is unlikely that their buoyancy skills will be good enough to take the best underwater pictures if you just finished your beginner open water diver course. If you are serious about getting into underwater photography. I would advise getting your advanced diver course or at the very least a lot of practice fun diving at the open water level. This will give you time to get comfortable and confident with your movements underwater making it safer and easier to get those amazing shots.
Best camera for underwater photography?
Buying your first underwater camera for underwater photography can be stressful as there are so many to chose from. On top of that, you also need to decide what kind of camera housing you want.
It helps if you are already experienced with photography on land. If you already know how cameras work then go for what you know. If you are new to photography, then I recommend keeping it simple. The best camera for beginner underwater photography is a basic compact model. Basic compact cameras are so advanced these days that you can achieve great shots without breaking the bank.
Where are you and what are you doing?
You have done some dives and bought yourself an underwater camera. You feel confident in your buoyancy and general scuba diving skills. You are ready to explore and start your new passion for underwater photography, but where to dive?
To get the best opportunities to practice your first shots we recommend you to research your diving destinations before entering the water. Understanding the dive site, potential currents, and other conditions. Can give you an edge in finding the best spot to take underwater pictures.
Even more important is researching the marine life on the dive site before the dive. This can help you to recognize species and where to find them. Once you get more experienced at underwater photography you can learn fish and coral’s behaviors and get even better at taking the perfect underwater photo.
Fast track your underwater photography skills
For most of us, diving is a once or twice a year holiday so we don’t get a lot of time to practice these skills and learn all the relevant knowledge. Fast track yourself by booking an underwater photography course with your dive shop. In this Digital Underwater Photography course, they will teach you lots of different underwater photography tips, like your position, the perfect angle depending on the species, dealing with light, flash, editing and so much more.
The best tip is to experiment a lot, take lots of pictures, bring your underwater camera on every dive and you will be surprised how fast you will improve. As John Wooden famously said:
“The importance of repetition until automaticity cannot be overstated. Repetition is the key to learning.”
Author:
Paddy Peach Steele is a passionate underwater photography that has taken award winning marine life pictures. Please check out his portfolio on Instagram: @peachsnapsphotography
What to check out next?
Do you want to learn more about how scuba divers communicate underwater? Then check out our Scuba Diving Hand SignalsBlog as your next read.
Frequently Asked Questions About Underwater Photography for Beginners
Why do underwater photos often appear blue or lack vibrant colors?
Water absorbs light, especially red, orange, and yellow wavelengths, as depth increases. This absorption causes underwater images to have a blue or green tint and reduces overall color vibrancy. Using artificial lighting, like strobes or flashes, can help restore lost colors.
How can I improve the color and clarity of my underwater photos?
Get Close to Your Subject: Minimize the water between you and the subject to reduce distortion and color loss.
Use Artificial Lighting: Employ strobes or flashes to reintroduce lost colors and enhance contrast.
Adjust White Balance: Manually set your camera’s white balance or use underwater modes to correct color tones.
Shoot in Clear Conditions: Choose days with good visibility and minimal particulate matter in the water.
What camera settings are recommended for beginners in underwater photography?
Mode: Start with auto or program mode to let the camera handle exposure.
Focus: Use continuous autofocus to track moving subjects.
ISO: Set to a low value (e.g., 100-400) to reduce noise.
Aperture: Use a mid-range aperture (e.g., f/5.6 to f/8) for a balance between depth of field and light.
Shutter Speed: Maintain a speed fast enough to prevent motion blur (e.g., 1/125s or faster).
Is it better to shoot in RAW or JPEG format underwater?
Shooting in RAW format is preferred as it retains more image data, allowing for greater flexibility in post-processing, especially for correcting color and exposure issues common in underwater photography.
What are common mistakes to avoid in underwater photography?
Shooting from Above: Avoid capturing subjects from directly above; instead, shoot at eye level or slightly upward for more engaging compositions.
Neglecting Buoyancy Control: Poor buoyancy can lead to blurry images and damage to marine life.
Overusing Flash: Improper flash use can cause backscatter; position strobes correctly and use diffusers.
Ignoring Composition: Apply basic photography principles like the rule of thirds to create balanced images.
Create stunning underwater photos with the best underwater smartphone housing for scuba diving, snorkeling, and freediving.
Spending time on the beach and in the ocean is one of the most popular vacation activities. It’s only natural to want to capture your adventures under the waves.
It’s easier than ever to take your smartphone with you into the sea. But what is the best smartphone underwater housing? We recommend the DiveVolk SeaTouch 4 Max!
Even if your smartphone has built-in water protection, it can feel counterintuitive to submerge it in saltwater. You’re also limited by water depth and length of time.
Imagine having the convenience of your phone. It’s designed to be waterproof. Capture memories that will last a lifetime in stunning quality.
Whether it’s photographing coral reefs or discovering marine wildlife – take your photography game to new depths without leaving any details behind.
Read on and discover how you can take your smartphone underwater with you. Discover how to supercharge your scuba diving, snorkeling, and freediving experiences today.
Why Buy an Underwater Smartphone Housing?
Traditional underwater photography can come at a high cost. This is because the conventional methods of using underwater mirrorless or DSLR cameras require an extensive array of equipment such as underwater housing, underwater strobes, and clamps.
For those who want to try out underwater photography and don’t have a lot of experience, it might be more practical to consider using a smartphone housing for underwater photography. This is because most people already own a smartphone.
Smartphones have amazing cameras and come with features geared toward making photography easy. These cameras can capture high-quality photos and videos, and by adding an underwater housing, you can even capture your underwater experiences with stunning detail. Your only limitation will be your smartphone battery.
There are so many reasons why you should opt for smartphone camera housing over regular camera housing. Here are just some of the benefits.
More Affordable
Smartphone underwater housings are more affordable than regular camera housings. This makes them a great option for those who want to try out underwater photography on a budget.
Easier to Use
Smartphone housings have user-friendly controls and are easier to operate compared to regular camera housings. Regular camera housing often requires extensive knowledge of the equipment before you can take photos or videos comfortably.
Compact Size
Unlike traditional camera setups, smartphone underwater housing systems come in small sizes. This makes it easy to bring with you on all your adventures without being too cumbersome or bulky.
High-Quality Images
The best smartphone underwater housings come with high-quality lenses. These help minimize distortion while delivering sharp images with stunning detail even in low-light conditions.
Compatibility
Most smartphone underwater housing units are compatible with different models of smartphones, meaning they will fit just about any device. This means you won’t have to buy a new camera housing with each phone upgrade.
Buoyancy Chamber
Imagine losing your phone underwater! An air-filled buoyancy chamber helps keep the housing afloat so you don’t lose it while diving deep into the ocean.
Shock Absorbency
A shock-absorbing material ensures that your phone is protected from any bumps and knocks it encounters while exploring reefs and wrecks. If you have surface time between dives, it also helps protect your phone from getting crushed by other equipment.
Tips for Choosing the Best Smartphone Underwater Housing
When it comes to choosing the best underwater housing for your smartphone, there are several factors to consider.
You need to make sure the housing is made of a durable material that can withstand saltwater and pressure associated with depths up to 100 meters (328 feet), shock and vibration absorbency, and an air-filled chamber for added buoyancy.
The best underwater housings for smartphones also come equipped with an array of features such as user-friendly controls and smartphone compatibility. You should be able to use it with different smartphone models.
You should also consider the lens quality. This is important because your photos will only look as good as the quality of the lens used to capture them. Look for housings that use high-quality lenses with minimal distortion and sharp images.
What’s the Best Smartphone Underwater Housing?
It can be quite overwhelming to choose the best underwater housing. There are so many options on the market. We’ve done the hard work for you and come up with one model that outshines the rest.
Why Choose the DIVEVOLK SeaTouch 4 MAX Underwater Housing?
The SeaTouch 4 Max is a housing design that allows smartphones to be used underwater up to 60 meters deep. It has a revolutionary design that lets you fully operate your smartphone’s touchscreen and use all of its functions and apps while diving.This is the world’s first full touchscreen housing for smartphones that can be used underwater.
Patented Design
This smartphone diving case allows you to take pictures and videos while surfing, diving, snorkeling, or other activities underwater.
It includes a patented underwater touchscreen that works like a normal smartphone screen. It also allows you to use your phone’s built-in compass as well as protects your device from water damage.
You can instantly upload and share at any time, as long as you have a signal.
Access all apps on your smartphone without any restrictions. There are no limits to your creativity and you can enjoy more fun. Capture your best moments underwater with photos, videos, and even sounds.
All current iPhones up to the iPhone 14 Pro Max
All Samsung Galaxy models
All Google Pixel phones up to the Pixel 7 Pro
All Samsung Xiaomi, and Redmi models
Watertight
This smartphone underwater housing is extremely safe. You can keep your phone in it while using it underwater to avoid moisture damage. It provides protection up to a depth of 60 meters.
DIVEVOLK has prioritized the safety of users’ phones right from the design development stage of the SeaTouch series housing. The waterproof nature of the design has been significantly enhanced, thanks to several features such as a unique small opening, multi-layer seal gasket, and button-free design.
A small opening gives less risk of leakage compared to bigger openings
The three-layer gasket seals the opening from all directions
Button-free design means fewer opportunities for leakage
Easy to Operate
The SeaTouch4 Max underwater touchscreen housing is different from other button-based housings. It features a unique underwater touchscreen membrane that allows you to access all phone functions. You can use this housing both on land and underwater up to a depth of 60 meters.
An underwater full touchscreen housing is easy to use because you don’t have to learn a new app or operating process. It operates just like your phone.
To get started, follow these steps: first, install the adapter on your phone. Then, plug them into the housing and secure them. That’s it – you’re ready to go!
Limitless Creativity
With the touchscreen function housing, you can access different cameras like ultra-wide angles and telephoto. Additionally, you can use camera functions such as focus, 4K, panorama, slow motion, and live photos. With the advanced mode, you can also adjust the shutter speed, ISO, and color temperature.
Multi-Purpose
Thanks to its multifunctional design, the SeaTouch 4 Max can be used anywhere, whether you’re diving, snorkeling, water skiing, surfing, or kayaking. You can use it for any type of water sport to protect your phone from damage. Check out their easy camping carry bag here.
If you are a professional underwater photographer, you can enhance your shots by ordering a wide-angle lens and red filter. This will produce better results than shooting without them.
Although this device does not require a tray and arms thanks to its center attachment grip, you can add various attachments to enhance your photographs.
Other accessories include fisheye lenses, selfie sticks, and lighting.
Other Features of the SeaTouch 4 Max
You’ll have access to all the features of the camera including manual mode and RAW file image shooting, as well as the ability to edit photos on the go.
Additionally, you can use mapping information to send messages if you have a signal, connect to other devices via Bluetooth and wifi, and make emergency phone calls on the water surface.
Another great benefit is that you can upload and share photos without having to remove the housing.
Ready to Start Capturing Photos and Videos Underwater?
Smartphone housings are an essential tool for capturing underwater photos and videos. With the best smartphone underwater housing, you’ll be able to explore the wonders of the deep. Take amazing shots that would otherwise be impossible to achieve with traditional cameras.
If you’re looking for more information about scuba diving, then look no further than the Scuba Diving Tips website. Visit us and get access to specialized tips for scuba diving courses, photography tips, as well as essential advice on which equipment is best suited for you.
Frequently Asked Questions About the DiveVolk SeaTouch 4 Max Underwater Housing
What is the DiveVolk SeaTouch 4 Max?
The DiveVolk SeaTouch 4 Max is an innovative underwater housing designed for smartphones, allowing divers and snorkelers to use their device’s touchscreen underwater. Unlike traditional housings that rely on physical buttons or Bluetooth connections, the SeaTouch 4 Max enables full access to all phone functions, including native camera apps and third-party applications, through its unique touchscreen-compatible design.
Which smartphones are compatible with the SeaTouch 4 Max?
The SeaTouch 4 Max is compatible with a wide range of smartphones, including most iPhone models from the iPhone 6 Plus to the iPhone 14 Pro Max, as well as various Android devices. For phones not natively supported, DiveVolk offers custom 3D-printed trays to ensure a secure fit within the housing.
How deep can the SeaTouch 4 Max be used?
This housing is rated for depths up to 60 meters (approximately 200 feet), making it suitable for recreational diving, snorkeling, and other underwater activities.
Does the touchscreen function work underwater?
Yes, the SeaTouch 4 Max features a special membrane filled with a gel-like substance that transmits touch inputs to the smartphone’s screen. This design allows users to operate their phone’s touchscreen underwater, though it’s recommended to use bare fingers or DiveVolk’s touchscreen-compatible finger cots, as gloves may impede functionality.
What accessories are available for the SeaTouch 4 Max?
DiveVolk offers a variety of accessories to enhance the SeaTouch 4 Max experience, including:
Macro and wide-angle lenses for improved underwater photography.
Lens and filter adapters for color correction and creative effects.
Underwater trays and lighting systems for stability and illumination.
Wi-Fi signal transmitters to use the smartphone as an underwater camera monitor.
Is the SeaTouch 4 Max suitable for professional underwater photography?
While the SeaTouch 4 Max is user-friendly and ideal for recreational use, it also offers features that appeal to professional underwater photographers, such as full touchscreen access, compatibility with various lenses and lighting setups, and the ability to use advanced camera apps. However, for specialized professional needs, dedicated underwater camera systems may offer additional functionalities.
