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Having recently achieved Scuba certification I have just purchased a Canon camera with underwater housing and embarked on an underwater photography learning curve.
Just wondered if anyone shares the same interest or has any tips?
Best effort to date:

Thats a great effort rover.

Had a few attempts at this myself.

Biggest problem is lack of light and everything will become more 'blue' as you go deeper.  I use a Canon digital with a standard flash in a housing and struggle to get decent colours in pictures at any sort of depth.

Best tip is to try and shoot pointing upto the surface so as to maximise the light, and to get a close as possible to the subject.  Even a couple of feet will make a difference to the colours you see.

The beauty of digital cameras is that you can take plenty of shots in the hope that you'll get a few decent ones.  The good ones are well worth the effort.

I'll post a few of my more successful attempts on here for reference.

My all-time favourite (and I've posted it on here before).  This is from a shark-feeding dive in the Bahamas.  I took loads of shots and this one just came out perfect as it swam past me.

This is at about 55 feet depth so the colours are already disappearing.

Another one from the same dive, but a 'distance shot'.  Even at a distance of 'only' 8ft or so away there's a huge reduction in clarity and definition with my camera due to the flash.

This one is from Cuba in 2003.  The Moray Eels are hard to photograph as they like dark places and you tend to not want to get too close to them.  This is as good as I've managed to take of them.

Same dive.  This is unusual as the Moray's don't tend to swim out of their holes, but these have become used to the divers and swim out to be fed by them.  They were 'tame' enough to be handled by the dive leaders but being eyeballed by them is still pretty unnerving.

This is from a wreck dive I did in Cuba and is the deepest dive I've done.  The bottom of the wreck was at about 35m so this is probably taken at around 30m.  As you can see the colours really suffer badly at this depth but the wrecks tend to give good definition so you can still get some interesting pictures.

cracking pics, that shark one should be published I reckon.

A good example here of the problem with light underwater.  2 pictures taken within seconds of each other of the same school of fish.  The first one is from above and a few feet away, the second from below and 'up close'.

The second picture is about as 'colourful' as I've managed to take underwater and it's not a patch on Rover's effort in terms of showing the colours you actually see.

One day, I'd love to invest in a decent underwater camera (or at least get a handheld flash attached to a digital) to try and get some better shots.  It's hard to do justice to what you actually see in most cases.

First pic:

2nd effort:

A 'still life' effort.  Lack of colour is an issue so I try and shoot towards the surface and so as to try and get the 'shapes'.  I quite like this one (i.e. it's less crap than the other efforts!)

Last one (honest!)  Not one of mine but a photo taken of one of the scariest monsters of the deep.  There's also a shark in the picture if you look closely.

This is another pic from the shark dive and it shows the camera I used to take the earlier pictures.  Bog standard Canon digital with an underwater housing around it.  The camera is 5 or so years old now so probably obsolete by today's standards.

Your eyes give away the fact that you were shitting yourself there ... no shame in that under the circumstances mind :D :D

LOL - trust you to point that out!

Actually, I was less nervous on that dive than the one with the eel.  I'd do it again in a heartbeat.

You're not the first to point out the eyes on that pic but its probably more to do with mask problems (had to practically weld it to my face to stop it leaking) and my contact lenses than anything else.  Remind me to show you the DVD of the dive one day.  It does me far more justice than that picture!!

Amazing stuff.

Some great photos there, Sheriff.
Cuba, sharks, morays....
....majority of my dives have been off Mevagissey in Cornwall and the scariest thing I've seen so far is a 2ft Bass!
Actually, I completed my Open Water course in Spain and did get squirted with black ink by an Octopus, but that was before I had invested in a camera.

You're quite right about getting as close to the subject as possible and the loss of colour at depth. Hence my picture of the anemone at only 9 metres!
It's not easy to remain perfectly still in English waters in mid winter, either!

I take it you still dive, Sheriff?

Thats a very beautiful picture Tech. It looks like a great  hobby too. How did you find it when you first started? Ive never dived before and always imagined it could be quite frightening in its own right, never mind doing a Sherrif and swimming with eels and sharks....lol  Do you feel like you can breath okay or does that take some getting used to?  Any more photos?

Sherrif - omg!! thrills galore there. Are you crazy? lol

Mad

The Open Water certification is very good for preparing you for every eventuality underwater.  If you can get through that then you'll know you're going to be OK as you have to do some fairly tough tasks to qualify (e.g. removing mask underwater and replacing it, taking away the BC and recovering it, emergency ascents, etc).  My instructor told us when we started that most people who don't get through it give up right at the start as they get freaked out by the mask and the bubbles around their face so the chances are that, if you didn't enjoy it, you'd have made the decision in a swimming pool rather than in open water.

To be honest, I was absolutely garbage during my Open Water course and didn't think I was going to get through it for the first 3 days.  However, something clicked once we moved from the swimming pool to the ocean and I improved rapidly after that.  However, it wasn't until my 10th dive or so that I actually noticed anything around me as for the first few dives I was so focused on the equipment and my air levels that I forgot to look around!


Rover - I'm very much a warm water diver.  I've done the Red Sea, Key West, Jamaica, Cuba and the Bahamas and the coldest water I've been in is about 26 degrees!  If we do a non-Vegas holiday then we tend to head for somewhere where I can dive (Sophie did a resort dive in Jamaica and didn't really enjoy it so she just chills out by the pool instead!)  One thing I would definitely recommend is the Advanced Open Water course as it'll improve your skills hugely.  There are a few optional modules you can do on this and one of them is on photography, so it's something worth investigating if you are keen on this.

Mrs Red and I went scuba diving in Teneriffe on the spur of the moment. We had no problems at all and took to it like... Well, like ducks to water really.

These pictures are just awesome - more, please, & thank you!

Tops pics..
the only time i went scuba diving was when i got married for the 1st time in barbados,got an ear infection and couldnt fly home for another week luckily we went 2 days b4 we were due to go home which meant i was left in an all inclusive resort on me lonesome as she went home to organise the reception, it was doomed from the off!!,but had a blast on me own lol

great pics those guys.

To Madasahatstand and to anyone else remotely interested in Scuba Diving my advice is this;
DO IT NOW!
It's the best thing I have ever done and I wish I had done it years ago.

Sheriff, you lucky bugger! I've been diving all winter in temperatures ranging from 6 to 12 degrees down here in Cornwall. To be honest, the temperature at the bottom of the sea has been higher than the temperature on land most times!
Off to Spain next month though, hoping to get some good photos there.

I'll try and post a few more pics but there are no sharks in mine!

Sea Urchin

Lobster - and he nearly had me with his claws!

Velvet Swimming Crab - having dinner.

tremendous pictures, keep them coming please:)

whats it having ... looks like a disposable nappy :D

It's actually the fleshy remains of a large fish, probably called Terry.  ;)

fyp

Took this only yesterday during my first dive at a place called Porthkerris.
I haven't yet managed to identify what type of anemone it is.

What kind of camera are you using Rover?  The colours on your pics are so much better than mine so maybe I should upgrade for next time, even if its 'only' to a new digital plus housing.

Great pics, and surprising clarity for UK waters.  Everyone I've spoken to about UK diving says visibility is usually a nightmare but it seems not to be an issue where you're diving.

Some great shots guys :) 

I've never done underwater photography (bar a disposable I had travelling once) but from what I gather, the best way to get better shots is to get as close as you can, you almost can't be too close.   Also, if you minimise flash it's a good thing as it can reflect all the particles in the water reducing the effect of your shot.

Just how cold is it diving in the UK at the moment? Are you using a dry suit or can you dive with a 5mm wet suit or something?

I have only ever dived in the warmth of Sharm, although I am off to Belize in May for a week. It should be the season for Whale Sharks which will definitely be worth taking photos of.

Hi Sheriff.
I purchased just about the cheapest package on the market; a Canon Powershot A570 with underwater housing for around £180.
At first, most of my photos were heavily tinted green. Then they went from green to green and blurred.
Of course, I blamed the camera!
So I got a book on underwater photography and read a couple of chapters. Amazing what you can learn in a couple of hours!
I struggle to get my head around some of the principles of photography; shutter speeds, apertures, depth of field, macros, etc, etc. Some of it sounds complicated. But the best thing I read was something Silo Graham mentioned - getting close up and personal with the subject. And when you think you are close enough, get closer.
Then, with the age of digital, you can happily click away to your heart's content and it doesn't cost a penny. The more photos you take the greater the chance of getting a good one.
I've only been doing this for a month and that just about sums up my knowledge thus far. Like most things, you learn more from experiences.

As for UK waters and what you might hear, it's a bit of a myth. I've completed 28 dives here in Cornwall since November last year and majority have been with visibilty in excess of 5 metres. We had a two week period last month where the visibilty exceeded 10 metres. You could see the seabed from the quayside at high tide, it was that clear.
Of course, I have dived when visibilty has been down to just a metre. Obviously, that's not great for photography but it's good experience for a novice diver like myself. Improves your navigation skills, that's for sure!
I never realised the scope of marine life and range of colours beneath the sea in UK waters could be so vast. Always figured diving to be something you would do abroad, but why travel when there's a whole new world at your doorstep.
I'm rambling now and starting to sound like a PADI advert.

As for temperature, I have experienced a range of 6 degrees to 12 degrees through this winter.
I wear an Oceanic Neoprene semi-dry suit combo - 5mm full piece with 5mm spring suit over the top, giving 10mm around the core of my body. I have a 5mm hood, 5mm gloves and 5mm boots.
With average dive times of around 30 - 40 minutes, sometimes with a shorter, consecutive dive, I can honestly say I have not been cold in the water once. Been cold a couple of times when getting changed after the dive though!

Enjoy Belize, neeko, I expect to see some photos on here when you get back  ;)

Absolutely great thread.

Anything with pictures of nature and im addcited, please keep this thread alive.

I have some pretty good photos of the diving ive done in australia, I didnt take them but I was on the dives. Il try and dig them out, one of the best is of a bull shark we saw diving the SS yongala late last year. Hopefully heading to other coast of aus at end of april to catch some whale sharks which should be quality

Is the Yongala the one that goes from Townsville?   I think I was due to do my PADI from it but sadly couldn't.

Yeah trips leave from townsville, but we stayed in a town called Ayr which is only 45 mins to the yongala on a fairly small boat, but allowed us to do 2 dives, both were amazing. i think the townsville boat journey is so long that you only get chance for one dive or maybe not at all if you arrive and the conditions are too rough since the dive spot is smack bang in the middle of a shipping lane.

lol I spent about 4 months in Ayr running a hostel :D 

The hostel we stayed at was at Alva beach an as just for diving trips to the yongala,

tried attaching some photos but all seem to be too big, :-(

Dived early evening on Thursday and snapped this little chap.
Apparently it's a sea scorpion and a master of camouflage.

mate, you'll love Belize. I only snorkelled there but the place is incredible, manatees, hundreds of nursery sharks, less (thankfully) hammerheads, baracuda and huge rays among the highlights.
I asume you'll be going to the great blue hole? surely one of the most amazing sights on the sea http://ambergriscaye.com/pages/town/greatbluehole.html

Be careful in that great blue hole. It looks scary!!

Diving this weekend, I saw the mid section of this creature and as it didn't appear to be moving I assumed maybe it was dead. So I picked it up by the tail and it turned and looked at me as if to say what the hell do you think you are doing!
I soon let go when I realised it was about 15 inches long and quite clearly alive!
Back at home, scanning through a book, I discovered it is called a Greater Pipefish.

Can I post my over water photo?  Just took this out the back at work.

(http://img507.imageshack.us/img507/1073/deerls7.jpg)

Venison for tea then obv. :)

Be cery careful if you going swimming in the Med.

I love that pic! Did you take that?

Well I got back in one piece from my hoiday in Belize, I will bore everyone with a bunch of photo's later but here's one to start with

Me and a turtle

(http://img87.imageshack.us/img87/8550/nickturtleuh9.th.jpg) (http://img87.imageshack.us/my.php?image=nickturtleuh9.jpg)

crickey

wow, that's some turtle.

where'd you stay mate? Ambergris?

and did you do the big blue hole?

Why would he want to go to Birminghams ground ??

I stayed at Turneffe Flats on Turneffe Atoll about 25 miles east of Belize City.

As for the Blue Hole, It took till the 3rd day till we got to go, as the wind was making the seas choppy, but I was very glad i did it.

So i was swimming down at 40m looking at the stalactites.

(http://img112.imageshack.us/img112/1775/stalacyj7.th.jpg) (http://img112.imageshack.us/my.php?image=stalacyj7.jpg)

When I turned round and saw this guy just swimming past me

(http://img112.imageshack.us/img112/1580/shark1di8.th.jpg) (http://img112.imageshack.us/my.php?image=shark1di8.jpg)

He went past, went underneath me and the wandered off. I didnt get a very good picture, but it was a Caribbean Reef shark and they are very common at the Blue Hole and never bother the divers who invade their world to have a look around.

On one of the first dives of the holiday I got to see Dolphins, along with a yellow tailed snapper, which as a species were always fwimming around in front of you trying to get in the picture.

(http://img228.imageshack.us/img228/5769/dolphinzs0.th.jpg) (http://img228.imageshack.us/my.php?image=dolphinzs0.jpg)

wow, scary stuff indeed!! I really fancy the idea of doing what you do but I visualise swimming beside sharks the realisation kicks in and I have second thoughts.....lol.  More brilliant photos, keep them coming :)

Next we have 3 Manatee's which are fairly rare, although they are large, mainly slow and just generally eat a lot.

(http://img112.imageshack.us/img112/5802/manateeja5.th.jpg) (http://img112.imageshack.us/my.php?image=manateeja5.jpg)

Now for another picture of the turtle, it was just swimming along in its very methodical and calm way, our dive master saw it and raced after it as I was taking a photo of a much smaller fish when i looked up both him and my dive buddy were swimming along at a great rate of knots away from me. So I chased after them to see what was worth the effort, and when we caught up with him it was well worth it.

This is the first photo i shot of it but one of the best.

(http://img228.imageshack.us/img228/179/turtlehf8.th.jpg) (http://img228.imageshack.us/my.php?image=turtlehf8.jpg)

After we had taken a load of photo's we had to stop following him as were knackered trying to keep up with it, but it calmly kept going, away into the distance.

Three final fish to finish:

Angel Fish (Grey or French - I am not very good at remebering the types)

(http://img228.imageshack.us/img228/4921/angellu7.th.jpg) (http://img228.imageshack.us/my.php?image=angellu7.jpg)

Baracuda (I think)

(http://img112.imageshack.us/img112/4286/baracudanh7.th.jpg) (http://img112.imageshack.us/my.php?image=baracudanh7.jpg)

No idea (but looked funny)

(http://img228.imageshack.us/img228/9098/fish1bb4.th.jpg) (http://img228.imageshack.us/my.php?image=fish1bb4.jpg)

I also saw Eagle Rays, Sting rays, large crabs & Moray eels

Oh and lobsters

(http://img112.imageshack.us/img112/9121/lobsterge4.th.jpg) (http://img112.imageshack.us/my.php?image=lobsterge4.jpg)

Fantastic pics.