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
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