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Underwater Photography and the Diver
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Underwater video is increasingly popular. Divers are very interested in the lively way video lets them share their otherwise essentially solo experience. Video also enables the capture and study at leisure of the extremely complex underwater environment.
Digital still photography has one important advantage over film - you can see your image right away. While the little viewfinder in the housing gives only a partial hint, it's enough to see whether the image is overexposed or whether the fish swam away into the reef.
Besides your immediate enjoyment, you can learn fish species by studying field guides, searching for the fish you remember. A more effective way is to take your own video and hold the fish on the TV screen while you look the picture up in the field guide. Then you can compare the details of anatomy far more accurately.
The image on the right shows a Pink Anemonefish in a Magnficient Sea Anemone, taken in Micronesia. We looked the creatures up in a field guide, Micronesian Reef Fishes by Robert Myers, as soon as possible after the dive, in order to learn more about them.
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Video and still photography both help keep the advanced diver's interest up. Beginning divers have enough difficulty with the scuba equipment and need to consolidate their skills before doing much with photography.
The dampening effect of water extends the effectiveness of anti-jiggle electronics in the camcorder. Smooth dollies are possible with good buoyancy control and practice. The secret to success is to move more slowly than you think is necessary. Some underwater videographers use a tripod, but it requires the right conditions. Usually you anchor your entire body. In calm water you can remain motionless with just the tips of your fins on the sand. We've been able to get close to coral reefs, which we're careful not to touch, by the "wheelbarrow" technique. That is, your dive buddy holds your legs and steers you like a wheelbarrow, keeping you up off the delicate coral, but close to the objective.
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