Underwater Photography Etiquette
Capturing the Deep with Respect
Respect the Marine Life
Underwater, we are a visitors in the home of countless marine creatures. We should always maintain a respectful distance and avoid disturbing the animals. Use a zoom lens or appropriate underwater photography equipment to capture shots without getting too close. Never swim fast in the direction of an animal and act like a predator.
Minimize Your Impact
Remember that even the slightest touch can damage delicate coral reefs affecting the underwater environment. Maintain buoyancy control and swim gently to minimize your impact on the surroundings.
Gear and Preparation
Use Proper Equipment
Invest in quality underwater photography gear designed for the depths. This includes waterproof cameras, housing, and strobes. Subpar equipment can lead to subpar photos and may also pose a risk to the environment. Choose a good diving equipment to make sure you have a perfect buoyancy. You don’t want to worry about your diving gear and focus on your pictures only.
Practice Before You Dive
Before venturing into the deep, practice using your underwater camera in a controlled environment like a swimming pool. Familiarity with your equipment will help you capture better shots once you’re surrounded by marine life.
Know Your Subjects
Research the marine life you intend to photograph. Every animal has a safety distance and unique behavior that you need to respect. Understanding their behavior and habitat will increase your chances of capturing unique and intriguing shots.
Use Natural Light
Whenever possible, rely on natural light for your underwater photography. Artificial light sources can disrupt the behaviors of marine creatures. Don’t turn on your focus light if not needed and use flash lightly.
Etiquette Underwater
Share the Space
Respect other divers and photographers in the area. Wait your turn and avoid crowding popular photo subjects. Remember, patience often leads to better shots.
Never touch or collect
Never touch or collect marine life for a photography. Not only is this harmful to the creatures, but it may also be illegal in some areas. Keep your hands to yourself.
Safety First
Dive Within Your Limits
Underwater photography can be distracting so you need to check your NDL and air frequently. You don’t want to endanger yourself for a picture. Always make sure the diving conditions are within your comfort level. Ensure your diving skills are strong, and you are comfortable in the underwater environment before adding photography to the mix. The more comfortable you’ll be the better the pictures.
Buddy System
Always dive with a buddy who can provide assistance in case of an emergency. This is crucial for safety, especially when focusing on photography. Diving is all about sharing and photo even more. With us you can also enjoy a private spotter to guarantee your safety and make your dive incredible.
Conservation and Education
Here is what our guests think about us!
Martin Steiner06/12/2023My wife did a Underwater photo course with Jerome. All was very well organized in a very relaxed way and the results were incredible. Before photos were average but after 1 full day of training the quality and level of interest in her Makro photos improved to a absolute "I love to see her photos level. After being back in Bali I told her to do another training and it was worth it as well. Highly recommended !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
mayanah z24/10/2023Très belle expérience mémorable avec Jérôme et son équipe. Beaucoup de partage et de générosité ! Jérôme a été adorable et professionnel. Passionné, à l'écoute, pédagogue, réactif, il s'applique à personnaliser la théorie et la pratique selon les demandes et besoins, et transmet copieusement son savoir et ses techniques (et même des photos bonus en plus =)). Le tout dans une ambiance parfaite. Je conseille de faire plusieurs jours à ses côtés afin de pouvoir pleinement profiter de l'apprentissage et parvenir à une bonne maîtrise durable pour votre pratique, photo comme vidéo. Merci pour tous ces moments et a très vite ! Plouf ! Maria
Jean Metzler06/10/2023Je recommande fortement et sans hésitation les services et cours de Jérome, surtout si vous êtes débutant ou si vous voulez vous perfectionner en photographie ou video sous marine. Merci Jérome 🙏🙏
bruno transcript24/09/2023Merci Jérôme pour tout tes conseils avisés. Depuis 10 ans c'est toujours enrichissant de passer sous l'oeil critique d'un expert. Merci de nous tirer par le haut. Amicalement
Sylvain Veron24/08/2023Merci à Jérôme pour ce cours photo où j’ai appris beaucoup de chose qui m’ont permis de progresser. Je recommande vivement.
Clem 3218/07/2023J'ai passé 5 jours avec Jérôme pour effectuer un stage de photographie sous-marine... et quelle rencontre ! Quelle expérience ! Jérôme est très pédagogue, avec une approche graduelle adaptée pour un débutant en prises de vues sous-marines comme moi. Il m'a transmis les fondamentaux pour obtenir des clichés optimaux. J'ai été étonné de ma progression rapide effectuée à ses côtés. J'ai été très content des résultats obtenus ! Alors, que vous soyez débutant ou pas en photo/vidéo subaquatique, foncez chez Plouf Diving avec Jérôme pour vous former !
Max JU25/04/2023if u want to learn photo or video graphy this is the place tp learn.. )) the owner of dive shop really friendly and helpfulll
Lúcia Pinto08/11/2022Absolutely recommend! I had an a amazing time with Jerome and his team. There was great technical advise and I loved all my dives in Amed and Tulamben. Everything is very well organized. Don't hesitate!!
