Get into UK Underwater Photography

I have worked with a lot of underwater photographers of varying experience recently, advising on and selling housings, strobes & accessories for their cameras. I have spent hours teaching photography and photographic techniques to people who want to take underwater photographs. When I ask them where they do their photography, more than half say “in warm blue water”. So many underwater photographers refuse to try UK waters – they are missing out on some of the finest opportunities for underwater photography anywhere in the world.

“It is colder than tropical waters” – It is colder, which is why you want to invest in good scuba equipment that keeps you warm. One example is the Waterproof 5/7mm hood, which changed my whole attitude to diving in cold water when I first tried it! For great, warm gloves that you can still use your camera and strobe controls look no further than Fourth Element

“It is unpredictable” – true British weather is not the most reliable - but there are plenty of good real ale pubs along the coastline to while away a windy day.

“It is dark and green” – so a light or some kind and a strobe will restore the colour and light and if you select a high ISO, then some of the “grainy” effects can be really atmospheric, or stay shallow where there is more colour and it is lighter

“The visibility is poor” – yes it can be, but as much of the diversity around the UK are ideal for close up macro, then the water column & particulates are at a minimum and even a small strobe will give excellent photographs

My key titbit of advice? Get advice from experts, join your local underwater photography group (BSoUP, NUPG, EMUP), ask your local underwater photography centre or dive club. 

The image below is a composite from a few UK dives taken in 2010, just to give you a taste of how great diving can be around this coast, just get in and give it a go!