Dive Cameras

Capturing Those Amazing Underwater Photos

Dive cameras allow us to capture the vibrant colors of marine animals and their environments. In addition to seeing this amazing sea life up close and personal, a good underwater camera will let you take some amazing underwater photos that you can brag about to your friends and family.

In the past, dive cameras where used mainly by dedicated amateurs or professional underwater photographers. In the mid to late 1990’s, digital underwater cameras hit the market. These scuba diving cameras made it easier for divers to take pictures of their underwater experiences.

Types of Diving Cameras

When you shop for an underwater camera, you will be surprised at how many different styles you can find. All of these different styles will fall into three basic types of dive camera. Two things to consider if you are looking to purchase a scuba camera are how often you will be taking underwater photos and how much money you are willing to spend.

Amphibious Cameras

An amphibious dive camera does not require a waterproof housing. These specialized cameras have their own integrated water-tight housing. They are roughed cameras and can be used in or out of the water.

An amphibious underwater camera will have interchangeable lens and strobe units for added lighting. The controls will be oversized to make camera operation easier underwater. An amphibious camera will use a film or digital format.

It takes a lot of patience and skill to produce good underwater scuba photos with this type of dive camera. But with practice, a dedicated amateur can learn to shoot quality underwater images just like the professionals.

Scuba Cameras That Require a Housing

There are scuba diving cameras that are a conventional camera in a waterproof housing or case. When these underwater cameras first came out, they were big and bulky because they required a waterproof housing. As technology advanced, the cameras and the housings became smaller. Today you can find an underwater camera with a housing that can fit in the palm of your hand.

This type of scuba camera can be divided into two categories; compact cameras and SLR (single lens reflex) cameras.

If you are looking for a cheap underwater camera, then a compact is the way to go. Compact digital underwater cameras make it easy for just about any diver to take scuba diving photos.

Compact digital cameras are fully automatic when it comes to focus and exposure. You can not change the lens on a compact underwater camera. They have a zoom function that will give you some variable focal length.

For many divers compact digital dive cameras are the most affordable and easy to use, but they do have limited image control.

If you want more control over images and are willing to spend some serious money, consider a SLR (single lens reflex) underwater camera. This camera will give you more control over aperture, shutter speed and focus. You will have a large choice of interchangeable lens and auxiliary light systems. Because of this, they are the choice of professional underwater photographers. SLR cameras, housings and light systems can be very expensive.

If all of this dive camera stuff seems a bit over whelming, then consider getting a disposable underwater camera. These are great if you only want to take underwater scuba photos occasionally. With disposable underwater cameras, all you have to do in point and shoot. They use a film (400 speed) format that comes come pre-loaded in the camera. They usually have a depth rating of 15 to 35 feet. These cameras are very affordable. You can find disposable cameras priced from $6.00 to $30.00.

Care and Maintenance for Dive Cameras

Proper care and maintenance of your scuba camera will help prevent damage and ensure your underwater camera last a long time.

Here are some tips to help you protect your camera so you can keep taking those amazing underwater photos.

• Rinse: Amphibious cameras and housings should be rinsed with fresh water after every dive or pool session. This will remove any salt, grit or chlorine that could cause damage to the o-ring or control buttons. Be sure to operate the control buttons during the rinse.




• O-ring: Keep the o-ring lightly lubricated with silicone grease. This will help ensure a water tight seal while underwater and help keep the o-ring from becoming dry and cracked when out of the water.




• Check Before Diving: Make a visual check of the camera before getting in the water.




• Depth Rating: Never take your camera below its depth rating. This will damage the camera and void the warranty.

An underwater camera system can be expensive. A few moments of proper care and maintenance can help protect your investment.

Dive cameras allow us to capture the wonder of the underwater world. Underwater photography used to be complex process. Modern underwater cameras make in possible for any diver to take great scuba diving photos.

Underwater cameras help us “Take only pictures and leave only bubbles.”

If you are shopping for an underwater camera system, check out our scuba gear store to see a great selection of scuba diving cameras.