Where to now?

There is no single path to learn Underwater Photography: explore the courses map to identify which lesson to take next, based on what you already know and what you need to learn.


Click the labels to learn about the 7 Courses and 40 Lessons

Tap the labels to learn about the 7 Courses and 40 Lessons

You will see a short description, and a link to visit the Course/Lesson page for more details.

Map view of the 7 courses and 40 underwater photography lessons
Introduction to Underwater Photography Underwater Camera Settings Underwater Lighting Macro & Close-Up Course Wide-Angle Course Photo Equipment Course Logistics Course Maintenance & Servicing Lesson White Balance Preparing your Gear Consecutive Diving Histogram for Exposure Review File Formats Flash Controls Exposure Modes Exposure Parameters Compact Wet Lenses Choosing a Strobe Dome Ports & Flat Ports Choosing a Housing Which Lenses for Which Images? Choosing a Camera Overview of Underwater Photography Equipment Working With a Model Close Focus Wide Angle Scenic Wide-Angle Strobe Positioning for Wide-Angle Camera Settings for Wide-Angle Shallow-Water Wide-Angle Strobe Positioning for Macro The Eyes for Portraits Mastering Bokeh (shallow DoF) Subjects & Background Choices Camera Settings for Macro Magnification & Equipment Simple Recipe for a Beautiful Macro Minimising Backscatter & Hot Spots One or Two Strobes? TTL vs Manual Mode Strobe Controls Strobes vs Video Lights Why we need artificial lights underwater Differences with Top-side Photography Get Close! Get Down! Composition Underwater The Subtle Art of Self-Critique Diving For Photography

Introduction to Underwater Photography

Just getting started with Underwater Photography? Then this Course is a great first step, whether you are an experienced land photographer or never used a stills camera before. Go to this Course and watch a short introductory video.

  • 112 minutes of videos
  • 5 lessons, 6 quizzes
  • Downloadable image review checklist
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Underwater Camera Settings

Learn how to choose the best camera settings for underwater photography, so that you can take more control, or even full control of your camera. This is a necessary step if you want your underwater photos to stand-out from the crowd. Go to this Course and watch a short introduction video.

  • 3 hours of videos
  • 6 lessons, 7 quizzes
  • Downloadable shutter speed, aperture and ISO scales
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Underwater Lighting

Quality lighting can make the difference between a good shot and a great photograph. Take your underwater lighting skills to the next level with this Course! Go to this Course and watch a short introduction video.

  • 2 hours 10 minutes of videos
  • 6 lessons, 7 quizzes
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Macro & Close-Up Course

Macro photography is about making small marine life look big & detailed on photos. Learn the techniques and artistic concepts necessary to produce stunning underwater macro & close-up images. Go to this Course and watch a short introduction video.

  • 1 hour 49 minutes of videos
  • 7 lessons, 8 quizzes
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Wide-Angle Course

Learn how to take colourful & eye-catching wide-angle photos, which are the best type of underwater imagery when it comes to sharing the atmosphere of the underwater world, and telling the stories of its inhabitants. Go to this Course and watch a short introduction video.

  • 2 hours 13 minutes of videos
  • 6 lessons, 7 quizzes
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Photo Equipment Course

Take this Course to learn about they key pieces of equipment for underwater photography, their features and associated pros & cons, to help you choose your own gear. Go to this Course and watch and free 13 minutes walk-through of every bits & pieces you might find in an underwater photographer's bag.

  • 2 hours 50 minutes of videos
  • 6 lessons, 7 quizzes
  • Downloadable 10 camera pros & cons summary
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Logistics Course

Preparing and maintaining your underwater photography equipment is time-consuming, but much necessary if you want your gear to work for the next dive, and to keep performing over time. Learn how to properly assemble and maintain your kit, over 3 lessons: go to this Course and watch an introduction video.

  • 2 hours and 9 minutes of videos
  • 3 lessons, 4 quizzes
  • Downloadable Checklist
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Maintenance & Servicing Lesson

Learn the gestures and tools involved in maintaining your underwater photography equipment, so that it keeps performing over time. Go to this lesson.

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White Balance

Learn about White Balance: what it is, and how it can dramatically improve the colours of your underwater photos. Go to this lesson.

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Preparing your Gear

Learn the gestures and tools involved in preparing every piece of underwater photography equipment, before diving. Go to this lesson.

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Consecutive Diving

Learn how you can adapt your gear preparation and maintenance routines to save time, when you are diving several times in a short period of time. Go to this lesson.

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Histogram for Exposure Review

Learn how to read a Histogram, and why it is best way to check the exposure of your photos, underwater. Go to this lesson.

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File Formats

Learn what the JPEG and RAW formats are, and their pros & cons for underwater photography. Go to this lesson.

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Flash Controls

Learn the sort of settings available on most cameras when it comes to controlling an external flash. Go to this lesson.

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Exposure Modes

Learn the PASM exposure modes: Program, Aperture priority, Shutter-speed priority and Manual. Understand what they are, and how feasible it is to use Manual mode underwater. Go to this lesson.

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Exposure Parameters

Learn what the 3 exposure parameters are (shutter speed, aperture, ISO), how to use them to control exposure (brightness) and their effect on the look & feel of an underwater photo. Go to this lesson.

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Compact Wet Lenses

Learn how Compact Wet Lenses can help you take proper Macro and Wide-Angle photos underwater, even if you use a fixed-lens camera (e.g. a compact/point & shoot). Go to this lesson.

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Choosing a Strobe

Learn the 16 criteria to consider when choosing a strobe (underwater flash). Go to this lesson.

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Dome Ports & Flat Ports

Learn why we use either dome ports or flat ports for underwater photography, and criteria in choosing one. Go to this lesson.

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Choosing a Housing

Learn the 7 criteria to consider when choosing a housing for your camera. Go to this lesson.

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Which Lenses for Which Images?

Learn what are the most popular types of lenses for underwater photography, their pros & cons, and see sample photos taken with them. Go to this lesson.

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Choosing a Camera

Learn the 10 camera features which are most important to consider for underwater photography. See how action cams, smartphones, compact cameras, DSLRs and mirrorless cameras compare for each of these. Go to this lesson.

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Overview of Underwater Photography Equipment

Not familiar with the many bits and pieces which underwater photographers get to use? Visit the Photo Equipment Course, and scroll down for a free 13 minutes introduction to every bit of kit you may ever need.

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Working With a Model

Underwater Photos with a human in the frame (a diver, snorkeler, etc.) are more popular, but hard to craft! Learn the do's and don'ts of model photography, to produce natural-looking underwater shots, that are more relatable. Go to this lesson.

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Close Focus Wide Angle

Learn the CFWA (Close Focus Wide Angle) technique, which is reputed for producing eye-catching wide-angle underwater photos. Go to this lesson.

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Scenic Wide-Angle

Learn why Scenic Wide-Angle photos are a must-have for your underwater portfolio, and how to produce that type of images. Go to this lesson.

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Strobe Positioning for Wide-Angle

Learn how to position and set your strobes or video lights, so that your underwater Wide-Angle photos have less backscatter and hot-spots. Go to this lesson.

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Camera Settings for Wide-Angle

Learn how to choose your camera settings for Wide-Angle photography underwater. Go to this lesson.

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Shallow-Water Wide-Angle

Learn the 7 advantages of taking underwater photos near the surface, and why working in shallow-water is best for fast-paced action. Go to this lesson.

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Strobe Positioning for Macro

Learn how to position and set your strobes or video lights, so that your underwater Macro photos have less backscatter and hot-spots. Go to this lesson.

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The Eyes for Portraits

Learn how to photograph your underwater subjects' eyes to turn "ID shots" into actual portraits. Go to this lesson.

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Mastering Bokeh (shallow DoF)

Learn how to work with shallow depth-of-field to produce beautiful "bokeh" macro shots underwater. Go to this lesson.

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Subjects & Background Choices

Learn how to recognise good subjects and suitable backgrounds for Underwater Macro photography. Go to this lesson.

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Camera Settings for Macro

Learn how to choose your camera settings for Underwater Macro photography. Go to this lesson.

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Magnification & Equipment

Learn the concept of Magnification, why it is so important for Underwater Macro photography, and what sort of equipment gets you the best Magnification ratios. Go to this lesson.

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Simple Recipe for a Beautiful Macro

Interested in a quick "cook-book" to produce a good-looking macro photo? Go to this lesson.

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Minimising Backscatter & Hot Spots

Learn how to position your strobes or video lights to minimise the appearance of backscatter (bright dots) and hot spots. Go to this lesson.

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One or Two Strobes?

Learn the pros & cons of using 1 strobe or 2 strobes. Go to this lesson.

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TTL vs Manual Mode

Learn the pros & cons of controlling your strobe power Manually or with the TTL mode. Go to this lesson.

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Strobe Controls

Learn what are the main buttons and dials found on strobes, and how to use them. Go to this lesson.

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Strobes vs Video Lights

Learn the pros & cons of flash/strobes and continuous lights (video lights, dive lights) for underwater photography. Go to this lesson.

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Why we need artificial lights underwater

Learn the 4 reasons why we need to use artificial lights underwater. Go to this lesson.

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Differences with Top-side Photography

Learn the key differences between Underwater Photography and Photography on land (topside). Go to this lesson.

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Get Close! Get Down!

Learn why you need to get closer to your subjects, hear some tips to approach marine life, and discover why your photos will look better if get lower in the water. Go to this lesson.

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Composition Underwater

Learn the 10 composition rules which are most effective underwater. Go to this lesson.

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The Subtle Art of Self-Critique

Learn how to effectively review your photos underwater & how to select through them at home. Go to this lesson.

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Diving For Photography

Learn the mindset, skills and some tips to make the most of your time underwater. Go to this lesson.

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