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Hey @DawnatLLS
OK that confirms my hunch, that will be a unique shooting experience too! Here are some thoughts on how I’d prepare myself for a trip like that.
A fisheye lens would be my pick, as these whales seem to come very close and even if they don’t, you’ve got ample resolution to crop.
I’d definitely consider using an external monitor, so you don’t have to dip your head in the water all the time – depending on the interaction duration, I think it can be tiring on the neck, and also getting you cold. If there’s lots of ambient light though, the risk is that you can’t see the monitor so well, so think of ways to cover it – a DIY shade might come handy, or just a large cap/hat, a towel, etc.
If you pair the monitor with a big dome port (fisheye lens, or super wide angle zoom) then you’ve got a great setup for splits shot (watch/re-watch Matty’s masterclass prior to the trip: https://theunderwaterclub.com/webinar-2025-02-split-shots-masterclass-with-matty-smith/).
Other than that, ask ahead of time whether strobes are allowed with the belugas.
=> If they are, on overcast days I’d suggest setting them to burst shooting (3, 5 or 10 FPS, depending on how fast your strobes recycle -> test that in a bath-tub prior to the trip), this way you make the most of every encounter.
=> If they aren’t, you’ll want to take a custom white balance (bring a slate) while waiting for the first whale, and stick with it for the day (still shoot in RAW for colours fine-tuning). Then, control your shutter speed & aperture manually, but set your ISO to “Auto”, so the camera automatically adjusts your exposure. Do check your results with a histogram (see how here: https://theunderwaterclub.com/lessons/using-the-histogram-to-review-your-exposure/) as these whales are very white, and adjust exposure compensation setting as needed.
A really exciting trip, can’t wait for your report!