Reply To: Does underwater flash photography affect the behaviour, movement

[Nicolas]

Thanks @Bill for pulling together these useful resources.

The 2026 study on Mediterranean seahorse species indicates some stress response from underwater photography, but it doesn’t seem to point directly to flash being the cause. As you say, it might be the photographer’s proximity, movements, etc.

Good diving skills really are an essential pre-requisite to photography. During the coffee chat, we also talked about watching how the animal responds. You don’t need a biology background to sense when it’s enough; if it’s avoiding you or trying to swim away, it’s time to give it space.