How to Approach and Photograph Underwater Creatures

Understanding the Underwater Environment

Before you dive into underwater photography, it's crucial to understand the unique challenges and opportunities the underwater environment presents.

Choosing the right dive site is paramount.

Research your chosen location's marine life, water conditions, and visibility to prepare adequately.

In Bali, dive sites range from very easy to adrenaline rush.

Around Amed you can enjoy many dive types with easy conditions :

The USAT Libety in Tulamben is the most dived site in Bali. Here the conditions are great for beginners and allow you to take pictures of the shipwreck and its diverse marine life.

Hard and soft corals, colorful tropical fish and clownfish are present on every dive.

The Muck dives of Seraya, Melasti, Batu Niti and many more let you photograph small critters that may hide but won't swim away too fast.

In Amed you can also shoot turtles and colorful coral reefs while slowly drifting in Pyramid and Amed wall.

In the south the conditions and current can make it much more challenging to capture the rare Mola mola.

The peaceful manta rays of manta point will be much easier to shoot if the surge is moderate.

Mastering the Art of Buoyancy

Achieving proper buoyancy control is fundamental to capturing sharp and well-framed images underwater.

Learn buoyancy techniques to stay stable in the water, preventing accidental contact with fragile coral reefs and marine life.

On muck dive sites you may want to achieve negative buoyancy in order to stay very still.

In any case you want to be very steady when taking your shots.

Enroll in a buoyancy control course to refine your underwater movement and stability.

How to Approach and Photograph Underwater Creatures?

Now that you are familiar with the basics, let's discuss how to approach underwater creatures for that perfect shot.

Patience is Key

Approaching marine life requires patience.

Observe their behavior from a distance before getting closer. Then give the animals time to get used to you.

If you're seen as a predator you won't be able to approach your subject close enough and of course your picture will be mediocre.

Don't hesitate to ask your guide advises on how close you can get from different animals.

The most important is that you never follow a fish otherwise you'll get pics of tails only.

Move Slowly and Calmly

Make slow, deliberate movements to avoid startling or stressing the creatures. Quick movements can lead to missed photo opportunities.