SDI Underwater Photographer Course

Most divers come back from a dive and try to describe what they saw. A batfish hanging in the current. A leopard shark resting on the sand. A wall of fusiliers so dense you could not see through them. Underwater photography gives you something better than a description -- it gives you the actual image, and the ability to share what the underwater world looks like with people who have never seen it.

The SDI Underwater Photographer course is where that starts. You will learn how light behaves differently underwater than at the surface, how to work with it rather than against it, how to set up and handle a camera in a dive context without compromising your situational awareness, and how to compose a shot that actually captures what you came to photograph. Dive Arizona has an Olympus TG-7 and Insta360 products available for student use. Bring your own camera if you have one.

What the Course Covers

How Light Behaves Underwater

Light is the single most important variable in underwater photography, and it works differently below the surface than above it. Water absorbs colors selectively as depth increases: red disappears first, then orange, then yellow, leaving everything looking blue-green at depth without artificial light. The course covers how to work with available light at different depths and times of day, when and how to use a strobe versus a video light, how to correct for color loss at depth, and how to avoid backscatter -- the effect where particles in the water reflect your strobe light back into the lens and wash out the image.

Digital Cameras and Capture Media

The course covers digital camera options for underwater photography, from compact point-and-shoot cameras in underwater housings to action cameras like the Insta360. Memory card technology, storage capacity, and post-dive image review are covered, along with how to evaluate a shot immediately after surfacing while the conditions are still fresh. Film photography is also touched on briefly for context, though the focus of the course is digital capture, which is what the vast majority of divers use.

Camera Handling, Settings, and Composition

Operating a camera underwater requires a different approach than on land. You are managing buoyancy, buddy awareness, depth, and air consumption at the same time as framing a shot. The course covers how to handle camera equipment safely during entry, how to configure settings for underwater conditions, and the composition principles that make the difference between a snapshot and a photograph. Composition topics include scene framing, use of available and supplemental light, subject ease and positioning, and how to use other divers as models to add scale and context to a shot.

Equipment Care and Marine Conservation

Cameras and housings require specific care after saltwater and freshwater dives. The course covers rinse procedures, O-ring maintenance, how to handle a flooded housing, and storage practices that extend the life of your equipment. Marine conservation awareness is integrated throughout -- getting a good shot is never a reason to touch, disturb, or stress marine life, and the course addresses how to photograph subjects without compromising the environment you came to document.

Post-Dive: Image Review, Storage, and Editing

After the dive, the course covers downloading and organizing images, storage best practices, and an introduction to photo editing and digital software for adjusting color balance, contrast, and exposure in post-processing. Printing and mounting options are also covered for divers who want to do something with their images beyond keeping them on a hard drive.

In-Water Skills

The course includes open water dives with photography objectives. Required skills include:

• Equipment familiarization and handling before entry
• Composition practice at a beginner level
• Planned dive executed with camera in hand, maintaining full situational awareness for depth, time, air, and buddy
• Entry with camera equipment, with the option to have the camera passed in once the diver is in the water
• Photography of planned subjects including still and moving marine life where conditions allow
• Conservation-aware approach throughout -- no contact with marine life or reef
• Safe ascent and safety stops
• Post-dive discussion with instructor on image review and technique improvement

Camera Equipment Available for the Course

Dive Arizona has the following camera equipment available for student use during the course:

• Olympus TG-7 -- a waterproof compact camera rated to 50 feet without a housing, well suited to underwater photography for divers just starting out
• Insta360 products -- 360-degree action cameras for immersive underwater capture

If you already own an underwater camera system, bring it. Training on your own equipment is always the better option since you will be using that gear on future dives. If you are considering purchasing camera equipment and want a recommendation before the course, call us at (480) 881-4013 and we can talk through options.

Who Can Enroll

The SDI Underwater Photographer course is open to certified SDI Open Water Scuba Divers or equivalent. Minimum age is 10 with parental consent, 18 without. Junior divers ages 10 to 14 must participate with a parent, guardian, or dive professional present.

Counts Toward the SDI Advanced Diver Rating

The SDI Underwater Photo Diver certification counts as one specialty credit toward the SDI Advanced Diver Development Program.

Gear and Equipment

Students are required to own their own mask, fins, boots, and snorkel for this course. Dive gear rental such as BCD, regulator, computer, tanks, weights, and wetsuit is included in the course. Camera equipment is available for student use as listed above. If you'd like to purchase any of your own scuba equipment, we carry a full selection in the shop and all students enrolled in a course receive a discount on purchases during enrollment.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does the SDI Underwater Photographer course cover?

The course covers how light behaves underwater and at depth, available light and strobe considerations, backscatter and how to avoid it, digital camera types and capture media, camera settings and handling in a dive context, composition and subject selection, use of other divers as models, marine conservation awareness, equipment care in salt and fresh water, and post-dive image review, storage, editing, and printing.

What camera should I use for underwater photography?

For divers just starting out, a waterproof compact camera like the Olympus TG-7 is one of the most practical entry points -- no housing required to a reasonable depth, straightforward controls, and good image quality for the price. Action cameras like the Insta360 are a different approach, better suited to wide-angle and immersive capture than close-up subject photography. Dive Arizona has both available for use during the course. If you want a recommendation before purchasing your own system, call us at (480) 881-4013.

What is backscatter in underwater photography?

Backscatter happens when particles suspended in the water, silt, plankton, small debris, reflect your strobe or flash back toward the lens and appear as bright spots in the image. It is one of the most common problems in underwater photography and one of the most fixable. The course covers strobe positioning and angle techniques that significantly reduce backscatter in most conditions.

Do I need my own camera for the course?

No. Dive Arizona has an Olympus TG-7 and Insta360 products available for student use. If you own a camera system you want to use, bring it. Training on your own gear is always the better option for long-term skill development.

Does the Underwater Photographer certification count toward SDI Advanced Diver?

Yes. The SDI Underwater Photo Diver certification counts as one of the four specialty credits required for the SDI Advanced Diver Development Program.

Will this course work if I only have an action camera or phone?

Yes. The composition, light management, and conservation principles in the course apply regardless of what camera you are shooting with. The Insta360 products available for the course are action cameras, and many divers find them a practical starting point before investing in a dedicated camera setup. Talk to us about what equipment you have and we will help you get the most out of it.

Ready to Bring Back What You See Down There?

Contact us to schedule the SDI Underwater Photographer course. Call us at (480) 881-4013 or stop by the shop. We are open Monday through Saturday 11am to 6pm and Sunday 11am to 5pm, at 18618 S 186th Way, Queen Creek, inside The Shooting Range.

For more information and to see course standards, click here!