Advanced
Underwater
Photography
Already taking photos underwater? Disappointed with the results or just want to take it to the next level? This course is for you!
About the Course
This course is designed for those who already have some experience shooting photos underwater and would like to take their work to the next level. We will work on composition, lighting techniques, exposure, wide angle, close-focus wide angle and macro photography. We will also introduce students to post-production platforms and techniques.
This is a non-certification course taught by our in-house pro photographer.
Students must have their own camera, housing and either strobe or video lights. Anything from a GoPro to a full-frame DSLR or Mirrorless camera with suitable underwater housing is acceptable.
Participants in this course must have at least 30 logged dives with at least one in the past 6 months, preferably Advanced Open Water or equivalent, and very good buoyancy control and trim.
What to Expect — Advanced Underwater Photograph
Registration & prerequisites check
Course orientation & goal setting
Instructor outlines course format (classroom/eLearning, confined-water drills, and supervised open-water shoots), number of dives (confined practice + 2–3 open-water shoots, assessment criteria, and safety rules.
Advanced exposure & image theory
Deep dive into manual exposure (aperture/shutter/ISO), shooting RAW, histograms, color absorption underwater, and best practices for white balance and color correction.
Learn strobe theory: TTL vs manual, flash-power balancing and sync.
- Gear setup, inspection & maintenance
Hands-on setup of housings, ports, strobes/arms, sync systems or fibre optics, focus lights, and backups.
Vacuum/O-ring checks, battery/memory management, and safe handling procedures.
Confined-water handling drills
Practice neutral trim, stable hovering, and camera-stabilization while composing shots.
Drill framing, focus lock, exposure bracketing, strobe positioning, and quick rig adjustments in a low-stress environment.
Technique workshops
Focused exercises for: close-focus wide-angle, subject approach & animal behaviour, long-lens macro technique, and low-light/night shooting fundamentals.
Neutral buoyancy and proper camera/photographer positioning to avoid environmental impact.
Open-water supervised shoots
Apply techniques on real dives with the instructor guiding composition, light placement, and buoyancy while you shoot.
Each dive has clear objectives and immediate in-water coaching.
Advanced lighting & problem solving
Post-dive image workflow
Download and organize RAW files, basic non-destructive edits in Lightroom and simple metadata/backup procedures.
Instructor demonstrates quick edits to improve color and clarity while preserving image quality.
Portfolio review & constructive critique
Instructor reviews your images, gives technical and artistic feedback, and suggests improvements for composition, lighting, and subject choice.
Assessment & sign-off
Demonstrate practical skills (camera handling, buoyancy while shooting, lighting control) and a basic understanding of advanced theory.
Successful students receive a certificate of completion.