How to Take Photos While Snorkeling

Underwater photography taken while snorkeling can offer you an outdoor hobby. Underwater habitats such as coral reefs are home to many potential photographic subjects, including fish, crabs, starfish, snails and seahorses. Snorkeling opportunities are available off most coastal areas and island vacation destinations, such as Florida, Texas, Hawaii and the Caribbean.

Things You'll Need

  • Digital camera or film camera
  • Film (optional)
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Instructions

    • 1

      Use a small, waterproof point-and-shoot camera with you, especially if you do not have a lot of experience snorkeling. However, if you have more experience snorkeling, invest in a more professional type of single-lens reflex, or SLR, camera for your photography. Some photographic accessory companies also sell underwater casings to protect non-waterproof cameras while in the water. If using an SLR camera, set it to the lowest ISO setting for the best results. If you choose to use a film camera for your underwater photographs, use 400 ISO speed film or higher.

    • 2

      Get close to the bottom of the ocean floor. Swimming down to the bottom of the floor will give you a place to brace yourself before shooting the photograph. Never shoot down on a fish or underwater landscape. Shoot it at eye level or from below.

    • 3

      Hold the camera at arm's length away from your body. This will get as close to the subject to you as possible without disturbing it by getting too close. Shoot objects that are no more than 2 to 3 feet away. Water can distort objects, dull colors and make photographs appear blurry, especially when shooting from long distances.

    • 4

      Use the macro setting on your camera, if applicable. This setting will take underwater photos without distorting images. You will be able to get close-up for shots of coral, fish and other items found under the sea. Macro settings are available on many point-and-shoot cameras, and a macro lens can be purchased for a SLR camera.

    • 5

      Use the flash. Set your camera on forced flash to ensure it is used for every shot you take underwater. The sun only penetrates shallow water and travels up to 20 feet or less under the surface. Shoot when the sun is behind you, which will prevent sun spots, streaks and poor back lighting of your subjects.

    • 6

      Frame a photo using the rule of thirds. It divides the frame of a photograph into three equal sections, and subjects should be framed in one-third or two-thirds of the photo. For example, place the coral reef in the top two-thirds of the photo and the ocean's floor in the bottom third. Place the subject just off-center to get some of the background in the frame.