With the quality of cameras nowadays and the availability and affordability of underwater housings for point and shoot cameras many divers are looking to photograph their underwater experience.
Almost every diver who takes a camera underwater makes the statement "It's like I had to learn to dive again". So simply put forewarned is forearmed. Here are some tips that just might make that early experience a little less stressful.
No matter how many dives you have done - as soon as you take a camera underwater your bouyancy control needs to change. This is not because the camera is lighter or heavier but primarily because 2 things happen that impact your diving.
Your body position changes.
Whether you are used to having your hands neatly tucked underneath you, held comfortably in front or even still, generally flailing around to help you keep your position in the water, the act of holding a camera underwater is going to change where you put your hands and therefore your general body position. This in turn changes your normal position in the water.
This simple act requires you to get used to your normal new body position so this needs to be practised.
Your breathing changes because of your attention on a new task
Everyone who starts taking photos underwater nearly always increases the rate of breathing, holds more air in their lungs and breathes at the top of their lungs as they try and figure out how to read and operate all the buttons on the back of the housing that all seemed so easy in air on land.
This factor in diving is called task loading and changes breath patterns. This change in breathing alters what you are used to as your normal buoyancy.
So what do you do to fix this ?
Really simple - Practise your buoyancy before you practise your photography !!
On your first couple of dives with your camera focus on yourself and not the photography. Get used to diving with the camera, where you hold it on your body, and how all of this changes how you move in the water.
Play around with moving your arms in and out as you position yourself to take a shot and try to understand how you may need to paddle your fins, hold your body or adjust your breathing to compensate as is needed just like you were taught in your initial course.
Get used to where your body is when you are actually taking the shot and watch your breathing. Try to breathe normally - not extra hard or extra long. Notice what you do as you compose the shot and fiddle with the buttons.
Most people over compensate by over or under breathing and once you have figured this out and corrected it you will have sorted out this part of your diving.
What courses can help you ?
Firstly let me say that in my opinion spending cash on a basic underwater photography course is a waste of money. Most people and friends and DMs will be happy to help you out with the basics and the extra dollars can be applied to dive trips or diving or photography gear itself.
So the best course if you want to take one, is one that improves your buoyancy. This will not only help your photography but will also improve your general confidence in diving anyway so this could very well be money well spent.
Good Luck and Safe Diving.
R.