Dive Travel Tips

Dive travel tips for scuba divers and underwater photographers, including how to pack camera gear.

Exploring incredible wrecks and northern wildlife
By Robert Bailey

Discovering Shetland, Scotland

Discovering Shetland, Scotland
Robert Bailey
Exploring incredible wrecks and northern wildlife

Winning a category in the Underwater Photographer of the Year competition for British Wide Angle is a tall order, and one I’m very proud of. I won a generous prize for a trip for two to Scapa Flow aboard MV Halton (www.mvhalton.co.uk), skippered by Bob Anderson. A vast majority of British divers would think I was mad to turn that down.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Robert has worked professionally on commercial television sets doing production photography, shot modern dance for the art department at the University of Calgary, and has worked in a freelance capacity shooting a variety of subjects. Rob worked as a NAUI scuba instructor, and then instructor trainer for the University of Calgary from 1993-1999. He is still an avid diver, and never dives without a camera. 


He moved to Europe in the late 1990s and now resides in the UK. 

 

Robert has enjoyed success in both national and international underwater photography competitions over the years. As a result his images have been published in national magazines, books, scientific publications, and newspapers in the UK. He’s an active committee member for the British Society of Underwater Photographers (BSoUP), and the website administrator for the Bristol Underwater Photography Group (BUPG). He’s written several articles for national dive magazines, and often gives presentations on his own underwater photography and photographic technique for photographic clubs in the UK. 

 

Robert worked as a technical specialist, and then technical account manager in the IT industry for many years, and now works part time as a photographer, and full time as editor for the Underwater Photography Guide. 

 

You can see more of Robert's work at www.robertbaileyphotography.com

SUPPORT THE UNDERWATER PHOTOGRAPHY GUIDE:

The Best Service & Prices on u/w Photo Gear

 

Visit Bluewater Photo & Video for all your underwater photography and video gear. Click, or call the team at (310) 633-5052 for expert advice!

 


The Best Pricing, Service & Expert Advice to Book your Dive Trips

 

Bluewater Travel is your full-service scuba travel agency. Let our expert advisers plan and book your next dive vacation. Run by divers, for divers.

 


Diving with affectionate lemon sharks and turtles in Moorea, a great manta encounter in Bora Bora, and the strangely charismatic blue-eyed eels of Faie. Discussions pertaining to the marine life personality ladder.
By Bryan Chu

Diving French Poly: Moorea, Bora Bora, and Huahine

Bryan Chu
Diving with affectionate lemon sharks and turtles in Moorea, a great manta encounter in Bora Bora, and the strangely charismatic blue-eyed eels of Faie. Discussions pertaining to the marine life personality ladder.

 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Bryan is an editor and writer for the Underwater Photography Guide. He loves any activity that takes him out into nature, and is especially fond of multi-day hiking trips, road trips to National Parks, and diving. Any kind of diving. He discovered the joy of underwater photography on a Bluewater trip to the Sea of Cortez and has been hooked ever since. He recently finished a 1-year "radical sabbatical" with his partner Lisa (both of them quit their jobs), which included over 120 dives, mostly in Indonesia and the Philippines. His very favourite underwater experiences include swimming with humpbacks in Moorea, being smashed against the rocks next to marine iguanas in the Galapagos, marvelling at the riotously colourful reefs of Komodo, freezing his hands off under the ice in Greenland, and exploring the never-ending wonders of muck diving in Tulamben and Anilao (where he was a Bluewater photo workshop co-trip leader).

Fortunately, Bryan and Lisa managed to avoid killing each other during their year of traveling together (though at times it came close). Now they are back home in Canada, planning their wedding and doing their best to figure out what they want to be when they grow up. Their main concern at this point is finding a way to not run out of money, while avoiding returning back to their old 9-5  jobs (oil & gas, government). Oh, and also continuing to support their diving and underwater photo/video habits...

You can find more of Bryan's underwater photos on Instagram at @bryan_chu_photography and on his website at www.bryanchu.ca.

SUPPORT THE UNDERWATER PHOTOGRAPHY GUIDE:

The Best Service & Prices on u/w Photo Gear

 

Visit Bluewater Photo & Video for all your underwater photography and video gear. Click, or call the team at (310) 633-5052 for expert advice!

 


The Best Pricing, Service & Expert Advice to Book your Dive Trips

 

Bluewater Travel is your full-service scuba travel agency. Let our expert advisers plan and book your next dive vacation. Run by divers, for divers.

 


A quick guide to conveniences and features to look for on your next underwater photo and video liveaboard cruise
By UWPG Editors

Liveaboard Customizations for Photographers

UWPG Editors
A quick guide to conveniences and features to look for on your next underwater photo and video liveaboard cruise

Many of us have probably been on a dive trip where we are the outcast, lugging around a bulky camera with strobes and lights, getting dropped by the group while we frame a shot, scolded by the dive master for not keeping up, and flying home with less than ideal shots.

SUPPORT THE UNDERWATER PHOTOGRAPHY GUIDE:

The Best Service & Prices on u/w Photo Gear

 

Visit Bluewater Photo & Video for all your underwater photography and video gear. Click, or call the team at (310) 633-5052 for expert advice!

 


The Best Pricing, Service & Expert Advice to Book your Dive Trips

 

Bluewater Travel is your full-service scuba travel agency. Let our expert advisers plan and book your next dive vacation. Run by divers, for divers.

 


Tips to improve your photography and maximize the experience of underwater photo workshops
By Pam Murph

Get the Most from your Photo Workshop

Pam Murph
Tips to improve your photography and maximize the experience of underwater photo workshops

You’ve done it – finally booked that underwater photography workshop that has been on your to do list.  Now all you have to do is sit back, relax and count down the days until your trip.   Or, challenge your approach – get prepared, get involved and get bold – so you can get the most out of the experience.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Pam Murph is a landlocked diver and photographer from Knoxville, Tennessee. Diving since 1997, she is a psychotherapist when not under the water and traveling. As a kid, she fell in love with telling stories through photography from her dad and continues that love by sharing the underwater world and its stories her own photography. Her photography can be viewed at www.pmurph.com or on Facebook at Pam Murph Photography

SUPPORT THE UNDERWATER PHOTOGRAPHY GUIDE:

The Best Service & Prices on u/w Photo Gear

 

Visit Bluewater Photo & Video for all your underwater photography and video gear. Click, or call the team at (310) 633-5052 for expert advice!

 


The Best Pricing, Service & Expert Advice to Book your Dive Trips

 

Bluewater Travel is your full-service scuba travel agency. Let our expert advisers plan and book your next dive vacation. Run by divers, for divers.

 


New Survey: Top 10 Underwater Macro Photography Destinations, conducted by UWMP
By Brent Durand

Top 10 Macro Photography Destinations

Brent Durand
New Survey: Top 10 Underwater Macro Photography Destinations, conducted by UWMP

Where is the best place you could possibly visit as a dedicated underwater macro photographer? Ask many macro enthusiasts and you'll probably get a number of different answers.

A survey was conducted by the Underwater Macro Photographers and published in their latest eNews edition (#23). The survey was refreshing to see and a great complement to the breathtaking macro and supermacro images throughout the edition.

SUPPORT THE UNDERWATER PHOTOGRAPHY GUIDE:

The Best Service & Prices on u/w Photo Gear

 

Visit Bluewater Photo & Video for all your underwater photography and video gear. Click, or call the team at (310) 633-5052 for expert advice!

 


The Best Pricing, Service & Expert Advice to Book your Dive Trips

 

Bluewater Travel is your full-service scuba travel agency. Let our expert advisers plan and book your next dive vacation. Run by divers, for divers.

 


From the Field: Photos of a Melted Lens & How to Avoid Frying Yours
By UWPG

Don't Melt Your Lens - Literally

UWPG
From the Field: Photos of a Melted Lens & How to Avoid Frying Yours

 

Don't Melt Your Lens - Literally


From the Field: Photos of a Melted Lens & How to Avoid Frying Yours

Text: UWPG |  Photos: Anonymous

 

 

SUPPORT THE UNDERWATER PHOTOGRAPHY GUIDE:

The Best Service & Prices on u/w Photo Gear

 

Visit Bluewater Photo & Video for all your underwater photography and video gear. Click, or call the team at (310) 633-5052 for expert advice!

 


The Best Pricing, Service & Expert Advice to Book your Dive Trips

 

Bluewater Travel is your full-service scuba travel agency. Let our expert advisers plan and book your next dive vacation. Run by divers, for divers.

 


Tips to Get the Most out of your Next Underwater Photography Workshop
By Ron Watkins

Advance your Skills with Underwater Photography Workshops

Advance Your Skills With Underwater Photography Workshops
Ron Watkins
Tips to Get the Most out of your Next Underwater Photography Workshop

Whether you are brand new to underwater photography or an advanced shooter, photo workshop dive trips are an excellent way to learn and improve your skills. They are also a great way to meet like-minded people and expand your u/w photography network.  When the u/w photography bug bit me, I decided to take a liveaboard workshop. At the time, I thought it was really expensive and that I should spend the money on more equipment rather than instruction.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Ron Watkins is an international award winning photographer and writer. He has been passionate about underwater photography since 1996 and his photography has appeared in magazines, websites, juried art displays, national aquariums, libraries and private collections.

SUPPORT THE UNDERWATER PHOTOGRAPHY GUIDE:

The Best Service & Prices on u/w Photo Gear

 

Visit Bluewater Photo & Video for all your underwater photography and video gear. Click, or call the team at (310) 633-5052 for expert advice!

 


The Best Pricing, Service & Expert Advice to Book your Dive Trips

 

Bluewater Travel is your full-service scuba travel agency. Let our expert advisers plan and book your next dive vacation. Run by divers, for divers.

 


Strategies for Bringing all the Gear you Need and Avoiding Excess Fees
By Brent Durand

The Packing Guide for Underwater Photographers

The Packing Guide for Underwater Photographers
Brent Durand
Strategies for Bringing all the Gear you Need and Avoiding Excess Fees

(Written January 2014)

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Brent Durand is a weekend wanderer and story teller from California.

Brent is an avid diver and adventure photographer, and shoots underwater any time he can get hands on a camera system. He can be reached at brent@uwphotographyguide.com.

Follow Underwater Photography Guide on Facebook or Instagram.

SUPPORT THE UNDERWATER PHOTOGRAPHY GUIDE:

The Best Service & Prices on u/w Photo Gear

 

Visit Bluewater Photo & Video for all your underwater photography and video gear. Click, or call the team at (310) 633-5052 for expert advice!

 


The Best Pricing, Service & Expert Advice to Book your Dive Trips

 

Bluewater Travel is your full-service scuba travel agency. Let our expert advisers plan and book your next dive vacation. Run by divers, for divers.

 


Not your regular packing list - these are essentials you may need and others may not have
By Scott Gietler

Must-Pack Items for your Underwater Photo Trip

Scott Gietler
Not your regular packing list - these are essentials you may need and others may not have

Must-Pack Items for your Next Photo Trip

Not Your Average Packing List - These are items you may need and others probably won't have

By Scott Gietler

SUPPORT THE UNDERWATER PHOTOGRAPHY GUIDE:

The Best Service & Prices on u/w Photo Gear

 

Visit Bluewater Photo & Video for all your underwater photography and video gear. Click, or call the team at (310) 633-5052 for expert advice!

 


The Best Pricing, Service & Expert Advice to Book your Dive Trips

 

Bluewater Travel is your full-service scuba travel agency. Let our expert advisers plan and book your next dive vacation. Run by divers, for divers.

 


A Guide to the Best Big Animal Dives for Underwater Photographers
By Travis Ball

Top 5 Big Animal Encounters

Top 5 Big Animal Encounters
Travis Ball
A Guide to the Best Big Animal Dives for Underwater Photographers

What are the best big animal encounters in the world?  The sheer magnitude of life on this planet is astounding with an estimated 50%-80% of all life found in the ocean.  As scuba divers, we spend lots of time underwater, but generally need to seek out photographs with the largest animals and fish on Earth.  Diving lets us go on safari every time we dive, experiencing a little piece of the deep blue each time we get in the water.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Travis Ball is a travel blogger and underwater photographer who recently finished 30 straight months of travel. He believes everyone should enrich their lives with travel and all the experiences it has to offer. His photography and writing can also be seen at his bloghttp://flashpackerHQ.com. 

SUPPORT THE UNDERWATER PHOTOGRAPHY GUIDE:

The Best Service & Prices on u/w Photo Gear

 

Visit Bluewater Photo & Video for all your underwater photography and video gear. Click, or call the team at (310) 633-5052 for expert advice!

 


The Best Pricing, Service & Expert Advice to Book your Dive Trips

 

Bluewater Travel is your full-service scuba travel agency. Let our expert advisers plan and book your next dive vacation. Run by divers, for divers.

 


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