Swanage Pier

Swanage pier is renowned for its marine life and is the perfect site to start and attempt to take underwater photographs.

No camera yet?

No problem, the course price includes use of a camera system, in fact the pictures you can see on this page were all taken using the very camera you will be using.

Course information:

The PADI Digital Underwater Photographer Speciality course is a two-part (Level One and Level Two) introduction to digital underwater photography centered around today's point- and- shoot digital cameras.
Level One guides students in achieving good results easily, even if they have never used a digital camera before. It can be conducted in open water or even in a swimming pool if you prefer.
Level Two helps students make their photographs even better, but training must be conducted in open water.

Level One also includes the following topics:

The Digital Revolution
Digital cameras- Three types
Digital Underwater Camera systems
General Digital Photography
Digital Underwater Photography
Basic Underwater Shooting
The PADI SEA Method (Shoot, Examine, Adjust) of Digital Underwater Photography.
After the Dive.

During Digital Photo Dive One, students learn how to:
Enter the water safely wearing snorkeling or scuba equipment
in a manner that protects the camera system from damage.
Dive with an underwater photo system demonstrating care for the environment and techniques to avoid damaging it.
Manual white balance underwater (if the camera is capable of this function).
Take horizontal and vertical photos of a buddy and a variety of underwater subjects.
Holding the camera to avoid blurred shots.
Taking photos from a variety of distances from the subject.
Shooting at an upward angle, when appropriate.
Exit the water safely and in a manner that protects the camera system from damage.

Level Two includes the following topics:

Digital File formats
Choosing Image Resolution
Making your Underwater photos lighter or darker
Examining an adjusting exposure underwater
Getting sharp pictures underwater
Composing your photos for maximum effect
Basic underwater strobe use
Using built in flash underwater
Using external flash underwater
Downloading images, backing up images and viewing images using a method other than on the camera LCD monitor.

During Digital Photo Dive Two, students learn how to:

Independently assemble and test camera equipment prior to the dive.
enter the water safely wearing snorkeling or scuba equipment in a manner that protects the camera system from damage.
Dive with an underwater camera system demonstrating care for the environment and techniques to avoid damaging it.
Practice getting proper exposure, contrast and sharpness by using and controlling (as appropriate to the camera system) shutter, aperture, EV control, focus and flash.
Practice getting good colour by using (as appropriate to the camera system) white balance, flash, filters and wide- angle lenses.
Practice composition through choice of subject, subject positioning, negative space and other compositional elements.
Demonstrate use of the PADI SEA Method by using (as appropriate to the camera system) the LCD monitor and/or histogram to evaluate exposure, sharpness and composition.
At the end of the dive, exit the water in a manner that protects the camera system from damage.