Must-Have Underwater Photography Gear for Beginners

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Capturing the underwater world is one of the most rewarding parts of scuba diving. From curious turtles to vibrant coral reefs, photography allows you to relive your dives and share those moments with others. But the ocean is a challenging environment, and successful underwater photography depends on using the right equipment. In this guide, we cover the essential underwater photography gear for new divers—helping you dive with confidence, protect your camera, and return with clear, colorful images you will be proud to share.

In This Article

1. Compact Underwater Camera
2. Waterproof Housing
3. Red Filter
4. Tray and Handles
5. Strobes or Video Lights
6. Moisture Absorbers
7. Lens Cloth or Defog Spray
8. Lanyards and Clips
9. Memory Cards and Spares
10. Protective Case
11. Learn Underwater Photography the Right Way with SSI

Essential Underwater Photography Gear for New Divers

Choosing the right underwater photography gear from the start helps new divers focus on buoyancy, composition, and marine life—rather than struggling with equipment underwater.

1. Compact Underwater Camera

The easiest entry point for new photographers is a compact underwater camera. These small, lightweight models are simple to use, travel-friendly, and capable of producing excellent images with minimal setup. Options like the Olympus Tough TG-7 or the SeaLife Micro 3.0 are popular because they are waterproof, durable, and intuitive.

A compact camera lets you focus on framing and composition rather than struggling with manual settings. It is ideal for divers who want to capture everything from coral close-ups to reef scenes while keeping their gear manageable underwater.

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A complete camera setup helps divers practice stable shooting techniques, but it is a good idea to start with a compact camera first.

2. Waterproof Housing

Even if your camera is water-resistant, you need a proper underwater housing to take it below depths of 10 meters (33 feet). A waterproof housing protects the camera from leaks and pressure while allowing you to access essential controls. For beginners, it is best to buy a housing designed specifically for your camera model; brands like Ikelite and Nauticam are reliable choices.

Housing also opens up future possibilities to add accessories such as strobes, wide-angle lenses, or filters as your skills improve. Remember to always check the O-rings for sand or hair before sealing them for a dive.

Want to be a professional diver but unsure about teaching? Read this: 10 Scuba Industry Jobs for Divers Who Do Not Want to Teach

3. Red Filter

Colors disappear quickly underwater: reds first, then oranges, and yellows, leaving photos looking overly blue or green. A red filter corrects this color loss by restoring warmth and natural tones, especially at depths of 5 to 15 meters (16 to 50 feet). Filters are affordable, easy to attach to your housing or lens, and perfect for divers who are not yet using external lights.

For example, Backscatter and Kraken Sports offer high-quality filters for compact systems. A red filter is an essential piece of underwater photography gear that helps beginners achieve balanced, lifelike images without post-editing.

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Using a red filter helps restore natural colors when shooting underwater without strobes or video lights.

4. Tray and Handles

Once you add a housing, you will quickly realize that stability matters. A tray with dual handles gives you better control over your camera setup, reduces shake, and makes it easier to position lights or strobes. It also helps with buoyancy, giving your hands a comfortable, secure grip even in current.

Brands such as Ultralight Camera Systems and SeaLife produce durable aluminum trays compatible with most housings. Beginners often find that a tray-and-handle setup makes a huge difference in keeping shots steady, especially when filming video underwater.

5. Strobes or Video Lights

Light is the most important tool for underwater photography. Strobes (for still images) and continuous video lights (for video) replace the sunlight that gets absorbed at depth. Good lighting restores color, reduces shadows, and highlights detail. Beginners should start with a single strobe or video light to learn positioning before upgrading to two.

Entry-level options include the Sea & Sea YS-03 strobe or the Bigblue AL1200 video light. Use lighting especially for macro photography or when diving below 15 meters (50 feet), where natural light fades fast.

LEARN MORE: Dive Photography - Am I Ready to Start Diving with a Camera?

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Checking photography gear before every dive is a vital step for protecting your investment.

6. Moisture Absorbers

Humidity trapped inside your housing can quickly fog up your lens, ruining otherwise great shots. Moisture absorbers or anti-fog inserts, such as SeaLife Moisture Munchers, prevent condensation by keeping the air inside your housing dry. They are small, inexpensive, and easily replaced.

Always keep extras in your camera case, especially if you are diving in warm tropical climates or transitioning between air-conditioned rooms and humid outdoor conditions. Simple precautions like these extend the life of your underwater photography gear and save your photos from frustration.

7. Lens Cloth or Defog Spray

A clear lens is essential for sharp images, and nothing ruins a shot faster than smudges or fog. Always carry a microfiber lens cloth to gently clean your housing's port, and use a mask defog spray to prevent condensation on your viewfinder. These small accessories might seem minor, but they make a huge difference in visibility.

Products like ZEISS lens wipes or Sea Drops defog solution are reliable, compact options for dive travel. Make cleaning your housing part of your pre-dive ritual to ensure every photo is crisp and clear.

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Good buoyancy control and stable positioning are essential skills for photographing reefs without damaging the environment.

8. Lanyards and Clips

Losing your camera mid-dive is every photographer's nightmare. Lanyards, retractable tethers, and bolt snaps secure your setup to your BCD, keeping your hands free when needed. Choose corrosion-resistant materials like stainless steel or nylon-coated cables that hold up in salt water.

Kraken and XS Scuba make excellent tethers designed for underwater use. Lanyards are especially useful for beginners who are still refining buoyancy control or adjusting to managing camera gear underwater.

9. Memory Cards and Spares

Running out of storage space halfway through a dive trip is an easily avoidable mistake. High-speed memory cards ensure smooth video recording and fast image saving. Brands like SanDisk and Lexar offer durable cards built to handle pressure and moisture changes.

Bring at least two spares and keep them in a waterproof case. As your photography progresses, shooting in RAW format gives you more flexibility for editing, but it also requires larger capacity cards; 64GB or more is a safe choice.

Buoyancy is a key skill for underwater photography: Get 5 Tips to Perfect Your Buoyancy

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Reviewing images after a dive helps beginners understand lighting, color balance, and how their gear performed.

10. Protective Case

Protecting your investment on land is just as important as safeguarding it underwater. A sturdy protective case, like a Pelican or Nanuk hard case, keeps your underwater photography gear organized and safe from impact, dust, and humidity. Choose one with custom foam inserts or dividers to cushion delicate items such as strobes, lenses, and housing components.

For travel, hard cases can be checked as luggage or carried as hand baggage, depending on your airline's size restrictions. After every trip, rinse and dry all parts thoroughly before packing to avoid corrosion.

Learn Underwater Photography the Right Way with SSI

Great gear helps—but knowing how to use it is what really transforms your photos. The SSI Photo & Video specialty shows you how to work with light, composition, and camera settings while maintaining excellent buoyancy and reef awareness.

Build confidence, protect the environment, and start capturing images you are genuinely proud of.
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