Some of the very best souvenirs from any dive trip are the photos you bring home, and this specialty exists to help you actually take good ones instead of blurry, backscatter-filled snapshots. Whether shooting on a smartphone housing or a compact camera, you'll learn to work with strobes, understand how light behaves underwater, and avoid the mistakes that catch out almost every beginner. No previous photography experience is needed, just enthusiasm and reasonable comfort in the water.

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In detail

About This Course

Some of the best souvenirs from a dive trip are the photos, and the PADI Underwater Photographer specialty is built to help you take genuinely good ones rather than blurry, backscatter-filled snapshots. It works whether you are shooting on a compact camera, a smartphone housing, or a more advanced rig.

You will learn how to use lighting properly underwater, including strobes, and how to work with the way light and colour behave differently below the surface. The course also covers composition basics adapted for diving, such as getting close to your subject and shooting upward toward the light.

A big focus is on the mistakes that catch out almost every beginner, from stirring up sediment and causing backscatter to poor buoyancy ruining a shot by damaging the reef or spooking the subject. Fixing these habits early makes a real difference to both your photos and your impact on the marine environment.

No previous photography experience is required, just enthusiasm and a basic level of comfort in the water, making this one of the more approachable and rewarding specialties to add to your logbook.

The process

How The Course Works

Step 1
Camera Craft
You'll learn how to choose the right underwater camera setup for you, from a simple point-and-shoot to a full D-SLR rig, along with PADI's SEA method and the core principles behind a genuinely good underwater photo.
Step 2
Shooting for Real
Then it's into the water to put the technique into practice, working on framing and lighting and getting close enough to your subject to avoid the backscatter that ruins so many holiday photos. You come away with images actually worth showing people.
PADI states: Level One certification follows a single training session in the pool, confined water or open water

Course curriculum

What You'll Learn

Learning Outcomes

use underwater photography lights (strobes)
avoid backscatter and enhance color
avoid common beginner mistakes

Getting ready

Before You Start & What's Next

What's Included

PADI Digital Underwater Photographer manual or eLearning
Guidance on camera and lighting equipment setup
Open water training dives practising photo techniques
PADI Underwater Photographer certification

Prerequisites

Speak to our team to confirm the best starting point for your experience.

Next Steps

PADI Advanced Open Water Diver
PADI Peak Performance Buoyancy Specialty
PADI Master Scuba Diver

Upcoming training

Dates & Booking

No fixed dates listed right now

Choose your preferred start date and the academy will confirm instructor availability with you directly.

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We will help you pick the right course, package and dates without making the process feel complicated.

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Quick facts

Duration

1 day of structured training

Location

Unit 4, Bellman Court, Great Knollys Street, Reading, RG1 7HD

Certification

Recognised PADI qualification on completion

Have questions?

PADI Underwater Photographer

What to expect