This depends on what you are comfortable with on the surface.  If you already own a digital camera, see if an underwater housing is available for it.  Housings are available for many cameras.  Check online with Digideep.com.   There you can match up cameras with housings. You can research cameras, housings, lighting and search for the best prices for each piece you will need.

But before you take the plunge in underwater photography.  How's your bouyancy control.  This is extremely important in underwater photography.  I cannot stress the importance of being very comfortable with your diving before you start adding photography to your tasks underwater.  Another important skill will be breath control.  Underwater photography will be tough until you master these two skills.

Take an underwater photography course.  Taking pictures underwater is much different than at the surface.  You will shoot a lot of pictures.  Many you will discard as a learning experience but the good ones will stay with you forever.  They are a great way to introduce your nondiving friends to what you see underwater.

Al

Hi saintmls,

Before you go buying an underwater housing, make sure you have a good camera that will be good for some time (minimum megapixels you want, for example). Camera housings are very expensive and not something you change every year or two (unless you're a hardcore diver and have the dough). Also, be sure to check eBay or the classifieds for a used housing. If you can get your first housing used, it might save you a lot of money.

I dive with a Sony MVC CD300 (3.5 megapixel camera) that takes mini CDs in the back. At the highest resolution, I can take 250-300 pics. That's nice when on a dive charter all day...last thing you want to do is swap out memory cards. So I would also recommend getting a high storage memory card/stick too. They're not that expensive but is very convenient.

I bought an Ikelite camera housing a few years ago and I love it. I've taken thousands of pictures and have had no problems with the housing. I did quickly learn that the filters are a very cheap and easy way to help with color...but lighting will help a lot more. Maybe this summer I'll get the strobes...a little expensive too. Just something to keep in mind.

Good luck!

Brian Pautsch
bpautsch@midwestscubadiving.com
http://www.newvisionusa.com
630.251.5777

Have you gone down lately?

A veteran underwater photographer gave me a few tips that REALLY helped recently. 

1.  Send the money to get a super wide angle lens adapter for your underwater case.  This will allow you to be close enough to your subject so as to capture much more color and detail than with your camera's wide angle zoom alone.

2.  A strobe on an articulated arm is a must.  It will provide much more colorful photos; dramatically reduce or eliminate the "scatter" from light reflected back from suspended particles in the water that occurs with your camera flash; and will allow you to experiment with much more interesting lighting angles.

3.  If you have a digital camera, don't use any of the exposure "programs" or auto modes provided.  Some of the most rewarding photos can only be obtained when the camera is in manual mode.  An easy way to get started with this is to open your lens aperature all the way and regulate the exposure with your shutter speed. Your digital camera display will allow you to "bracket" your photos and see the results instantly.  With this approach, together with a strobe, you will have much more colorful photos and capture more marine life in sharp detail. By experimenting with different shutter speeds, aperature settings, and strobe angles you can take some stunning photos!