Bali's diverse diving -- from dramatic wrecks and manta encounters to tiny nudibranchs and pristine coral walls -- makes it a photographer's paradise. Here are practical tips for getting great underwater photos.
Camera options: GoPro/action cameras are great for video and wide-angle stills, compact cameras in housings (TG-7, RX100) offer versatility, mirrorless/DSLR in housing provides the best quality but requires more skill and investment. We rent GoPros and action cameras for divers who want to try underwater photography.
Wide-angle shooting: best at Nusa Penida (mantas, blue water), Menjangan (walls, silhouettes), Tulamben Liberty wreck (wreck architecture, light rays). Shoot upward to get blue water backgrounds. Get close to your subject -- water reduces contrast and color over distance.
Macro shooting: best at Tulamben Coral Garden (nudibranchs, pygmy seahorses), Secret Bay Pemuteran (frogfish, ghost pipefish), Amed (critter slopes), Padang Bai Jetty (seahorses). Use strobes or video lights positioned to the sides to reduce backscatter.
Lighting: natural light works for wide-angle shots in the first 10 meters of depth. Below that, everything turns blue/green without artificial light. Strobes (flash) are essential for macro and useful for wide-angle. Video lights work for both photo and video.
Top tip: the most important factor in underwater photography is buoyancy control. If you are fighting to stay off the bottom or hovering above your macro subject, you cannot compose a good shot. Practice buoyancy first, photography second.
We offer underwater photography add-ons (Rp 800.000) with camera rental and basic shooting instruction. Our guides know where to find the best subjects and can position you for optimal shots.