FAQ

What kind of video camera should be used underwater?

Any kind of video camera will do as long as it has a waterproof underwater camera housings.

How to Create an Underwater Video?

Waterproof your camera. Waterproof housings are made for almost every type of camera. Choose which camera you will take with you, and purchase or build a waterproof housing for it to survive underwater filming. Test it out by splashing some water on it from the sink or hose before you jump off the boat.

Brush up on your scuba or snorkel skills and prepare your equipment. If you will be scuba diving, make sure your certification is up to date and you feel comfortable staying underwater for a long period of time. If you will be snorkeling, practice swimming laps and holding your breath to make sure you can stay under long enough to get the shots you want. Maintain your equipment diligently, and always check it thoroughly before getting in the water.

Plan your dive. What sort of video are you trying to make? Do you want to see whales or reefs? Scenery or sea life? Decide when and where you intend to shoot, and make sure you have all the equipment and supplies you need. If you are shooting overseas, make sure you have the proper certifications or permits.

Dive in! Jump in there and get the shots. You'll never make an underwater video from the boat. You need to get wet and find something that inspires you to make a beautiful underwater video. Try diving around natural or manmade underwater reefs for a breathtaking display of underwater life.

Edit your raw footage. Come home and transfer your footage into an editing program like Final Cut Pro or iMovie, and cut all the unexciting parts out of your raw footage. No one wants to see shots of you swimming around looking for fish. This leaves a finished product that will be both professional and entertaining.

What are the injuries occur during scuba diving?

Decompression sickness, or DCS, and Cerebral arterial gas embolism, or CAGE. DCS occurs because the body forms air pockets in it when utilizing compressed air, as well as becuase it is subject to increased external pressure from the water. DCS occurs because the nitrogen in a person's air supply, unlike oxygen, is NOT used up and absorbed by the body, and the increased levels of nitrogen, unless controlled by a device on the breathing apparatus called a regulator, collects air pockets in the body. These create a cramping sensation, nausea, and lightheadedness, and a physical sensation referred to by divers as The Bends. DCS usually occurs on an overly fast descent, as the body and the regulator can't compensate fast enough for the increased water pressure.

CAGE - Cerebral arterial gas embolism occurs more often as a result of an uncontrolled rapid ascent, as opposed to the bends that hit divers due to a fast descent. This manifests as sharp pains in the body, especially in the sinuses, head, and in the lung area. This is a very serious condition that can be potentially fatal. CAGE is caused when the rapid ascent of the diver causes air bubbles similar to those formed during DCS, only this time the air pressure changes that trigger the bubbles in the body are due to a sudden lessening of the water pressure surrounding the body. This causes the trapped air to have a higher pressure volume than the surrounding atmosphere. In effect, the diver is an unopened can of soda that got shaken real good underwater, and once he leaves the water, it's the same effect as opening the can.

How to photograph underwater?

Buy a camera or housing. You have two options: either to buy an underwater camera, or a housing for a camera you already own.
Remember that everything is magnified underwater, so distances will appear differently. Your camera will only be able to focus at certain distances.

Get close to what you want to shoot. Underwater, light is filtered so that all that is able to make it through is blue, and though you might be able to pick up enough light to see, your camera may not. You're going to have to get pretty close or your pictures will end up dark blue and washed out.

Keep your distance. This is especially an issue if you use an external flash. The perfect distance for taking pictures is approximately 4-6 feet, or closer if you have a macro lens. This may seem close, but most fish won't run from you if you approach slowly.

Maintain your camera.

• Most importantly, wash the outer housing after every use in salt or fresh water.
• Never ever open the housing while you are wet or dripping, or in a humid environment.
• Use desiccants inside your camera to keep the camera dry, and the lens free of fog.
  

How to use waterproof digital camera?

Ensure that your camera battery is fully charged and that there is plenty of room on your memory stick.
Before taking pictures, make sure that there is no debris (dirt, mud, dust etc) on or around the waterproof seal covering the battery and memory stick slots.

Make sure that battery and memory stick slots are firmly closed.
Attach your camera to your wrist or your neck using some type of lanyard or strap.
Be sure that you turn your flash on before you take pictures (if you choose not to use a flash, the hours 11am-2pm are the best hours for underwater photography).

Make sure that you read your camera manual to ensure that you are utilizing all of the correct underwater settings.