Underwater Photo Tips

Updated October 2026

Kids are tough on cameras, and a waterproof camera is a good answer for them. A few tips make a big difference to the pictures, though.

Get much closer than feels right. Water soaks up light and color, and it's full of tiny particles. Every foot of water between you and the fish makes the shot hazier and bluer.

Stay near the surface, ideally on a sunny day around midday. The top few feet get the most light.

Reds go first. Water filters red light out quickly, which is why underwater photos turn blue-green. Use the camera's underwater mode if it has one, or warm the photo up afterward.

Be careful with flash. A built-in flash lights up all those particles and makes the photo look like it's snowing. Divers call it backscatter. It only works for things very close to the lens.

Shooting slightly upward toward the surface gives you a bright background, and swimmers turn into nice silhouettes. On a calm day with a wide lens, try a half-in, half-out "over-under" shot.

And use the wrist strap. Always.

Shopping for one? See what to look for in a waterproof camera.