Unlock Your Vision: Must-Have Accessories for Underwater Photography and Videography

You’ve taken the plunge into the captivating world of underwater photography and videography. Your camera housing is secure, your buoyancy is dialed in, and you’re ready to capture the breathtaking beauty that lies beneath the surface. But just like any artistic pursuit, having the right tools can elevate your work from snapshots to stunning visual stories.

Beyond your primary camera and housing, a range of accessories can significantly enhance your image quality, improve your workflow, and even protect your valuable equipment. At Paragon Dive Store, we’re passionate about helping divers capture their underwater experiences, and we’ve curated a selection of must-have accessories to take your underwater photography and videography to the next level.

This guide will explore essential accessories that will help you overcome the unique challenges of underwater imaging and unlock your creative vision.

External Lighting: Bringing Color Back to the Deep

Water absorbs light, especially the warmer colors of the spectrum. As you descend, reds, oranges, and yellows quickly disappear, leaving your images looking blue and lifeless. External lighting, in the form of strobes for photography and video lights for videography, is crucial for restoring vibrant colors and illuminating your subjects.

For Photography (Strobes):

• Why They're Essential: Strobes emit a powerful, brief burst of artificial light that instantly brings back the lost colors and reduces backscatter (the annoying white specks caused by the camera's built-in flash reflecting off particles in the water).
• Key Features to Look For: Guide number (power), recycle time, beam angle, TTL (Through-The-Lens) compatibility, and the ability to adjust power output. Consider starting with one strobe and potentially adding a second for more dynamic lighting.
• Mounting Arms and Clamps: You’ll need a flexible arm system to position your strobes away from your lens, minimizing backscatter and allowing for creative lighting angles. Look for sturdy, adjustable arms with secure clamps.

For Videography (Video Lights):

• Why They're Essential: Video lights provide a constant source of illumination, allowing your camera to capture the true colors and details of your underwater subjects. They are also useful for focusing in low-light conditions.
• Key Features to Look For: Lumen output (brightness), beam angle, color temperature (warmer temperatures can look more natural), burn time, and the option for adjustable power.
• Mounting Options: Similar to strobes, video lights are often mounted on arms and clamps. Consider a setup that allows you to position your light smoothly and follow your subject.

Macro and Wide-Angle Lenses (or Wet Lenses): Expanding Your Perspective

Your camera's kit lens might be a good starting point, but dedicated underwater lenses will dramatically improve the quality and versatility of your shots. Wet lenses are designed to be mounted onto your housing's port underwater, making it easy to switch between different perspectives during a dive.

Macro Wet Lenses:

• Why They're Essential: These lenses allow you to capture the intricate details of small marine life, from tiny nudibranchs to the delicate patterns on coral. They significantly magnify your subject, revealing a hidden world.
• Key Features to Look For: Diopter strength (+5, +10, etc., indicating magnification), number of elements (higher quality lenses often have more), and compatibility with your housing's port.

Wide-Angle Wet Lenses:

• Why They're Essential: Wide-angle lenses allow you to capture expansive scenes, such as sweeping coral reefs, large marine animals, and dramatic shipwrecks. They also help to get closer to your subject, reducing the amount of water between you and increasing clarity and color saturation.
• Key Features to Look For: Field of view (measured in degrees), dome port size and quality (a larger, well-corrected dome minimizes distortion), and compatibility with your housing's port.

Explore our range of Macro and Wide-Angle Wet Lenses.

Filters: Enhancing Colors and Reducing Glare

Filters are another invaluable tool for underwater photographers and videographers, helping to correct colors and manage unwanted reflections.

Red Filters (and Magenta/Yellow):

• Why They're Essential: These filters are designed to restore the red wavelengths that are quickly absorbed by water. Red filters are most effective in shallower, blue water. Magenta filters are often used in greener water, while yellow filters can enhance contrast in specific conditions.
• How They Work: They physically block some of the blue and green light, allowing the warmer red wavelengths to reach your sensor.

Polarizing Filters:

• Why They're Essential: Polarizing filters can reduce glare and reflections from the surface of the water or from shiny subjects, enhancing color saturation and revealing details that might otherwise be lost.

Find the right Color-Correcting Filters for your system.

Buoyancy Control and Stability Accessories: Getting the Perfect Shot

A stable platform is crucial for sharp photos and smooth video. Proper buoyancy control is fundamental for all diving, but it’s even more critical when you’re trying to frame a shot. Several accessories can help.

• Weight Belts and Integrated Weight Systems: Fine-tuning your buoyancy ensures you can hover effortlessly without disturbing the environment or struggling to stay in position.
• Trim Weights: Strategically placed small weights can help you achieve perfect horizontal trim, which is ideal for underwater photography and videography.
• Tray and Handles: A sturdy tray with handles provides a stable platform for your camera housing and allows you to comfortably hold your rig, especially when using external lights. Many trays also offer mounting points for arms and other accessories.

Build a stable platform with our Camera Trays and Handles.

Maintenance and Protection Accessories: Safeguarding Your Investment

Underwater photography and videography gear is a significant investment, and proper care is essential for its longevity.

• O-Ring Grease and Pick: Regularly lubricating your housing's O-rings is crucial for maintaining a watertight seal. A dedicated O-ring pick helps you remove and inspect them without causing damage.
• Silica Gel Packets: These help absorb moisture inside your housing, preventing fogging and protecting delicate electronics.
• Lens Cleaning Supplies: Saltwater and condensation can leave residue on your lens port. Keep it clean with microfiber cloths and lens cleaning solutions safe for underwater housings.
• Housing Leak Detector: These small devices can provide an early warning if water starts to enter your housing, giving you time to surface safely and prevent catastrophic damage.
• Protective Bags and Cases: Invest in padded bags or hard cases to protect your camera, housing, and accessories during transport and storage.

Shop All Camera Accessories

Elevate Your Underwater Storytelling

The right accessories can truly transform your underwater photography and videography, allowing you to capture the magic of the ocean with greater clarity, color, and creativity. By investing in external lighting, dedicated lenses, filters, stability aids, and proper maintenance tools, you’ll be well-equipped to tell compelling visual stories from beneath the waves.

Visit Paragon Dive Store today to explore our wide selection of underwater photography and videography accessories. Our experienced team can provide personalized recommendations to help you build the perfect setup to match your camera system and your underwater aspirations. Unlock your vision and share the incredible world you discover beneath the surface!