Home to turquoise waters, colorful coral formations, and amazing marine life, Thailand is one of the best destinations for underwater photography in the world. Its clear waters also offer excellent visibility—up to 40 meters in some places like Phuket. Yet, shooting underwater isn’t exactly easy. Variables like changing light conditions, currents, and remembering how to swim all add an extra challenge. Fortunately, by using accessories like tripods and lights alongside your ProShot Dive Case and visiting Thailand’s best dive sites, you can successfully perfect your underwater photography techniques and come up with some great shots.
Underwater tripod: say goodbye to shaky shots
It’s not easy to hold the camera steady underwater, and the problem of shaky footage can happen to the best of us. Fortunately, an underwater tripod can solve this issue as it lets you take gorgeous underwater shots that are completely shake-free. It’s also simple enough to use. First, look for a good underwater spot with plenty of fish, and then attach your tripod to a nearby rock or similar. But don’t ever attach it to live coral as this can damage or kill the coral. You can then set your camera to time-lapse or record and swim away to wait for the fish to return (which usually happens within a few minutes). This is how you can get the most out of your tripod and camera set-up, and it’s bound to give you some great shots. Just remember to never lose sight of your camera as this is a path to getting it lost or stolen.
Thailand’s best diving destinations for underwater photography
In addition to having the right underwater photography accessories, it’s also important to visit reliable dive spots where you have the best chances of taking amazing videos and photos. For example, Phuket is the go-to spot for diving in Thailand. In the waters surrounding the island of Koh Racha Yai (which is around an hour from mainland Phuket), you’ll find abundant beautiful coral and colorful fish, including puffer fish and barracudas. It also has a visibility between 20-30 meters, which makes it easier for you to capture clear footage.
Pattaya is another excellent destination for diving and underwater photography. It’s a coastal city on Thailand’s eastern gulf coast, with 23 dive sites and all of them home to amazing marine life. In Koh Sak and Hoh Khrok, for example, you may be lucky enough to spot Hawksbill Sea Turtles, a gorgeous yet critically endangered marine species. Pattaya’s mix of sandy beaches, nightlife, and leisure activities has also made it a popular destination for expats (around 180,000 expats currently live in the area). The city also offers relatively affordable rental prices—a one-bedroom condo in a prime location typically costs between 15,000 to 30,000 THB per month. So, whether you’re looking to make a permanent move or just visiting, you can't go wrong with this location as a base to take your underwater photography to the next level.
Make your photos/videos pop with good lighting
Lighting can also make or break your underwater photography. In some cases, it’s possible to take good photos or videos with natural light, as long as you’re shallow enough to still get the daylight coming through from the water above. Most of the time, you’ll need to rely on artificial light. Here’s where the Sola Video 2500 Action Kit comes in. It’s a powerful video light with a 60-degree beam pattern that stays consistent the entire time you use it. With this compact device, you’ll have no problem capturing your chosen underwater scene to the fullest. It also comes with a tray and arms that help stabilize your images. The arms can also be easily adjusted to help you find just the right angle for the light beam.
From Phuket to Pattaya, Thailand is home to amazing diving destinations for underwater photography. By investing in the best accessories to complement your Proshot dive case, as well as visiting the country’s most reliable dive spots, you’ll successfully capture beautiful images of Thailand’s hidden underwater gems.
