Tips from Underwater Photographer Thomas Van Puymbroeck

1. Become an underwater detective

Good underwater photos often start before you even get in the water. The better you know your subject, the greater the chance that you’ll find it and be able to photograph it at just the right moment. So take the time to learn about the animals you might encounter during a dive. What do they eat? Where do they hang out? When are they active? And how do they behave? For example, if you know which snail lives on a certain plant or another animal, you’ll suddenly start seeing them everywhere. If you understand the behavior of a particular species, you’ll also be better able to predict what the animal will do. According to Thomas, knowledge of the underwater world is therefore an important part of underwater photography. The better you understand what you’re photographing, the better you can anticipate its behavior, and the stronger your photos will ultimately be.

2. Know your camera better than you know yourself

Underwater, you don’t want to have to think about where a particular button is. If you finally have an animal right in front of your lens and then have to search through a menu for the right setting, it’s often too late. So get to know your camera well. Practice with the settings before you go in the water and make sure the important functions feel second nature. Know what your camera can do, but just as important: know what it can’t do. Every camera has its limitations. By knowing them, you’ll avoid frustration and learn to better handle the conditions you encounter underwater.

3. Trim is everything

It may sound like a cliché, but according to Thomas, good trim is an absolute essential for underwater photography. With good trim, you can stay stable in the water. This gives you more control over your composition and allows you to focus and take pictures calmly. You won’t have to constantly adjust your position with your fins, and you’ll avoid accidentally stirring up sand or scaring away an animal. A good trim is also important for the underwater world. If you can stay stable, you’re much less likely to bump into coral or disturb other animals and their habitat. So photography really starts with good diving.

4. Look first, then take a picture

When you see a special animal, it’s tempting to start taking pictures right away. Still, it can be worth taking a moment to watch first. How does the animal move? Where is it going? Does it keep returning to the same spot? And from which direction does the light fall most beautifully? By observing first, you can better prepare for the moment you want to take the photo. Instead of swimming after the animal, wait for the right moment. This often results not only in calmer photos, but also in photos that better capture the animal’s natural behavior.

5. Move slowly

Underwater, rushing is almost never a good strategy. Especially with small animals, a sudden movement can cause your subject to swim away or hide. Move calmly and with control. Approach your subject slowly and try to disturb the water as little as possible. This not only gives you a better chance of getting a good photo, but also ensures that you disturb the animal as little as possible. A good underwater photographer is therefore, above all, a good observer.

6. Make sure your subject is close enough

The less water there is between your camera and your subject, the better. This is because water causes a loss of color and contrast. Distance is therefore especially important when working with artificial light. Try to move closer gradually instead of immediately using a high zoom setting—without disturbing the animal, of course. This is especially important in macro photography. With small subjects in particular, even a slight change in distance can make a big difference in sharpness, color, and detail.