No Go With the GoPro in Scuba Diving

You can’t go pro with a GoPro. A friend of mine told me right after his purchase of a GoPro that he was going to be a professional photographer. At the time I didn't think much of it because I had little knowledge of the system and had never used one before. I've still only fiddled with a GoPro once or twice since I had that conversation with him but if he told me that again I would have to concur.

I “DO NOT” claim to be a professional photographer and I would hardly call myself an amateur. Rather I’m an enthusiast of the hobby with only the intention of enjoying myself.

Now don’t get me wrong, I’m not trying to bash the GoPro system I’m just trying to allude to the fact that by using it it won’t automatically make you a professional. That just sounds obvious but many people believe what’s portrayed on television is what it is like in actuality. For example, chances are you won’t get those stellar video of whitewater kayakers going over a waterfall on your first attempt using this camera.

While the GoPro is advertised as being waterproof and many scuba divers do use them I would recommend if you want those crisp photos with lots of color to upgrade to something better.

The deeper you venture underwater the less color that is visible. The acronym ROYGBIV explains, the first color that is lost is the reds followed by orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo and violet. Eventually if you get deep enough the only visible color is black. In order to get those good shots of colorful reefs you need to add color back to the photo by use of a strobe or flashlight.

This was a photo of a Spanish Hogfish, because of the depth at which the photo was taken and the lack of a strobe the  purple and coloration on the fish was dulled.

The reason you shouldn't expect to become a professional when the only gear you own is a GoPro is because you can’t adjust anything with this camera. The camera is very limited with only and on/off and shoot button, this along with how compact is probably why it has received so much cloud. But if you want to take underwater photos that aren't dull and blue then you really need something that you can adjust the settings as well as being able to see the subject.

The GoPro is a plus in how compact the camera is but because it was made so tiny it is very limiting. You’ll notice as opposed to most cameras there isn't a viewfinder which isn't that big of a deal if you’re filming yourself scaling a mountain on a bike. All you have to do is point it in the general direction and hit play but what I've noticed is that you won’t be able to get those pictures that focus on a particular subject. What I mean by this is that without a zoom or focus option chances are many of your photos may become blurred. 

Tips and Tricks to get those Perfect Shots

Underwater photography is a beast in itself. Along with the focus of getting the perfect shot you still have to be aware of your surroundings. Keeping an eye on depth gauges, computers, equipment are just a few of the worries that go along with lugging camera gear beneath the water’s surface.

 Luckily I had the privilege of studying under Tim Grollimund. Tim taught me the majority of what I know about using a camera and how to get those sought after shots that you've seen of scuba divers. However, this post isn't intended to teach you everything you need to know about taking photos. I just intend to tell some key points that proved beneficial when I went through a course on underwater photography.

Similar to taking photos in general it is best to be as close as possible to your subject matter. However, this is not always the easiest when trying to take an image of an animal.

Patience, patience, patience. Like anything, if you chase after it (animal) chances are it is not going to stick around. So, whenever possible it is best to let the subject (animal) of your photo come to you. Chances are the majority of your shots have the fish however it has turned around and is swimming away from you. This ties into the issue of having patience but it was also something I had to understand if I wanted to become a good photographer. Nobody wants to look at the tail end of a fish. The best photos are never the ones of the fish swimming away. So, whenever possible it is ideal to try and take shots of the side or the front of a fish.

Another hint that I learned from Tim’s course was to try to get below what you are trying to take a photo of. If that is not possible then try shooting on the same level but avoid taking a photo looking down on something. How I see it is that anybody can look down and see the fish swimming around but it is more unique to have those photos looking directly at the animals/plants.

While you should focus on getting good photos you should never become careless. When trying to get close-ups avoid accidentally brushing up against sensitive organisms such as coral. This can be prevented by constantly reading depth gauges and monitoring you breathing. Remember, the most important aspect of scuba diving is to remain safe so don't get too consumed in trying to get the perfect shot.

Dive Shops in the Salisbury Area

Having been traditionally from the Salisbury area scuba dive shops are hard to come by but with this entry maybe you’ll get some ideas of where to look. To be specific I live a little outside of town so the nearest dive shops are towards Claremont, Charlotte, and Mooresville North Carolina.

Let’s begin where it all started. My first training was through a small quaint shop in the town of Claremont just a skip and a jump away from Hickory. The DiveShop provides certifications through PADI so as I’ve mentioned in the About page of my blog I was first certified through PADI. You’ll find the shop operated by Gene Monday, a delightful gentleman that won’t try to force a sale on any customer. Rather, Gene will usually try to coerce you to have a seat and enjoy an episode of The Andy Griffith Show. In terms of service they provide adequate training but sometimes it may be difficult to complete in a predetermined amount of time. It took me several extra months until I was finally able to finish my open water certification. The Dive Shop while located in the mountains of N.C. is on island time like any other dive shop and you can’t really rush through good training. Personally, the small shop still serves as my go-to place when I need a gear tune-up.

A little further away is Open Water Adventures in Charlotte N.C. (45 minutes). This shop is really state of the art with a training pool located on site. In terms of convenience this would be my preference of a dive shop mainly because there is no hassle of trying to reserve a pool. The service is excellent with all employees taking the time to learn the customer’s names. The shop is different from the dive shop because they are an SSI certifying organization. In addition Open Water Adventures has a dive blog which can be accessed by this link http://www.openwateradventures.com/dive-blog/ 

Lastly is the Lake Norman Scuba which is located in Mooresville N.C. (30 minutes). Unless you come from a wealthy area I would recommend elsewhere for your training. While I personally haven’t trained under the staff at Lake Norman I have been a regular customer for several years and still many of the employees have no idea who I am, apart from another potential customer. As opposed to the previous two shops this one relies heavily on sales and is willing to push you out the door trying to get a sale. Honestly while the people are friendly I would rather shop at another store that appreciates and is willing to take the time to get to know their customers.

While there are numerous other store in the area I felt it would be more beneficially to tell about the ones I specifically associate with. Also I cannot vouch as well for other shops that may have been excluded in this review.

Night Diving, Friend or Foe

There is something about night diving that really peaks the interest. A dark world with no light except that narrow stream being emitted by the primary light and a back-up if that flashlight fails. Following a guiding line down further into the enveloping blackness, passing through a thermocline the water becomes cool.

Becoming almost omnipotent, acting as a decider for what will live and what shall die. Revealing a fish from the shadows only for a predator to shoot past making an easy kill, always knowing there are groupies’ following the diver’s every move.

Looking up on a clear night and being able to still see the glimmer of the stars and constellations piercing the water’s surface and the heart of this gorgeous sight. Diving with a large group of divers all equipped with multi-colored tank lights it was truly a show when water activated the sensors that lit up the strobes. Explosions of green, red, and blue bursting in the shadows and revealing the whereabouts of lost friends.

Similar to a child afraid of the dark I had some unease of jumping into water that I couldn’t see. The first leap off the dock with the primary light directed downward so not to flail about blinding others. Chilled cool water entering into every opening of the wetsuit as your body plunges downward. This was my personal experience of night diving. While it was more of a crash course since I received the textbook only hours before the sunset over Lake Rawlings Virginia it was still one of my favorite experiences of scuba diving.