Underwater Photography Course Cape Town

Cape Town Scuba Dive Centre

Scuba Courses

Underwater Photography

Duration

1 Day

Max Depth

Depends on your certification level

Min Age

12 Years old

Dives

2 Dives

Pool Sessions

None

Price

R4,500

Course Overview

Expand Your Lifetime Diving Journey

One of the best parts about scuba diving is being able to capture the memories of your incredible underwater experiences. It’s the beautiful underwater photographs that draw many people to scuba diving in the first place.

Whether you fancy yourself as a budding underwater scuba dive photographer or you just want to have a special visual documentation of your underwater experiences, the Underwater Photography Speciality is what makes all the difference between a quick blurry snapshot and a truly professional looking photograph while diving!

Being able to take great shots with ease, is what will make your photos the envy of all of your friends, and also provide great souvenirs of your very best dives.

Underwater photographer taking a photo of a diver

Why Choose Us

Free pick-up from hotel (central city area)

Both PADI & TripAdvisor certificates of excellence won

Best dive instructors & dive masters

Good quality well maintained scuba equipment

Strong emphasis on safety & quality

Pricing

OUR TRAINING PHILOSOPHY: Don’t train until you get it right, train until you can’t get it wrong.

Using an underwater camera on two ocean dives. Learn how to effectively use a camera and make use of its functions along with how to edit your photos after with you PADI Instructor.

R4,500

Possible Upgrades

Add on your Nitrox certification for only R2800! (Normal retail R3500). Breathing Nitrox you will be able to stay under water for a lot longer than if you were breathing from air – thus allowing you more time to explore and take more photos at depth.

Prerequisites

Open Water Diver Certification. Minimum age: 12 years old.

Cirriculum

What You'll Learn

UNDERWATER PHOTOGRAPHY THEORY & KNOWLEDGE

Learn the fundamentals of underwater photography, including camera settings, composition, lighting, buoyancy, and how to get the most from your camera system underwater.

CAMERA & EQUIPMENT SETUP

Become confident preparing and using your underwater camera equipment. Learn how to set up your camera, housing, strobes or lights, and accessories before entering the water.

UNDERWATER COMPOSITION

Develop your eye for capturing better underwater images. Learn how to work with subjects, backgrounds, colour, distance, perspective, and composition to create more engaging photographs.

LIGHTING & COLOUR

Discover how light behaves underwater and how to use natural light, strobes, and underwater lights to improve your photographs. Learn techniques for restoring colour and reducing backscatter in your images.

UNDERWATER PHOTOGRAPHY SKILLS

Put your photography skills into practice on real dives. Learn how to approach marine life without disturbing it, maintain good buoyancy and positioning, and capture sharp, well composed images while managing your dive safely.

IMAGE REVIEW & IMPROVEMENT

Review your underwater photographs and learn how to identify areas for improvement. Develop your understanding of exposure, focus, composition, colour, and lighting so you can continue creating better underwater images on every dive.

2-Day Program

The Course Structure

Day 1

Theory

Knowledge development this takes roughly 2 -4 hours online to ensure you have the knowledge of diving before coming for your practical application.

Day 2

Ocean Dives 1 + 2

Put your camera skills into practice underwater as you learn how to confidently operate your camera while diving. You’ll practise adjusting settings, controlling exposure, focusing, framing your subjects, and working with natural light or strobes. You’ll also learn how to position yourself for the best shot while maintaining good buoyancy and awareness of your surroundings, helping you capture sharp, well composed underwater images without disturbing marine life.

Why Choose CT Dive School

Unmatched Quality & Safety

PADI 5-STAR IDC CENTRE

Top tier certification standard recognizing highest standards of diver training, safety and customer service.

MAX 4 STUDENTS

We guarantee small groups per instructor to ensure close personal attention, optimal safety, and customized training.

DIVERSE MARINE LIFE

Cape Town's unique temperate reefs feature ancient kelp forests, historic wrecks, playful seals and spectacular biodiversity.

ALL EQUIPMENT INCLUDED

No hidden costs. Premium wetsuits, regulators, masks, fins, and cylinders are fully included in the price.

EXPERT INSTRUCTORS

Learn from highly experienced, certified ocean professionals who live and breathe Cape Town diving.

QUICK OVERVIEW

Key Highlights

Minimum duration 1 day

Preparing for the course via e-learning homework

Course can be constructed around your schedule

Minimum age: PADI Open Water 12 years old

Understand how to prepare, wash and clean your underwater photography gear

Learn about lighting, color and backscatter to enhance your photography skills

Requirements

Course Prerequisites

Before diving, ensure you meet PADI’s basic health and swimming requirements. Be a PADI Open Water diver or equivalent!

Open Water Diver Certification

12 Years Old

Be Reasonably healthy

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the PADI Underwater Photography course?

The PADI Underwater Photography course teaches you how to capture better photos beneath the surface. You’ll learn underwater photography techniques, camera settings, composition, lighting and how to work with your camera while scuba diving.

Do I need to own an underwater camera?

No. You can use your own underwater camera or a suitable camera system provided by the dive centre, depending on availability. Speak to our team before booking if you need equipment.

What camera can I use for the course?

The course can be completed using a range of underwater camera systems, from compact cameras and action cameras to more advanced mirrorless or DSLR systems. Your instructor can help you understand the settings and features of the equipment you're using.

Do I need to be an experienced photographer?

Not at all. The course is designed for divers who are new to underwater photography as well as photographers who want to improve their skills underwater.

Is underwater photography difficult?

Underwater photography has some unique challenges because water affects light, colour, contrast and visibility. The course gives you practical experience with these challenges and teaches you how to work with your camera rather than simply relying on automatic settings.

Can I use my GoPro or action camera?

Yes. Action cameras such as GoPro can be used to practise many of the same principles, including composition, positioning, lighting and working with marine life.

Is the PADI Underwater Photography course suitable for beginners?

Yes. If you're already a certified diver but new to underwater photography, the course is a great way to learn the fundamentals while gaining practical experience underwater.

All-inclusive training

What's Included in the fee

PADI Digital Learning Materials

2 Ocean Dives in Cape Town

PADI Certification Processing & Card

Premium Scuba Gear Rental

Safety Gear and Diver's Insurance

Photo Gallery

Underwater Scenes & Diving Moments

Testimonials

What our divers say

My wife and I had a really great time diving with Into the Blue Cape Town in May. The gear you get is very good, including Scubapro Seawing Nova fins, 7mm wetsuits, gloves, boots, and even an extra vest to wear under the wetsuit. The water was quite cold at around 14°C, and since I normally only dive in tropical waters, I was a bit unsure at first. But with the gear provided, I was absolutely fine for the whole dive. My wife did shiver at the end of dives though. You could stop the dives at any time and one of the dive master would get you to the boat. We had an amazing time in the kelp forest and even saw a pyjama shark. On our first dive at North Paw, we were also lucky enough to see a seal right at the end of the dive, which was a really nice surprise. The whole day was very well organized and the service was excellent. Everyone was friendly, professional, and made us feel comfortable. Unfortunately, we had to leave for the Garden Route the next day, otherwise we would definitely have booked another dive with them. Overall, it was a really great experience, and next time I am in Cape Town, I will for sure dive with Into the Blue again. Highly recommended.

Into the Blue took our family group of 10 out snorkelling and scuba diving. They were great in accommodating both the snorkellers and divers needs at the same time and keeping everyone happy. They went out of there way to make it such a special day, taking us to different sites and providing snacks and hot drinks after the dive /snorkel. Thank you so much ‘Into the Blue’! What a fantastic day!

Thurl Abrahams

Great experience diving today - double tank dives in the kelp was an incredible experience...especially with the seals! It was cold...so be prepared! But the kit was great quality, the safety briefings were perfect and the diving with James as our dive guide was brilliant. Thank you to the full team...if you are in Cape Town...dive it!

Alex James

Ready to dive into Cape Town?

Book a PADI course, fun dive or dive holiday with Into The Blue today.