Essential Gear for Underwater Photography Shoots: What I Use and Why It Matters

📸 Why Gear Matters in Underwater Photography

Underwater photography is equal parts art, science and safety. It's not just about having a good camera; it's about trusting your gear to perform in unpredictable environments, while keeping you and your subject safe.

As a trained freediver, surfer and photographer, I’ve refined my underwater kit over years of practice in Australia’s ever-changing ocean conditions. Whether I’m photographing a family float session, a powerful solo portrait or a brand campaign, my gear needs to deliver clarity, colour, safety and flow.

Here’s a behind-the-scenes look at what I use and recommend.

🧰 My Essential Underwater Photography Kit

1. Camera Body

👉 Current choice: Canon EOS R5
Why I love it: Incredible performance, fast autofocus and premium image quality—perfect for capturing motion in low light conditions under the surface.

2. Underwater Housing

👉 Current choice: AquaTech Elite II Housing
This is your camera’s lifeline underwater. I choose AquaTech for its ergonomic design, custom controls and reliability in turbulent surf or calm under the surface conditions.

Pro Tip: Always double-check seals and O-rings before every dive. One missed grain of sand, trapped wire or incomplete attachment can end a camera’s career.

3. Lens Selection

👉 Go-to underwater lense;

• Canon 16-35mm f/2.8 – my ‘go to’ for underwater sessions

When I’m shooting underwater, I mostly have the lens set at it’s widest setting- 16mm.

4. Dome Ports & Flat Ports

👉 Dome ports are ideal for over/under shots and underwater.
👉 Flat ports are great for surf/ above water, macro or more controlled portraiture.

Pro tip: invest in a lens squeegee to clean water droplets in-between shots

🧜‍♀️ Other Must-Haves in My Ocean Kit

5. Freediving Fins AND short body board fins

👉 Long-blade carbon or fiberglass fins = more power, less effort
Stamina underwater matters, especially when you're holding your breath and chasing light.

👉 short bodyboard fins (like DaFin) = great when manoeuvring in shallow water with sandy bottom and to move around quickly with short bursts of power.

6. Wetsuit & Weight Belt

👉 3mm (spring and autumn) and 5mm wetsuit (winter) + weight belt for neutral buoyancy
This lets me stay still in the water column without floating up or sinking too fast—ideal for steady shooting and client safety.

Pro tip: make sure you learn how to weight yourself correctly to ensure your own safety when shooting.

7. Dive Mask & Snorkel

👉 Low-volume freedive mask + snorkel
Clear vision and easy breathing between dives helps maintain flow and comfort.

Pro tip: use baby shampoo to keep your dive mask from fogging during a shoot.

8. Safety Gear

• Surface marker buoy/ float- for visibility and client safety

• Dive buddy or spotter

• Emergency plan

• First aid kit

• First aid training
  Safety always comes first, even in shallow water.

💡 Bonus Tools I Always Carry

• Microfiber towels (for cleaning gear)

• Silica gel packs or tampons (to keep moisture out of housing)

• Spare memory cards + batteries (because you never know!)

• Underwater posing guide (yes, I use my own resources on set!)

🔥 Why This Gear Helps You Get Better Results

All of this gear isn’t just for techy bragging rights. It’s about creating seamless, soulful experiences in the water for clients.

Pro tip: Positive Pre Planning Prevents Piss Poor Performance!

Reliable gear means:

✅ better client experience- more time in flow
✅ Less stress for you the photographer
✅ better quality assets
✅ Safety and comfort for everyone involved

When clients step into the ocean with me, they’re trusting me with their image, their story and their safety. Having the right tools allows me to honour that trust with care and creativity and maintain their safety throughout.

🐚 Want to Know More?

Whether you're an aspiring underwater photographer or a client curious about how it all works, I love sharing the ins and outs of what makes these shoots magical. Have a gear question? Just ask- did you know I now offer underwater photography mentoring!

📩 Get in touch with me here or check out my underwater photography guides and presets in the shop.