The move towards digital technology in the past 15 years has revolutionized the introduction to underwater photography. It is now possible for divers to point and shoot without worrying so much as to how much film they are wasting, due to the fact that a digital SD card can carry thousands of images. Top camera manufacturers such as Canon, Olympus, Sony and Nikon are producing underwater housings for their digital cameras for reasonable prices, meaning it is that much easier to capture memories underwater.
The PADI Digital Underwater Photography course teaches you how to use your camera properly underwater. This includes how to white balance the camera to account for light absorption, shooting angles to get the maximum effect, and how to take up close macro pictures. This is followed by a look at how to use imaging software such as Adobe Photoshop to optimize your photos and remove anything unwanted such as backscatter.
The course can be taken both by scuba divers and by snorkelers. In fact some of the best photos can be captured near to the surface where there is more light. The dive sites around Phuket at Racha Yai, Phi Phi, and the marine sanctuary dive sites of the King Cruiser, Anemone Reef and Shark Point all offer staggering marine life, where you can get some great photos. This is also a great course to take before going on a liveaboard trip to the Similans Islands and the chance of capturing on camera a manta ray or whale shark.