Story and photos by Lance Bark

The digital age has been here for quite some time and is an integral part of our lives. Now scuba divers who may have been reluctant to enter the realm of underwater photography due to the high cost of developing film have no more excuses. Using a digital camera is so easy that anyone can use one and get dramatic results.Underwater photography classes are offered at all local dive shops. If that is not your style, just get a camera and teach yourself. Entry-level underwater cameras range from a few hundred dollars to about a thousand. A strobe and wide angle lens as well as a macro feature should be considered in the package.One of the nice features of digital cameras is that when you take a picture you don’t like, you can just hit the delete button and poof! All traces of the unsightly mistake are gone and it doesn’t cost you anything.If you want to take your photography to the next level, there are many software programs such as Photoshop that will teach you infinite ways to manipulate your photos. A touch-up here or there adds a whole new feel to what was once a semi-good shot.Once you are ready to shoot some great underwater shots, where do you go? Practically anywhere you dive off South Florida’s coast is sure to provide beautiful pictures. Good underwater photography conditions are the same as good diving conditions: visibility, calm seas and interesting features such as reefs and wrecks.

A great place to start is beach diving since you can take your time while getting plenty of ambient light due to shallow depths. Commercial Boulevard’s pier in Lauderdale-by-the-Sea has plenty of beautiful reefs to give you endless photo opportunities. Other sites are off Fort Lauderdale, Pompano and Delray beaches. All of these sites have lush coral reefs with plenty of tropical fish as well as an abundance of soft and hard corals. Large sea fans and sea whips make great backgrounds while shooting portraits of larger species of fish.

Another great opportunity for dramatic images awaits when you start diving the many wrecks that are off the coast. At these wrecks you will find endless varieties of sea life where you can try out your macro and wide angle skills: the Copenhagen, the Captain Dan, the Mercedes, the Jim Atria, the United Caribbean, the Sea Emperor, the Ancient Mariner, the Noula Express, Tenneco Towers and Rodeo 25. This list is not a complete one; you will no doubt come up with favorite sites of your own.

So now you are ready to start your underwater photographic diary, and you will see that a picture is truly worth a thousand words.

Focal Length: 8.0 mm
ISO: 64
Aperture: f/3.3
Flash: Yes

#1 Off Boynton Beach, because it has a lush reef system in relatively shallow water.

Focal Length: 5.4 mm
ISO: 64
Aperture: f/5.6
Flash: Yes

#2 Off the Commercial Boulevard pier in Lauderdale-by-the-Sea, because it’s a great place to see a wide variety of life including plenty of macro subjects.

Focal Length: 5.4 mm
ISO: 64
Aperture: f/5.6
Flash: No

#3 Off Key Largo, because twin sisters the Bibb and the Duane are absolutely stunning with great visibility year round.