These courses are designed to give you a good knowledge of the techniques of underwater photography and the option to practise taking photographs in the confines of a swimming pool and/or the open water. The techniques you will learn are the crucial basics for taking underwater photographs in the open water and producing results that you can be proud of. Areas covered include controlling exposure, focusing and composition using either your own camera system or choose from the selection on offer from New Horizons including digital systems.

The modular nature of these courses allows you to choose the elements which suit you best. To take good underwater photographs you need a solid understanding of the techniques involved and these are covered in a three hour classroom session. To put this into practise we offer you a couple of options; either swimming pool based and/or two open water dives in the UK or on one of our Red Sea trips. If you complete the open water option you will also receive the PADI Underwater Photography speciality certification.

Classroom Sessions
These must be attended before the practical elements of the course

These are presented by instructors with a keen interest in underwater photography and experience in taking underwater photos both in the UK and abroad.

Course Dates

Venue: Classroom at New Horizons Dive Centre

Cost: £39 (including course notes)


Pool Sessions

To help you practise the techniques that you have learnt in the classroom a session in the pool with model fish is always useful. You will be given specific tasks/techniques to practise and then be able to review your results with an instructor.

Course dates to be arranged privately

Cost: £29
(Camera system rental £10. Film. Scuba gear rental, if required £8)

Open water dives/PADI Speciality

These two dives can be completed as well as or instead of the pool session and will allow you to try out scenic/diver and macro photography and obtain your PADI Underwater Photography speciality.

Venues: On one of our many trips to the sea in the UK or for convenience at Capernwray or Stoney Cove. Also consider completing these on one of our trips to the Red Sea.

Dates: Please contact us to discuss suitable dates as these are many and options varied throughout the year.

Cost: £65 (including certification) plus £25 for PADI crew-pak including manual (the crew-pak is mandatory).   
Note: Not included are dive site entry fees, camera system rental, films and processing, scuba gear rental, air fills and boat diving/trip costs.
(If required camera system rental £15 for 2 dives. Rental gear can be provided by New Horizons.