There’s nothing quite like getting to relive your scuba diving adventures, sharing fantastic photos and video with friends and family members from your most memorable dives. That’s why underwater photography is such a popular hobby — and the PADI Digital Underwater Photographer course was designed to help get you started.

So what do you learn in the PADI Digital Underwater Photographer course? Well, here’s a breakdown:

Benefits of the PADI Digital Underwater Photographer course

Of course the best way to hone your photo skills is by doing, and this course teaches you basic theory and techniques that will prove handy down the road, while incorporating hands-on learning. And, even better, the second dive can count as an Adventure Dive credit toward and Advanced Open Water Diver certification.

Get started right away with the Digital Underwater Photographer eLearning option

Prerequisites for the PADI Digital Underwater Photographer course

This course is open to any PADI Open Water Divers — or Junior Open Water Divers — who are at least 10 years old.

What you’ll learn in the PADI Digital Underwater Photographer course

This course covers the basics of underwater photography techniques and composition; how to choose the best gear for your skill level; and the PAdI SEA (Shoot, Examine, Adjust) method.

Ready to take the next step? Sign up for PADI eLearning to get started and become a diver.

From a PADI Expert

“Today, we walk around with photo/video cameras in our pockets. The stuff you see underwater’s some of the coolest on the planet, so why in the world would you leave them on the boat? For the price of an inexpensive housing, you can take your smartphone, or a snap camera, or even a DSLR diving. And whether you opt for small, medium or large, shooting underwater pics and video has become easier than ever. But even so, there are some things to learn – how to care for your housing so the water stays on the outside! It helps to know a bit about how to focus underwater, and why everything turns blue and what to do about it. A few techniques make your videos more fun to make and watch, and there are some safety considerations. Not to worry — your PADI Instructor can get you shooting sharp, colorful snaps and video in a few dives without long lectures in spectral mechanics and CMOS sensor technology.”

– Karl Shreeves, PADI Technical Development Executive