As divers, we love seeking out bucket-list creatures in the deep blue. The majority of us enjoy turning those memories into photos too (how else will our non-diving friends believe us?). Whether you're a novice looking for crystal clear waters and calm conditions, a history buff wanting to document dives along forgotten corridors, or someone who loves finding magic in the muck, we've got you covered. We even called on our in-house underwater photographer, Emily, to share the best locations-from minuscule marvels in Lembeh to the big boys in the Baja Peninsula. Read on to discover our top destinations for underwater photography.
Lembeh Strait, Indonesia
Let's begin our round-up of the best underwater photography destinations with Lembeh Strait, Indonesia. Heralded as one of the best spots for muck and macro diving, these volcanic substrates are home to some of the most wonderfully weird critters beloved by macro enthusiasts. The treasures are abundant in the black muck; you'll find your camera storage full before you surface. We're talking rare critters such as flamboyant cuttlefish, blue-ringed octopus, mimic octopus, hairy frogfish, ambon scorpionfish, rhinopias, pygmy seahorses, harlequin shrimp, tiger shrimp, mandarin fish and various species of nudibranchs.
Dauin, Philippines
While we're on the topic of volcanic sandy bottoms, Dauin in the Philippines is a close contender for muck diving heaven. With calm waters and easily accessible dive sites, underwater photographers delight in capturing a variety of macro species, including frogfish, nudibranchs (featuring one of our favourites, the Shaun Sheep nudibranch), and various species of octopus, including the wonderous, motor and mimic.
Anilao, Philippines
Of course, we couldn't talk about the best underwater photography destinations without mentioning Anilao in the Philippines. With numerous sites dedicated to macro photography, the waters here are a true treasure trove. If you're after nudibranchs, frogfish or mimic octopus, head to Secret Bay. Meanwhile rare creatures like blue-ringed octopuses, ghost pipefish and various species of colourful shrimp can be found at Basura.
Milne Bay, Papua New Guinea
The diverse sites of Milne Bay make it a macro photographer's heaven with backdrops ranging from pristine coral gardens to bommies and sandy muck sites. The creatures that call these sites home are just as enthralling. For those looking for a coral backdrop, head to Observation Point to photograph pygmy seahorses and mandarin fish. Or test your eyesight at Deacon's Reef and Dinah's Beach, where flamboyant cuttlefish mimic octopuses and wonderous octopuses camouflage perfectly with the sandy and rubble substrates.
Wide angle
On the opposite end of the photographing spectrum, wide-angle underwater photography captures expansive underwater scenes and emphasises broad vistas and large subjects. This technique uses a wide-angle lens to encompass a large portion of the underwater environment in a single frame, allowing photographers to capture the grandeur of coral reefs, schools of fish and underwater landscapes.
Mexico
Mexico's Baja Peninsula offers year-round delights for wide-angle photographers thanks to its excellent visibility and dramatic underwater topography, which features volcanic structures. Depending on what you want to photograph, there are myriad points to visit throughout the year. Winter brings the annual appearance of whales; your camera lens won't be able to get enough of the grandeur of grey humpbacks and blue whales. If it's a frenzy of wings you want, visit in spring for the dynamic aggregation of mobula rays. As summer warms the waters, silky sharks and mobulas gather and offer dramatic compositions. Autumn brings dramatic backdrops as bait balls darken the seas with marlin, sharks and other predators weaving through. You'll be simply spoilt for choice.
The Galapagos
The Galapagos has it all: hammerhead sharks, sea lions, penguins, marble rays and enormous schools of mobula rays. Iconic dive sites such as Darwin and Wolf Islands provide unparalleled opportunities for wide-angle shots of these majestic creatures. Whale sharks grace the waters from June to November, with peak sightings around Darwin and Wolf Islands from July to October. Manta rays are best spotted from December to May, particularly around Gordon Rocks, Punta Vicente Roca and Cabo Marshall. Humpback whales visit from June to September for breeding and calving, while hammerhead sharks like to linger all year-round, with larger schools appearing from January to May around Darwin and Wolf Islands.
Banda Islands
If your camera roll calls for shots of schools of fish photographed against a coral backdrop, head to the Banda Islands. Cocooned between Raja Ampat and Komodo, the Banda Islands are off the well-finned path; marine life thrives in its clear waters. Mingle with hundreds of sea snakes at Snake Island in southerly Gunung Api. Or, train your lens on the schools of hunting barracuda and big eye trevally. If you're lucky, enjoy the glittering bait ball as thousands of sardines shimmer together, attracting large predators for that epic wide-angle shot.
Chuuk Lagoon, Micronesia
If history is your thing, then diving in Chuuk Lagoon is your place. Blending historical intrigue with vibrant marine life, its World War II wrecks, covered in colourful corals and marine growth, are the perfect muse for dramatic wide-angle shots. Make sure to keep the lens close for those all-important slinking-through-ominous-corridor shark shots, but have your macro camera on hand for intricate images of colourful nudibranchs clinging to the boats' hulls.
For something a little different
The ocean is overflowing with SD card-filling sightings. In Palau, you can document the dramatic spawning aggregations of massive schools of grouper and bumphead parrotfish. Tofo, in Mozambique, provides stunning shots of migrating humpback whales, sharks and manta rays in clear, warm tropical waters and Fiji's Taveuni boasts the stunning Great White Wall, a vertical drop covered in soft white coral. If it's spellbinding shark action you're after, Tetamanu Pass in French Polynesia, is well known for its thrilling feeding and mating events, while Wakatobi, in Indonesia, comes in big with fluro diving experiences alongside pristine reefs filled with diverse species. Finally, Lembeh Strait, also in Indonesia, offers the chance to photograph deep-sea creatures during blackwater dives and fascinating critters attracted to light during bonfire dives.
