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Cenote Diving Photography
It’s just a 45-minute drive from Cancun to Playa del Carmen. And here you’ll be able to take part in a whole range of unique dive adventures. Whether you’re an advanced diver or simply a beginner. The reefs host a magnificent marine life. From crabs and lobsters to eagle rays and bull sharks. And with a few helpful tips, you can record them all!
Want to know more about cenote diving photography: how to shoot the cenotes near Playa del Carmen? Read on…
General Tips
If you’re a complete beginner, you need to know that beams of sunlight filtering through the cenote should be positioned down the centre of the frame. This composes the scene. And can add drama to your photo.
As an intermediate photographer, you can capture dancing shafts of sunlight using faster shutter speed. This freezes the movement. And defines the rays.
When you’re an experienced photographer you can concentrate on making the beams the brightest part of the photo. This contrast with lesser light sources produces intense photos of the shafts of light.
An Underwater Photography Guide
Plan Your Dives
In order to get the best photos, you need to enlist the help of a knowledgeable dive operator. The time of day you start your shoot and the weather is vital to ensure you capture the images you want. And you can rely on your dive guide to time the light perfectly so that you can capture the spectacular light shows.
Be Darkness Savvy
Photography needs light. And cenotes can be very dark. This means you’ll be using different types of shutter speed and aperture than normal.
Strobes should be used sparingly as they can lessen the drama. Underwater strobes are basically flash guns that provide necessary artificial light. They send out light at various power settings and recycle after each discharge. Strobe cords allow your camera and strobe to work together to create the exposure you want.
Alternatively, fellow dive buddies can provide a light source to allow you and other photographers to enjoy a visual stage.
The Critical Focus
Taking photos in the dark brings its own challenges. As you will be using a more open aperture this reduces the depth of field. However, a great camera can focus even in darkness. Keep your focus on the close foreground features. And then the rest of the image will retain a good sharpness. Locking the focus setting may be an alternative option.
Exposure Trials
Darkness makes exposure harder to judge as your screen can look brighter than usual. And this can cause underexposure. The best compositions come from diving into the darkest part of the cave. Then turning around and shooting back towards the light.
Know Your Cameras
There’s a whole range of cameras to choose that offer useful underwater data such as altitude and depth. As well as digital cameras that deliver high-quality image capture even in low-light conditions. Popular selections include:
Canon EOS 1DX DSLR Pro Camera Body
Canon EOS 5D Mark III Camera Body
Tokina 10-17mm Fisheye
Olympus Tough TG-5
Nikon Coolpix W300
Panasonic Lumix FT7/TS7
GoPro Hero7
Make sure you look for features such as:
Camera sensors
Optical Zoom
Full frame or cropped sensor
High-resolution image capture
Powerful ISO range
Special optical technologies
Shoot Tulum Cenotes
Cenote diving with Koox offers you the choice of diving in deep cenotes or snorkelling in beautiful open-air options. The cost of the tour includes transport to and from the shop to the dive site. And full rental equipment from gear to entrance fees, and a certified dive master guide. You’ll be able to take exquisite photographs on your GoPro camera – provided just for you to keep your memories.
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