Fiji Scuba Diving : Improve Your Underwater Photography on Fiji's World-Renowned Rainbow Reef
- Alison Smith
- Aug 6
- 3 min read
Updated: Aug 25
Fiji's underwater paradise isn't just about taking photos - its about learning the skills of underwater photography in an environment that inspires creativity. You can gain skills surrounded by rainbow's of corals, curious and spectacular marine life and an instructor passionate about ocean photography and preservation.
Why Rainbow Reef is the perfect Fiji Scuba Diving destination to become a skilled underwater photographer
Learning underwater photography on Fiji's Rainbow Reef offers a unique blend of technicolour corals and - hard and Fiji's signature soft coral forests - and world class marine biodiversity.
There are a multitude of dive sites accessible in all weather conditions offering diverse photographic conditions. Some provide easy beginner conditions with little or no current with shallow depths whilst others offer the heart pounding thrill of a technicolour drift dive.
Rainbow Reef can be dived in an array of different lighting conditions from natural light by day, sunbursts and mirror effects in the shallows on calm sea conditions to exciting night dives or even black water dives - where peculiar critters emerge from the deepest depths to feed on phytoplankton under the moonlight.
Many of Fiji's best dive resorts on Rainbow Reef have shallow house reefs which provide easy learning conditions
From textured hard coral gardens such as 'Cabbage Patch' to black water diving to vibrant colourful dives such as 'Rainbow Passage' the Rainbow Reef offers a diverse and exciting place to create a portfolio of underwater images to wow your friends!
Understanding the Basics of Underwater Photography
Learn about your underwater camera - how to set up your equipment to minimise condensation, leakage risks, lube your o' rings and charge batteries
Understanding lighting and its effects in underwater environments. Which colours appear differently underwater and how to balance lighting settings for a perfectly exposed reef scene
How to position your lighting source to minimise 'backscatter'
How to compose an underwater scene - create layers of interest and colour - integrate a diver or distant bommies
How to use Adobe Light Room to edit your images to remove backscatter and enhance clarity and contrast
Recommendations on cameras, lenses, and underwater housings.
Techniques to Enhance Underwater Photography - Advanced skills
Vertical shots to add drama to the composition
Slow shutter images to create motion and texture
Black backgrounds add contrast and a stylish look to the image
Composite images - where two images are blended on the camera to create a unqiue and engaging composition
Tips for capturing movement and action shots
Strobe positioning to create texture and close focus wide angle shots
The above gallery shows a wealth of different techniques that compose the subject in a unique and intriguing fashion.
The Unique Biodiversity of Rainbow Reef
- the importance of buoyancy control & diving with conservation in mind
Rainbow Reef offers a huge number of underwater subjects upon which to develop your skills as an underwater photographer.
Watch how the subjects move in the water, how nervous they are of you and how close you can get without spooking them
Ethical considerations when photographing marine life include maintaining perfect buoyancy at all times so you do not damage the reef or touch the sea bed
Maintain safety - watch your depth and deco limits
How long do you feel comfortable spending on one subject? Harsh strobe lights harm marine creatures and stress animals. Get it right first time!
Practical Tips from Alison Smith - join a workshop at Sau Bay Resort in 2026 - Fiji's premier Rainbow Reef Dive Resort
Insights from Alison’s experiences in Fiji - including how to deal with currents and being ready for marine encounters
Enjoy sharing your photography with other scuba divers in the group
Recommended best practices for capturing stunning underwater images with a presentations and one on one practice
- Daily routines and habits that can improve skills.
- The importance of practice and continuous learning.
Plan your next dive trip to Fiji
Waterlust Fiji offers expertly curated scuba diver trips to Fiji - taking care of transfers, all bookings and all inclusive dive resort packages. Talk to us today about diving in the soft coral capital of the world.
