Reef photography without contact
The best close-up is not worth a broken coral branch.
Safety and training
General field notes, not a dive plan. Stay within your training, follow local site rules and the operator’s briefing.
Field observation
Practice buoyancy and camera handling over bare sand before approaching a reef. A dangling strobe arm or fin can strike behind you even when the lens is clear of the coral.
A practical approach
Pause, check your position and your buddy's space, take the shot without touching anything and leave if the current makes control difficult.
Dive-day checklist
Before you go
- Check local conditions and access rules
- Agree limits and the exit with your buddy
- Stop or change the plan if conditions differ
General guidance only. Follow your training, the dive operator’s procedures, and each manufacturer’s current instructions.
Ask the dive guide
Personal guidance for your next dive
Describe a dive scenario or an equipment-care question. The guide answers in your language and points you to relevant journal articles.
General educational guidance only. It is not medical advice, emergency instruction or a replacement for training, certification, manufacturer instructions, your operator's briefing or your dive plan.