Having just returned from a fabulous adventure in Cancun Mexico I wanted to write a bit of an update about what I have learned about underwater cameras.
Before I left I researched a little bit about what type of camera to use underwater and tried to find some hints about taking photographs underwater. It wasn’t very easy to find useful information for the beginning underwater photographer that didn’t want to invest in expensive equipment, but I did learn a few basic concepts and included them in a previous blog called: Summer Adventures in Cancun, Under-Water Cameras, & Beach-Inspired Supplies!
So, now that I have experienced the beautiful waters of Cancun, I have learned a few practical hints about photography that I would like to share.
Tip 1: Buy your disposable underwater camera before leaving on vacation!!! You might want to purchase more than one. With all of the other travel preparations I had to deal with, I made the mistake of forgetting to purchase an underwater camera. I actually forgot that I would need one until I was about to go down a river in a wildlife preserve called Xcraet. I raced over to the vending station while everyone else was getting their gear on and I didn’t end up buying one because the lady in front of me took too long and then I couldn’t speak to the Spanish man at the booth well enough to understand how much I would pay. I think though, if my equation of turning pesos into dollars was right, that the disposable camera with 27 exposures would have cost me $30! Compared to if I would have bought this same camera before leaving home… You can buy an adequate underwater disposable camera for between $6 and $15 online or at Wal-Mart!
I missed out on some great pictures that day. I even came face to face with a Boa Constrictor that was hanging onto a branch on the edge of the bank. My husband would have loved a picture of my face right then.
Tip 2: Practice in a swimming pool with snorkeling gear and your underwater camera. It just takes a little practice to get those great pictures. I am so glad that when the next opportunity came along to take underwater pictures, I had a camera. We were going down the river in an extraordinary water park called Xel-Ha. It was so beautiful. With canyon walls that stretched for miles and were covered in jungle trees and vines it was an exceptional adventure. There were cliffs to jump off of and ropes to climb. There were not as many fish as I’d hoped to see but the ones we saw were incredible. We took really great pictures of the kids doing the activities, but when it came to capturing fish on film, forget it.
Like I said, there were not as many fish as I’d hoped, and we had not practiced. It was so great to have a camera that we could just hook onto our wrists and not worry about the water though. We would have missed so many great moments had we left the water camera behind. However, between juggling our new hobby of snorkeling and trying to get our bodies situated in the right place to take a picture of a moving fish it was just not happening. So my suggestion would be PRACTICE before your big trip.
Tip 3: Even if you are not going to participate in water activities, take a disposable underwater camera. It was useful in the rain and even because of the extreme humidity. By the end of my trip my digital camera was not taking clear pictures any more due to the humidity but the water camera took perfectly great pictures out of the water too.
I was afraid to take my regular camera out on the ocean bay when we would kayak and sail or into the water when we were playing on the beach and so I took the water camera with us and the pictures are great.
After we had been out on the water three days in a row we found out that there were Alligators in that bay, I’m so glad I didn’t dive in for some underwater pictures. Two of my kids actually saw one the last day as were were leaving!
There you have it, all that I have learned about disposable cameras and the water, not much, but hopefully enough to help the average traveler that would like to have some adventures in the water and take photos at the same time!
May your travels be adventurous, happy, and safe,
Denise
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If you would like to read more about disposable cameras then see these blog articles:
Blog 1: Creative, Cost-Efficient Photo Ideas for Kids this 4th of July!
Blog 2: Summer Adventures in Cancun, Under-Water Cameras, & Beach-Inspired Supplies!
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