Maui Underwater Video Production

Top Ten Tips For Filming Underwater Footage on Maui.

There are many items to be aware of when you dive and use Underwater camera equipment, not just videos.

When you go to approach the issue of bringing that beautiful new HD Camera into the Big Open Ocean you may to to consider a few steps. Here is our top ten recommendations to help you protect your underwater video camera and your footage too.

1. Start with a dry and fairly cool temperature in the camera and the underwater housing. If it stays cool, the chances of slight condensation (that can ruin your dive video) from temperature change under the thermocline are reduced.

2. Check your O-rings! Even if you just opened your camera housing for a quick second, you should consider adding more silicon greese to your O-ring. If that O-ring leeks at 100 ft, or even 40ft underwater, you will have not much more than a second until your expensive new camera is worthless.

3. Add some type of moisture catcher. There are many different kinds on the market. Lets name some super cheap kinds, rice, chamois, silicon packets that you get in your shoe box. Or you can just get a couple of packs next time you order video equipment online. Not to mention a moisture alarm on your camera housing is a valueable friend.

4. Bring a white card with you, usually your dive BCD will have a pocket that you can tuck it into. When you get under the surface, in the location that you want to film, dive down a few feet if you can and white balance your camera. The reason for this is because colors are absorbed the deeper you go. For example, red is the first color to go. If you white balance a few feet below where you are going to be filming, your camera will be trying to pull more red from the settings from below, resulting in more reds in your footage.

5. Bring lights! If you have a nice camera and you mean business with your underwater filming event, then you need lights. I don't mean the cheapest underwater light that you can stick on your housing, but something a little further away (like your dive buddy), When filming underwater you should have a buddy looking out for you, because they can spot dive hazards that you are too occupied to notice (like big sharks). If your buddy is also your light guy, then you should make sure they are aware of some underwater filming hand signals. Like swim over there and point the light at this. Or watch your bubbles, there in the shot (butthead) etc. If you have the proper ettiquette worked out before hand, things will go smoother.

6. Don't point the lights straight from the behind the camera. Doing that will pick up a direct reflection of any silt or little particles you may not have noticed on the dive. It is like the full moon effect, when it reflects directly at the sun it is full.... So, you should have your light guy - dive buddy film from about a 90 degree angle from where your camera is. Also, it can be way better if you have one from either side pointing at your subject.

7. Know you depth and time under water. It is not easy to pay attention to everything that you need to be aware of when filming underwater, sometimes that perfect subject swims up when you have been at 120 ft for 30 minutes already, while a great shot of a rare fish is very rewarding, it isn't worth you life. So, I recommend a dive computer, these can be set to alarm when you have been down too long and keep you from getting dive related injuries like the bends, or nitrogen narcosis, or even oxygen toxicity.

8. Start with a super fresh tape and fresh batteries. Sometimes just getting to the area has a long swim involved, at which time your camera should actually be turned on, and under the surface. Keeping it that way means the housing will not be getting condensation inside and you water alarm will be active.

9. Think about any filters you may need. If you are going deep a red filter is helpful. If you are right under the surface and want to shoot a snorkeler above you, then you should use a polarized filter on your underwater camera.

10. Remember don't hold your breath while diving, that can be very dangerous, instead time it. If you want to do a swimunder shot (there it is, the frumundah angle..) Then exhale when you get focus on your subject, and inhale super slowly as you do your shot while trying not to go up or down too much.