PADI Digital Underwater Photographer

PADI Digital Underwater Photographer Course

Duration: Two days, excluding independent study

Meeting point: Sunreef at The Wharf, Mooloolaba

Price: $449 including two dives on the Ex-HMAS Brisbane (charter fees plus tanks and weights), PADI Touch eLearning PADI  Digital Underwater Photographer Certification Card, and credit towards your Master Scuba Diver rating.

If you need to hire gear, or would like to combine this with an Nitrox (Enriched Air) Course,  please see our booking form for more information.

Prerequisite: You will need to hold a PADI Adventure Diver certification or equivalent. You must be 15 years or older and be an adequate swimmer, feel comfortable in the water, and in good physical health. You may be required to get a medical clearance before starting the course, please see below to see if this applies to you.

What you can expect

The Sunreef Digital Underwater Photographer Course is designed to immerse yourself in underwater photography whether you use a point-and-shoot or a dSLR.

Underwater photography is one of the most popular diving specialties, and with so many underwater cameras to choose from, it has become easier and more fun than ever to capture images of your underwater scuba adventures. This course is divided into two main components: individual study for knowledge development and open water training.

Check in at Sunreef starts at the time outlined on your confirmation email or text. When you arrive, we will see you at our check in desk and ensure that your gear is organized. If you bring your own gear, our crew can carry it down to the dock and set it up for you, or if you prefer you will be free to do it yourself. If we know you are hiring gear, everything will be organized for you prior to check in.

On departure to the Ex-HMAS Brisbane, our trained crew will provide a thorough briefing for all our divers about the Ex-HMAS Brisbane site and will answer any questions you may have about it. Once the boat exits the calm waters of the Mooloolaba River system, it is around a 15 minute ride to the site. The vessel will be moored and our crew will help you set up to get in the water.

Each dive is planned to last for either 50 minutes or will end to have you on the surface with 50 bar (whichever one comes first), while also taking into consideration the skills that need to be completed by all student divers in your group.

Every dive is different depending on the conditions that day and time.

Between dives, we will come up for a surface interval where you are provided snacks and water. Feel free to bring along your own snacks if you have allergies or would like more substantial food.

The divers then return to the shop, where we will have refreshments and hot wedges or chips ready for you while we debrief. While this is happening we will unload the vessel and wash all your gear for you if you so wish.

Read more about the Ex-HMAS Brisbane dive site and her history.

Course content

Choosing the best underwater camera system for you,  the PADI SEA (Shoot, Examine, Adjust) method for getting great shots quickly, principles for good composition of underwater images, and practical techniques to take the best photos you can with your camera.

Scuba diving equipment

Air tanks and weights are included in the course, however please see the below list of dive equipment needed:

• Dive computer/watch
• TORCH
• UNderwater camera (Only GoPro Hero5 Available for hire)

If you have all your own equipment, please remember that to dive the Ex-HMAS Brisbane during the day you must have a snorkel, computer, SMB, a whistle, and a torch along with the rest of your scuba equipment (BCD, tanks, weights regulators, mask, snorkel, fins, wetsuit, gloves).

If you do not have all the above listed gear, it will be available for either hire or purchase from our shop.

Take advantage of the Sunreef Student Diver Discount to purchase necessary gear. The Sunreef shop has many options to purchase all the above listed gear, your PADI Dive Instructor or the Sunreef shop crew will help you with finding the best options for you, and give you recommendations on everything you need.

Student Divers please read the following

To enroll in a PADI Digital Underwater Photographer Course you must be 15 years old or older. You need adequate swimming skills and need to be in good physical health.

Prerequisite: Minimum PADI Adventure Diver or equivalent.

Required forms: Each diver must complete a Sunreef PADI Continuing Education Enrollment Form before starting this course with us. This will be sent out to you with your booking confirmation. When booking in for your PADI PADI Digital Underwater Photographer Course you will receive a link to a waiver. If you answer “YES” to certain medical questions on this waiver, you will need to receive a medical statement from your doctor. We will provide the acceptable format for the medical statement if required. Please read our Terms and Conditions for more information.

Course confirmations: The course dive will depend on the sea conditions and weather. We will monitor this closely and if the weather or sea conditions are unsuitable, we will let you know as soon as we can. We will send out an email and text message the day before your trip around 3:30 pm to inform you of the status of the trip and its departure time. If you do not receive the text message and email you must call us on +61 7 5444 5656 we will not call you to confirm receipt of the messages. 

Seasickness and equalization: If you find yourself dealing with seasickness or being unable to equalize, our crew will look after you and ensure you are comfortable and safe. However, as this is not something in our control we will not issue any rebookings or refunds for inability to equalize or being seasick and not completing dives. We suggest you consider seasickness tablets to minimize the risk of seasickness affecting your trip. We will attempt where possible to help you equalize as we descend however we are responsible for the safety of all members of our groups therefore if we cannot in sufficient time and with the safety of the other divers help you descend we will take you back to the surface and you will be unable to complete that dive, we will however where possible take you back in on the second dive and help you try again.

Parking: The Wharf complex has all day parking available, however please keep in mind especially if you are on an 11:30 am or later trip that parking can sometimes get very busy. Please give yourself at least 15-20 minutes for parking. We recommend that you park your vehicle in the Sea Life (Underwater World) car park at The Wharf Mooloolaba, 123 Parkyn Parade.