Going on holiday somewhere tropical this year?

Want to bring back some great photos?

Beaches are one of the worst places for cameras. Sand gets everywhere - whether it's changing film, lens, or memory card, the sand will get in there and eventually cause problems. It blows on lenses and causes scratches when you try to clean it off. And of course sand is always right next to the sea and the sea is full of salt and salt water corrodes. A camera dropped in the sea might as well be dropped in the bin.

But beaches are one of the best places to take photos. All those bikini-clad beauties, your own children playing happily, not to mention palm trees, beautiful deep blue sea and sky. And if you get a chance to go diving or snorkelling, there's always that magical rainbow of the tropical reef with all those amazingly coloured fish and maybe even a playful dolphin or two.

There are two ways you can come home with some fantastic photos that you will be dying to share.

1. Treat yourself to a waterproof camera

2. Make your own camera waterproof.

Waterproof cameras fall into three categories.

a: disposable film cameras

b: re-usable film cameras

c: digital cameras

Disposable film cameras such as the Kodak Max can be found for as little as £5. This is great for a bit of fun and just to see if you like the idea of taking pictures where cameras don't normally go. Or you could go for a Re-usable 35mm film camera for around £60. Or really push the boat out and get hold of a fabulous Nikonos while you still can.

As you might imagine there are plenty of underwater and waterproof digital cameras around. They can be had for anything from around £30 upwards.

One thing to be aware of. You get what you pay for. £5 cameras don't produce the results that £500 cameras produce. Low-cost cameras are fun, disposable things that you don't have to worry too much about losing on a public beach. The £500 camera you might feel you can't put down when you want to play ball or build a sand castle with the kids.

Do It Yourself?

Making your own camera waterproof is easy. All you have to do is buy a waterproof case (housing) for it. These can be purpose built to fit your camera model or more 'universal'. A Universal Housing is really a very stout plastic bag with a clear filter to fit over the lens and a waterproof fastening. You just pop your camera in, and seal it up. This works well with simple cameras, but you need a purpose built housing if you have a camera where you like to exert some creative control and need access to the buttons and dials.

Sea water, well any water that's deep enough, very quickly filters out the red end of the spectrum of visible light. What this means is that even just a few feet under the surface pictures take on a blue colour cast. The deeper you go the worse it gets. So It's a really good idea, especially if you intend to have a go at SCUBA diving, that you get a camera with a flash attachment. And if you can manage a waterproof flash attachment that fits outside of the camera housing, then so much the better. The flash needs to be separated from the axis of the lens so that light from the flash isn't reflected back into the lens from small suspended particles in the water. This wll ruin any pictures you take unless you are swimming in exceptionally clear water.

And if you don't fancy splashing around on the reef, waterproofing your camera means you can have it with you on the beach, paddling in the sea, around the edge or even in the pool. getting splashed is no problem and you can have as much fun as everyone else and still indulge your passion for taking pictures.

Bear one thing in mind before you part with your money. There is a difference between Waterproof and Underwater. The terms are fairly flexible. If you want to dive then make sure you know the manufacturer's recommended maximum depth. waterproof to 40m is not the same as waterproof to 6ft. And if you've purchased a low cost general purpose waterproof case for use with your compact digital camera, then try it out in the bath (first of all without the camera), or maybe even your local swimming pool, to make sure it remains bone dry on the inside before you take it into the sea.

You can find all the equipment you need here.
UK Waterproof & Underwater Cameras
UK Waterproof Housings & Cases

US Waterproof & Underwater Cameras

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