Dive Vacations Should Be More Than Just Fishy Photos

Dive vacations offer a memorable mix of adventure, beauty, and discovery. While underwater photography often steals the show (because who can resist a selfie with an octopus?), there are plenty of other opportunities to document your experience. From travel days to moments on land, every part of your trip can contribute to the story you'll share later—though we can’t promise your friends will believe you saw a mermaid. Here are some tips to help you capture your dive vacation in full, not just underwater.

Taste the Rainbow! Silly surface interval photo sessions with dive buddies makes for memories that can last a lifetime!

1. Document the Travel Days

It all starts with Travel days! Who doesn't love "Travel Days" !?! Try to Remember they are filled with potential photo ops! From the airport chaos (who knew your suitcase could weigh more than a small whale?) to the breathtaking views during your flight, these moments are just as important. Yeah sure, OK, the in-flight meal may not be as photogenic as a sunset over the ocean, but the smiles and anticipation of what's to come on your travel companion and dive buddy's face is!

2. Capture the Pre-Dive Anticipation

Before you plunge into the depths, make sure to snap a few shots of your dive gear. Nothing says "adventure" quite like a photo of your wetsuit hanging out to dry. Bonus points if you can capture your dive buddy looking confused while figuring out which end of the snorkel goes in their mouth! 

3. Capture the Land Adventures

Don’t forget to document your time on land! It doesn't matter whether it’s a hike to a stunning viewpoint, street tacos with your buddy, or a local market where you try to barter for that funky-looking fruit, these experiences add flavor to your vacation story. Believe me when I say this more than anything else will sell the sport of SCUBA to your friends and family you have been BEGGING to go diving with you.

4. Get Creative with Underwater Shots

Underwater photography is a must, but why not get creative? Try to capture the moment when your dive buddy accidentally floods their mask because they are laughing. Or document the fish that seem to be judging your buoyancy skills—those judgmental fish make for great memories! Try to also remember that your family and friends want to see pictures of YOU and your buddy doing scuba not just 10,000 photos of fish.

5. Share the Post-Dive Relaxation

After a long day of diving, nothing beats chilling on the beach with a cold drink. Capture the moment when you realize your sunscreen is not as effective as you thought, and you’ve turned into a lobster. These candid moments of relaxation (or slight sunburn panic) are often the most relatable. Did you make up your own words playing Scrabble? Did your hermit crab win the derby? Did you skip the salad bar to make sure you would have room to sample EVERYTHING on the dessert cart? Document it! You will thank me!

6. Create a Dive Diary

Finally, consider keeping a dive diary or a photo journal. Not only will it help you remember all the amazing experiences, but it can also serve as a hilarious recount of your adventures—like that time you mistook a rock for a sea turtle. Your future self will thank you when you’re reminiscing about your epic dive vacation! So, get out there and document your dive vacation in all its glory! Remember, while the underwater world is mesmerizing, the real treasures often lie in the moments you shared out of the water, and most importantly, who you shared them with.

In a future Blog, I will go into more detail on capturing pictures underwater so you can come home with a memory card full of photos you are proud of. 

So stay tuned!

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