Top 5 Destinations for Your Dream Underwater Photoshoot
Are you considering an underwater photoshoot? Underwater photography can be a great way to document your love story or maternity, create beautiful family portraits, and so much more. No matter what the occasion is, you may be wondering what destinations are best for an underwater photo session.
As an underwater photographer, I’ve found some of the best locations in the entire world to create epic underwater photos! I’ve compiled a list of my top five destinations for your dream underwater photoshoot!
1. The Bahamas
The Bahamas offers some of the clearest waters in the entire world, with visibility reaching up to 200 feet under the sea! This makes it a great spot for shooting gorgeous underwater photos!
Featuring iconic turquoise waters, the Bahamas are known for some of the most gorgeous underwater caves in the world. The waters are also known to be home to incredible marine life, providing the opportunity for thrilling under the sea encounters! Your Bahamas underwater photos may feature everything from colorful fish and sea turtles to bottlenose dolphins and sharks!
There are shallow waters surrounding the Great Bahamas and Exuma Bahamas, which are made up of more than 700 islands!
Traveling to the Bahamas: If you’re located on the east coast, the Bahamas can be the perfect spot for your underwater photoshoot! It’s cheap to fly from Miami or Orlando into Nassau!
Best Time to Visit: You can escape winter, rent a boat, and explore and hop islands in the Bahamas, since the best time to visit the Bahamas is from mid-December to mid-April!
While year-round temperatures rarely dip below 60 degrees Fahrenheit, the islands fall within the hurricane belt. Visiting from June through November puts you at risk of hurricanes interrupting your trip — and your underwater photo session!
2. The Florida Keys
Located at the tip of Florida, you’ll find some of the most stunning views in the U.S. in the Florida Keys! With its clear, blue waters, you can’t go wrong when you plan an underwater photoshoot here!
The area is home to the only living coral barrier reef in the United States, and it’s recognized as one of the top diving spots in North America! Since the Florida Keys is home to more sea turtle nests than anywhere else in the country, it’s one of the best destinations for anyone who’s hoping to document a chance encounter with sea turtles in their underwater photos!
It may surprise you to learn that my favorite spot for a Florida Keys underwater photoshoot isn’t Key West, but Islamorada! You can explore Islamorada and Alligator Reef with a boat charter or boat rental.
Traveling to the Florida Keys: Although you can fly to the Florida Keys, it’s an ideal location for anyone who’s afraid of planes and still wants to do an underwater photoshoot since you can drive here.
Best Time to Visit: There’s really no wrong time to visit the Florida Keys! During the peak of summer, temps average 89 degrees Fahrenheit. If you prefer cooler temps, you might consider going in January when the average temperature is 75 degrees.
You might consider planning your Florida Keys underwater photoshoot in July, when the sea is calm and still “like glass.”
3. Hawaii
If you’re a hopeless romantic, a Hawaii underwater photoshoot is a must! It’s a great place to plan a wedding or elopement and shoot an under the sea honeymoon session! With so many islands to see and explore, it’s the perfect destination for adventurers!
With its clear, tropical blue waters, volcanic craters, and gorgeous mountainous landscape, I can’t think of a reason not to plan an underwater photoshoot in Hawaii! Not only will you end up with breathtaking photos, but you’ll also have the chance to make magical memories!
The marine life in Hawaii is unreal! You might have a chance encounter with tropical fish, spinner dolphins, manta rays, green sea turtles, and so much more. You can even swim with sharks and go snorkeling while you’re there!
Traveling to Hawaii: Flying to Hawaii is a must. Traveling during the “shoulder months” (April, May, September, and October) can mean cheaper flights.
Best Time to Visit: There’s no right or wrong time for a Hawaii underwater photoshoot. That being said, May through September offers warm and generally calm waters. Visiting during the “shoulder months” can mean less crowded beaches, which is great if you plan to do a land and sea photoshoot.
4. Curaçao
Located off the coast of Venezuela in the Southern Caribbean lies a hidden gem: the island of Curaçao!
As an underwater photographer, Curaçao is my absolute favorite spot for a photoshoot! It’s the best spot in the world for clear, blue waters — which happen to be filled with vibrant coral reefs and interesting shipwrecks! The insanely clear waters and enhanced visibility means you’re more likely to get stunning underwater photos during a Curaçao underwater photoshoot!
I absolutely love the warm temperatures in Curaçao. The beaches have an average temperature of 81 degrees Fahrenheit, and the water is always so warm!
Curaçao’s calm waters and easy shore access makes it ideal for swimmers of all skill levels, so it’s perfect for anyone interested in an underwater photoshoot!
Another benefit of Curaçao? It’s not in a hurricane zone!
Traveling to Curaçao: For a budget-friendly flight, consider traveling to the Caribbean island between May and November!
Best Time to Visit: If you’re planning a Curaçao underwater photoshoot, I recommend going in January-May. There’s typically no rain and decent trade winds during this time, leading to a more successful photoshoot.
5. Sardinia, Greece
Sardinia is known for its epic scenery and turquoise blue waters! This Mediterranean gem offers fascinating underwater rock formations, a variety of fish and dolphins, and ancient shipwrecks!
There’s so much to see and do in Greece, which makes it the perfect spot for an elopement and an adventure honeymoon with an underwater photoshoot to document your new lives together!
Sardinia is known for its beaches, which are considered to be some of the best in the entire world! If you want to do a land and sea photoshoot, this can make it the perfect destination!
Traveling to Sardinia: A Sardinia underwater photoshoot can be perfect for anyone who lives in Europe! If you’re flying from the United States, you’ll need to do a layover in London or another European city.
Best Time to Visit: The months of June, July, and August offer warm weather and sunshine.
Identifying the Best Spots For Underwater Photos
As an underwater photographer, there are a few keys I’ve found when it comes to finding the best locations for a session.
Water conditions, clarity, and temperatures can vary widely according to season and even day-to-day, so it’s important for me to do a little bit of research ahead of time to ensure we can get the perfect photos!
Good visibility is a must to create stunning underwater photos. There are a number of factors I use to scout waters for good visibility. I look for coves, as well as videos that people have taken of the beach in order to determine how rough the water is. I look for minimal waves and calm conditions. This ensures an underwater photoshoot is safe for anyone, regardless of their swimming skills.
I also research water temps ahead of time, so we know what to expect! The last thing I want is for your underwater photos to not turn out so great because the water or beach was too chilly.
Whenever possible, I scout the water and bring my camera to the beach a day or two before an underwater photo session, if possible. The time of day and weather conditions can have a huge impact on water clarity. For example, the water may provide less clarity the morning after a rainstorm than it would the night before.
Want to Book an Underwater Photoshoot?
Are you interested in booking an underwater photo session with me? Whether you’re thinking about booking a shoot at one of my top five destinations or you’re thinking about planning a photoshoot somewhere else entirely, I would be honored to be your underwater photographer! Nothing makes me more excited than creating beautiful portraits that document your under the sea moments! Please feel free to reach out if you have any questions or want more information on how to proceed!