How to Film Underwater: A Beginner Snorkeling Guide


 

Over the past few years, I've traveled the world searching for the best snorkeling spots.
Beyond the experience of being in these places, filming them is a necessity for me. What I've learned as an amateur, I want to share with you.


For me, when it comes to underwater filming, doubling the frames per second is one of the most important aspects. Normally, 30 fps is used for regular filming, so filming underwater 60 fps gives super smooth motion for fast fish and body moves, plus easy slow-motion in editing.


Underwater filming is tricky because the ocean never stays still. Even if you think you are holding the camera steady, waves and currents will constantly push your body around. Without high stabilization, your video will look shaky and jumpy, which can make people feel dizzy when they watch it later.

Using the highest stabilization mode fixes these bumps automatically. It turns shaky movements into smooth, flowing shots that look professional. This is especially important when you are swimming or chasing a fast fish, as it helps the camera stay focused on the action instead of the wobbling water.



But having your camera in high stabilization isn't enough; you need to hold it properly.
The best way to hold the camera is in a tray with two handles, but for a small action camera, this may not be necessary. I like to use a floating handle, which has a wrist strap.
Keep your arms extended, but slightly bent, for good stabilization.

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 Above water, a camera in automatic mode almost always films well, but underwater things are a bit more complicated. Get to know your camera.
You must know how to choose the resolution, field of view, sharpness, color profile, and bitrate.
For those who want to learn how to manually customize the camera, they can master White Balance, ISO, and shutter speed.




One thing that can improve underwater footage is color correction or grading in the editing program you use.

Insta360's editing software, for example, allows automatic grading for underwater colors, with various aesthetic suggestions.

Another possibility is capturing a Log profile, a feature now available on most modern action cameras, which records a flat, desaturated image to preserve more detail in shadows and highlights, giving you maximum flexibility to adjust tones in editing.

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Check out my video on this topic:




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