tips for photos in currents

[mintaka]

Next week I'm taking a trip to Key Largo and hoping to take some UW photos. I shot there a month ago and during a couple of the dives there was a mild/moderate current. I'm a new diver and still working on improving my buoyancy (took the PPB AOW class) but l feel a bit hampered by currents. I found that I needed to make several "passes" to get pics of particular subjects that were not accessible from a kneeling position on the sand. I would let the current take me slowly towards the subject, when I got close enough I would take the shot then take a lung full of air to ascend over the reef without disturbing it, turn around and do the whole process again. Is this a typical way to deal with currents or are there some more efficient techniques ?

 

[fisheyeview]

If you can't stay stationary in the current then yes.

Another way to approach the shot is to swim into the current to maintain position. If the shot is not possible this way then you might want to seek another subject.

 

[smellzlikefish]

I will often use one strategically placed finger on the reef to hold myself in place in heavy currents. Of course, watch out for delicate and/or dangerous living things.