Where to practice UW photography?

[iancampbell]

Seeking advice: Recommendations for where to practice underwater photography via shore snorkeling in the southeastern continental USA? I'm a snorkeler only, not a diver.

I'm looking to step up my underwater photography game and have recently gotten some new equipment. Before I make a "real" snorkeling trip someplace outstanding, I'd like to take a long weekend someplace closer by to practice with the new equipment. It doesn't need to be a world class reef or anything, but I'd like there to be more than one or two random fish on the sand. I want to be able to practice some photos, go in to a computer to review focus and lighting, go back out and try again, etc. I'd also prefer to practice in the ocean rather than a swimming pool.

Here's what I want to have:

• Easy shore access where I can go in and out of the water repeatedly in case I need to make hardware adjustments
• Able to safely snorkel all day long if I want to (Blue Heron Bridge is off the list because there are only a couple hours a day you can snorkel there)
• A population of marine animals, even if sparse, but I don't care what kind or how large they are

Here's what I don't want to have:

• Crowded beaches where I have to worry about someone kicking sand on my gear
• Any place I need to worry about there not being any parking spots if I leave and come back (I want to review pictures on the computer intermittently)
• Limited times per day where the water is accessible for safety or visibility reasons

I could care less about the quality of the sand or amenities. Off the beaten path is totally fine. Thanks in advance for any thoughts about where to do this.

 

[STEMI]

You could check out the Jetties at St. Andrews State Park in Panama City Beach, FL.

(not my video)

 

[iancampbell]

Thanks! This looks like exactly what I'm looking for--most appreciated.

 

[JohnnyQuest]

When I get a new rig (I’m on my 3rd now: Canon 7D to 5Dmk4 to R5), I put a tank my back and lay in the bottom of a pool for a few hours. I use fish toys for macro and either my wife or anyone else who doesn’t mind, for WA. I’ve gone at night too. I think a pool is ideal for photography practice.

 

[dorsal]

Don’t discount using a swimming pool if that is also accessible to you. Just bring some interesting things to image under water and get your technique and gear dialed in. I know someone who brings a fiberglass coral head and some plastic fish to the pool, weights it down and just plays with the ambient light and flash.

 

[JohnnyQuest]

During Covid, when our trips were cancelled, I shot these in my bathtub! ( with my full rig and strobes). I also have thousands of practice shots in pools.