Treasure trove: Dive underwater with a DVCAM or an HDV camera in an air-tight casing.

For Delhi-based wildlife filmmaker Himanshu Malhotra, a visit to the Lakshadweep for an underwater photography shoot was an eye-opener of sorts. “While filming under water, I realised how fragile and diverse ocean life could be,” says an awe-struck Malhotra. The experience has made him more determined to save the world’s natural treasures. “Underwater photography can be thrilling but it also imbues one with a deep sense of responsibility,” says Malhotra.

In India, the best places for underwater photography are the waters near Goa, Lakshadweep and the Andamans. In all these places, the sea water is limpid. “Underwater photography is expensive and even now, mostly practised by foreigners,” says Kushal Mukherjee, a Calcutta-based wildlife photographer.

Vijay Bedi, an award-winning wildlife filmmaker, explains that it is necessary to get proper training to indulge in underwater photography. First, you need to have a certified diver’s licence. You also need to do it in the company of others lest there is any mishap down below. Also, you need the right kind of gear — boots, tanks and breathing apparatus. “You have to be properly equipped since a small mistake could cost you dearly,” cautions Bedi.

Underwater photography can be done with the help of organisations that arrange dives. Each dive can cost anything between Rs 2,000 and Rs 10,000. You also require specialised cameras for shooting under the sea. Rupin Dang, managing director of Wilderness Films Limited, says that modern technology has made underwater photography simpler. “All you need is a DVCAM or an HDV camera, and an air-tight underwater housing (camera casing), all of which will cost about Rs 1 lakh. If one goes deeper, one requires lights. Bells and whistles can also add to the cost,” says Dang.

“One could start with a simple Mini DV camera with underwater housing, and then move to the new HC3 HDV 1080i Mini HD camera with its own underwater housing,” explains Dang.

A dive under the sea for photography is a whole new experience. Creatures like sharks, corals, eels, sea anemones and clownfish will dazzle you with their opalescent beauty. “I had been on a dive for an underwater photography quest in Malaysia. When I came out of water, I found my whole body had turned red,” narrates Bedi. He was nonplussed but soon realised that he had been stung by corals.

Ruud Van Beijnen, a Dutch underwater photographer, says that there’s nothing to beat the experience of snorkelling among coal reefs. According to him, one of the best sites for underwater photography is Thailand where coral reefs have not been much damaged despite the tsunami of December 2004.

“It is not that easy to do underwater photography as the medium you are in is constantly moving. And so are the elusive creatures you are trying to target,” says Mitali Kakar of the Mumbai-based diving company, Reefwatch. “You need to be a trained and certified scuba diver and definitely need some training in underwater photography,” she adds.

Underwater photography has revealed some amazing natural history sequences. Way back in 1984, Naresh Bedi captured some unique footage of gharials under water in a film that won him the Green Oscar. “It was a very complicated project since the intricately designed camera had to be placed in exactly the right location to obtain shots of gharial hatchlings,” recalls Naresh. “In India, Lakshadweep offers a course in underwater photography at Bangaram islands, probably the first of its kind in the country.” says Kakar.

Underwater photography captures a fascinating wealth of pictures for posterity in an age when environmental destruction is rife. For eager underwater photography enthusiasts, the day is perhaps not far when they will produce an Indian version of Jacques Cousteau’s famous television series Secrets of the Sea.