AN UNDERWATER PHOTOGRAPHER’S GUIDE TO THE MALDIVES
INTERMEDIATE
MANTAS FEEDING IN
OPEN WATER
Look for columns of tiny black
plankton. This is where the
mantas will barrel roll right in
front of you. Downward angles
produce the best images of
mantas in green, nutrient-filled
water, and also allow Shutter
Priority automatic exposure to
work well. Avoid using strobes
and set a manual white balance
for best results. Shoot shutter
speeds of 1/125s to 1/250s to
freeze the action.
13 Manta silhouettes
often make good black
and white images
Equipment & settings:
Canon EOS-7D, Tokina
10–17mm fisheye lens,
ambient light, f/13,
1/180s, ISO200
14 Wait for eye contact
to get the best shot of
oriental sweetlips
Equipment & settings:
Nikon D300, Tokina
10–17mm fisheye lens,
dual Sea & Sea YS-250
strobes, f/11, 1/250s,
ISO200
15 Liveaboards like the
Manthiri are the best
way for underwater
photographers to see
the Maldives
Equipment & settings:
Sony DSC-RX100
Mark II, 10.4mm lens,
ambient light, f/8,
1/30s, ISO320
SILHOUETTES
A good silhouette requires a
strong, identifiable shape, and
plenty of contrast between the
subject and the background.
Keep the subject between the sun and the
camera, and isolate it in open water, away from
competing shapes. Use manual exposure, without
strobes. Expose for the water around the subject,
and shoot upward.
Wait for any bubbles to clear before shooting.
A fast shutter speed of between 1/250s and
1/500s will freeze the action and crisp up
sunbeams. Silhouettes make excellent black-andwhite conversions.
13
PRACTICALITIES
WHEN
December through April is high season, but for
underwater photographers, May through November
boasts richer fish life in the shallows, and a much higher
possibility of finding manta feeding aggregations.
INDIA
SRI LANKA
MALÉ
MALDIVES
SDTTL
124
HOW
From the US and Asia, fly Singapore Airlines to Malé via
Singapore. Emirates flies via Dubai, but it requires at
least one overnight. Most major European cities have
direct flights to Malé.
TOPSIDE
Seaplane tours are the perfect opportunity to get those
iconic aerial shots of the Maldives, and there’s excellent
surfing throughout the archipelago.