Underwater Fluorescence Photography (Reef Raves for Masochists)

Attila Kaszo · Issue 133, Jul/Aug 2023 · pp. 61–65

Products mentioned: Fire Dive Gear fluorescence filters, Cressi Big Eyes Evolution mask, Sea & Sea YS-D2J strobe, Nauticam NA-A7RIII housing, Sony A7rIII, Sony 90mm lens, Olympus OM-D E-M1, Olympus TG-6, Ikelite fluorescence kit, GoPro, Backscatter fluorescence filters, Shearwater Perdix AI, Canon 8-15mm lens

Bored of simply trying to take good photos, with complicated equipment, while lying suspended in thick liquid, within an unbreathable, alien environment? Don’t worry, I have a solution. We’ll do all of the above… at night. Also, let’s add a thick mask filter so you can’t see properly. Welcome, gentle reader, to underwater fluorescence photography. That said, it’s really fun – and kinda sciencey – so it’s no surprise that I’m mildly addicted. I’ve already written up an article about the biology of underwater fluorescence here on the site, because that’s how we roll here in geektown. In short, I tried an underwater fluorescence dive for the first time at Nosy Sakatia in Madagascar back in 2016. Immediately following the descent I saw a neon orange moray eel, then corals started lighting up everywhere. There was more fluoro than an ’80s aerobics class. I came up feeling like I was drunk. It…