Weedy Wanderings

Mark Webster · Issue 61, Jul/Aug 2011 · pp. 61–66

Products mentioned: Nikon D300, Subal ND20, 10-17mm FE zoom, Inon Z240 strobes, Nikon D200, 12-24mm zoom, Subtronic Mini strobes

If you live near and dive in the temperate areas around the globe you will be familiar with the sight of sometimes dense seaweed particularly in shallow waters. Giant kelp is a well known example found off the coast of California which grows in deeper water and has an appealing reputation amongst underwater photographers as it is relatively easy to penetrate and explore. But in the UK and other northern European locations many divers just regard seaweeds as a nuisance that have to be negotiated on the way to a better dive site. This of course may be a suitable attitude for a hardened wreckie or deep diver, but for discerning photographers these seaweeds offer another habitat to explore for subjects and if you have ignored them until now you are missing out on some excellent imaging opportunities. It is much easier to swim over or around weedy areas particularly when faced with dense kelp…