The GoPro HERO7 is among the most popular cameras for underwater video enthusiasts. Its compact size, high resolution, varied framerates, LCD, and affordability compared to other video systems make it a standout in the market. GoPro HERO models are capable of shooting macro and wide-angle scenes, and everything in between. They perform well in ambient light, with underwater color filters, or when paired with video lights. This adaptability makes GoPro a solid choice either as a primary camera or as a backup to larger, more complex systems.
This guide presents tips to help you improve your underwater videos directly in-camera, regardless of which GoPro model you use. These are foundational techniques aimed at both beginners and intermediate users.
The Importance of Camera Stability Underwater
The first and most vital tip is to keep the camera steady. While it sounds simple, maintaining stability often slips the mind, especially when you're caught up in the thrill of encountering marine life. GoPro cameras, with their wide-angle lenses and automatic settings, can tempt divers to assume they’ll capture everything within the frame. However, this assumption often leads to shaky, poorly composed clips that are difficult to watch later.
If you're aiming for quality footage, it's essential to be mindful of the shot. A stable video captures detail, preserves viewer comfort, and presents your underwater subject in the best possible light. While it’s tempting to focus solely on the experience of diving, creating excellent video footage requires deliberate control and discipline.
Beginners often find that maintaining stability can diminish their connection with the moment. This is a natural part of the learning curve. With time and experience, you will learn to merge both the joy of the dive and the art of video recording into a fluid process.
Using a Tray and Handle for Added Control
One effective method for achieving more stable footage is using a wide tray and handle setup. This kind of rig provides extra weight and better grip, which significantly reduces camera shake. The additional points of contact make it easier to keep the camera level and steady during recording.
When you pair a GoPro with a tray and handles, you essentially add balance and control to the camera’s otherwise lightweight and easily moved body. This is especially important in underwater conditions where currents and your buoyancy control can affect steadiness.
Many experienced underwater videographers mount their tray and GoPro on their BCD or carry it as a second system while taking DSLR photos. The dual-handled tray becomes a natural extension of your arms and makes it easier to follow moving subjects without introducing excessive motion blur or jitter.
Learning to Be Still in a Dynamic Environment
Underwater environments are constantly moving — whether it’s from the sway of kelp, the surge of a wave, or your breathing. Training yourself to be still while diving is not only essential for stability in video recording but also beneficial for your overall diving technique.
Practice controlling your breathing and movements when preparing to shoot. Hover neutrally, anticipate where your subject will go, and time your recording accordingly. Minimize rapid fin kicks or jerky hand motions. Every movement translates to your footage.
Developing this body control takes time but ultimately leads to a more relaxed dive and cleaner, more professional-looking video clips.
Keeping your GoPro steady is one of the most important steps toward creating compelling underwater videos. Although it may initially take your attention away from the marine life in front of you, the reward is footage that’s smooth, clear, and immersive. With the help of trays, handles, and refined diving techniques, even beginners can quickly elevate the quality of their underwater videography.
Understanding Underwater Lighting for GoPro Videography
Lighting is one of the most critical factors that determines the quality of your underwater footage. While the GoPro camera is powerful, it is not immune to the laws of physics. As you dive deeper into the ocean, light behaves differently. Water absorbs and scatters sunlight, stripping away colors and leaving your footage dull, blue, or green. Understanding and compensating for this natural phenomenon is essential for producing vibrant and accurate underwater videos.
Light behaves differently underwater than on land. Water absorbs red, orange, and yellow light waves at increasing depths. That means at around 10–15 feet, red disappears. Orange and yellow soon follow. The deeper you go, the more washed-out and blue your footage becomes unless you bring your light source or make use of specialized filters. Even in clear tropical waters, this absorption happens quickly, which makes lighting critical.
The Limitations of Natural Light
Natural light can be used effectively in shallow water conditions, especially when the sun is high in the sky and the water is clear. In depths less than 10 feet, sunlight may provide enough ambient light to record decent footage without external lights. However, even at these shallow depths, colors begin to fade, and contrast diminishes.
The biggest issue with relying solely on natural light is color loss. A vibrant coral reef might look like a muddy green mess unless you use corrective lighting or filters. In addition, shadows and lighting inconsistencies caused by surface movement can disrupt your video quality. Lighting that constantly changes between overexposed and underexposed areas is distracting and often unusable in post-production.
Benefits of Using Underwater Video Lights
Bringing your light source transforms your footage. Video lights are specifically designed to provide a broad, even beam of high-lumen light that simulates natural sunlight and restores lost colors. When properly positioned, video lights reintroduce red and warm tones, increase contrast, and make subjects pop against the background.
A single high-quality video light can significantly enhance macro and close-up shots. For wide-angle footage or scenes that include large subjects like wrecks or schools of fish, two lights positioned on either side of the camera provide more complete coverage and eliminate shadows. The result is footage with natural-looking colors, dynamic range, and fine detail.
Good underwater video lights also provide adjustable brightness levels and consistent color temperature, allowing you to adapt to different depths, visibility conditions, and subjects. With proper lighting, your GoPro footage can match that of much more expensive camera setups.
Choosing the Right Video Lights for GoPro
Not all lights are created equal. When selecting video lights for your GoPro, consider several key factors:
Lumens
Lumens measure the total amount of visible light emitted. For effective underwater videography, choose lights with at least 1000 lumens for macro work and 2000–4000 lumens or more for wide-angle scenes. Higher lumens are necessary to illuminate larger areas and deeper depths.
Beam Angle
Video lights should offer a wide beam angle—ideally between 90 and 120 degrees—to ensure an even spread of light across the entire frame. Narrow beam lights are better suited for dive spotting but not for videography, as they create harsh hotspots and leave the edges of your frame dark.
Color Temperature
Look for lights with a color temperature between 5000K and 6000K. This range closely replicates daylight and will help your GoPro capture accurate, balanced colors.
Burn Time
Ensure your lights provide sufficient burn time at the brightness level you intend to use. Some lights advertise long battery life but only at the lowest power setting. Read specifications carefully and choose lights that can last at least 45–60 minutes on full power, especially if you plan to film long dives or multiple clips.
Mounting Compatibility
Your lights should mount securely to your tray or camera rig and allow for angle adjustments. Flexible arms or ball joints are ideal for positioning lights precisely, which reduces backscatter and shadows.
Build Quality
Look for waterproof, pressure-rated, and corrosion-resistant housings. A durable light with secure seals will survive repetitive diving and reduce maintenance.
The Problem of Backscatter
Backscatter is the reflection of light from suspended particles in the water, creating distracting white dots or hazy fog in your footage. It’s one of the most common issues faced by underwater videographers, especially when using artificial light in murky or particulate-rich water.
To reduce backscatter:
-
Position your lights slightly outward and away from the camera lens to avoid illuminating particles directly in front of the lens.
-
Avoid shooting directly into sediment or toward particles being kicked up by divers or marine life.
-
Use the widest beam angle possible and position lights at a 45-degree angle to the subject.
-
Maintain neutral buoyancy and avoid sudden fin kicks near the seafloor.
Proper light positioning is more than just aiming at the subject. It requires conscious effort to work with the water’s natural composition and avoid capturing unnecessary visual noise.
Filters vs. Lights: When and How to Use Each
In situations where video lights are impractical or unavailable, red filters offer a simple way to improve underwater color correction. Filters help counteract the blue-green tint by adding back the red hues absorbed by water.
GoPro-compatible filters are available for various depths:
-
Shallow filters (0–10 feet): light red or pink
-
Mid-depth filters (10–25 feet): standard red
-
Deep filters (25+ feet): magenta or deep red
While filters are a quick fix for color correction, they do not replace the intensity, directionality, or control of video lights. Filters absorb light, which can lead to darker footage in low-light conditions. They are best used in bright, tropical water with plenty of ambient light and when filming in open water with minimal backscatter.
For best results:
-
Use filters in natural light, not with artificial lighting.
-
Choose a depth-appropriate filter for each dive.
-
Avoid using filters and lights together—they can counteract each other’s effects.
Lighting for Macro vs. Wide-Angle GoPro Footage
The lighting strategy for macro videography differs significantly from wide-angle shooting.
Macro Lighting Tips
-
Position the light close to the subject (within 6–12 inches) to ensure proper illumination and color restoration.
-
Reduce power to prevent overexposure or hot spots.
-
Use diffusers to soften shadows and eliminate harsh lighting.
-
Consider a single light setup if you're shooting stationary or slow-moving subjects.
Wide-Angle Lighting Tips
-
Use two lights spaced equally from the camera to cover a broader field.
-
Position lights at outward angles to reduce backscatter and shadows.
-
Maintain distance between lights and subjects (18–36 inches) to cover large scenes evenly.
-
Use higher brightness settings and check battery levels frequently.
Understanding these differences will improve the quality of both macro critter footage and expansive reef or wreck shots.
Managing White Balance in GoPro Settings
While the GoPro is known for its user-friendly auto settings, adjusting white balance manually can significantly improve color accuracy. In underwater environments, relying on automatic white balance may lead to inconsistent results, especially as lighting changes during a dive.
If your GoPro allows, set white balance to a fixed value:
-
Native/Flat mode: for maximum flexibility in post-production
-
5500K: for use with daylight-balanced video lights
-
6500K: for ambient light or use with magenta filters
Locking white balance prevents the camera from shifting color tones mid-clip and ensures a more professional-looking result. For users who prefer editing in post, shooting in a flat color profile combined with a fixed white balance provides more control during color grading.
Budget Lighting Alternatives
Not all divers can afford high-end video lighting systems, especially when starting. Fortunately, several budget options can provide reasonable results:
-
Compact LED video lights: Small, affordable, and often come with GoPro mounts.
-
Dive flashlights with wide beams: Less ideal than dedicated video lights, but usable for macro scenes.
-
Homemade diffusers: Made from semi-opaque plastic or soft white material, they can reduce harsh lighting and improve light spread.
However, be cautious. Low-quality lights may flicker, emit uneven beams, or discolor footage. Test your gear before a dive to avoid unpleasant surprises.
Troubleshooting Common Lighting Mistakes
Overexposed Footage
Overexposure occurs when your lights are too powerful or placed too close to the subject. This washes out details and creates unpleasant glare.
Solution: Move the lights further away, reduce brightness, or use diffusers.
Harsh Shadows
Strong directional light can cause unnatural shadows behind the subject.
Solution: Use dual lights at opposing angles and soften the beam with diffusion.
Uneven Illumination
One side of the frame appears brighter than the other.
Solution: Reposition lights for symmetrical coverage, especially in wide-angle compositions.
Foggy or Washed-Out Color
This can result from poor white balance, excessive backscatter, or insufficient lighting.
Solution: Adjust white balance, use filters wisely, and clean your camera housing lens and dome port.
The Impact of Lighting on Storytelling
Lighting does more than restore color—it adds emotion, drama, and focus to your underwater footage. Thoughtfully placed lighting can highlight your subject while fading the background into darkness, creating a cinematic look. Soft lighting can make subjects appear delicate or intimate, while sharp lighting adds excitement and energy.
In videography, light is your paintbrush. Learn to use it not just as a technical requirement but as an artistic tool that enhances the story you’re trying to tell beneath the waves.
Lighting is the foundation of high-quality GoPro underwater footage. Whether you're exploring a shallow reef with natural sunlight or filming a deep wreck in near darkness, the way you manage and manipulate light will determine how your video looks and feels. Investing time in learning proper lighting techniques, understanding equipment, and practicing control underwater will elevate your footage from basic clips to compelling underwater stories. In the next section, we’ll dive into another key component of professional-looking video: composition and framing.
Introduction to Composition and Framing
Capturing underwater footage that’s not only technically sound but also visually compelling requires more than a steady hand and good lighting. The third crucial element in creating stunning underwater video with a GoPro is mastering composition and framing. While GoPro’s wide-angle lens can easily fit entire scenes into a single shot, the real art lies in arranging visual elements to create balance, depth, and interest. Great composition turns ordinary underwater scenes into captivating visual stories.
Framing is not just about pointing the camera at the subject; it’s about positioning your subject in a way that conveys emotion, focus, and structure. Whether you’re filming vibrant coral reefs, swimming turtles, or mysterious wrecks, understanding the principles of visual storytelling will make your videos more engaging and professional.
The Rule of Thirds
The rule of thirds is one of the most widely known principles in photography and videography. Imagine your frame is divided into a grid of nine equal parts with two vertical and two horizontal lines. By positioning key elements along these lines or at their intersections, you create balance and allow for natural viewing flow.
For GoPro underwater videos, placing a fish, diver, or coral head slightly off-center rather than in the middle of the frame can create a more dynamic composition. The space left around the subject provides context and prevents the shot from feeling static. If your subject is moving, place it on the opposite side of the direction it’s heading to give it space to “move into.”
Applying this simple principle immediately elevates the visual appeal of your underwater clips. The GoPro’s built-in gridlines (available in some models) can help you apply the rule of thirds as you shoot.
Leading Lines and Visual Flow
Leading lines are natural or manmade lines that guide the viewer’s eye through the frame. In underwater scenes, examples include coral ridges, the spine of a wreck, a school of fish swimming in formation, or even bubbles rising toward the surface.
Use these lines to draw attention to your subject. Position your GoPro so that these elements lead toward the main point of interest. This not only adds depth to your footage but also helps anchor your subject within a visually engaging environment.
In reef dives, shoot upward along ridges to allow the textures of coral or sponges to guide the eye. When filming divers or marine animals, use their body movement or trails to create flow and rhythm in your shot.
Foreground, Midground, and Background
Creating depth in underwater video is a challenge because of how light behaves beneath the surface and the wide-angle distortion of GoPro lenses. To overcome this, think in terms of layers: foreground, midground, and background.
By including elements in all three layers, you create a three-dimensional feel in your video. For example, film through a coral arch to frame a diver swimming beyond it, with fish swimming in between. This layered approach draws the viewer into the scene, making them feel immersed in the underwater world.
Place objects or textures close to the lens to fill the foreground and give context. Use midground action to carry the story, and include a clear background to provide scale or contrast. The more layers you incorporate, the more visually rich your footage becomes.
Shooting at Eye Level
Filming your subject at eye level—rather than from above or below—often results in more intimate and engaging footage. It feels more natural and invites the viewer into the perspective of the subject. Whether you’re shooting a seahorse clinging to a branch or a diver gliding through a cave, matching the subject’s eye level strengthens the connection between audience and story.
To achieve this with a GoPro, practice your buoyancy and approach slowly. Position yourself parallel to the subject and wait for the right moment. Shooting at eye level also eliminates distracting angles and keeps the horizon straight, contributing to a cleaner, more cinematic look.
Framing With Natural Elements
The ocean provides endless opportunities for creative framing. Use natural elements like coral arches, sea fans, cave entrances, or even fish shoals to frame your subject. This technique draws the viewer’s attention and adds a sense of scale and depth.
For example, position the camera under a coral ledge looking outward as a diver passes by, or use the silhouette of a shipwreck to highlight a turtle swimming through. The use of framing not only enhances aesthetics but also contributes to narrative. It sets the scene and communicates something about the environment, the moment, or the subject’s behavior.
Incorporating Movement and Pacing
Underwater video is not just about static frames. Movement—both your own and that of the marine life—can enhance or disrupt composition depending on how it’s handled. Smooth, intentional motion adds cinematic quality and helps maintain viewer engagement. Jerky or rapid movements are distracting and difficult to watch.
Use slow pans, push-ins (moving closer to the subject), or tracking shots (following a moving subject) to add a sense of storytelling. These techniques give your footage rhythm and pace. If you’re filming handheld, move slowly and keep transitions deliberate. The GoPro’s image stabilization helps, but good footage starts with good control.
Let the movement in your frame serve a purpose. If the current is moving fish in a certain direction, follow the flow. If a subject is swimming, move alongside them. Matching your camera movement to the environment creates harmony and fluidity.
Using Negative Space Effectively
Negative space refers to the empty or unused area around your subject. In underwater video, this might be open blue water, sandy seafloor, or a cloudy background. When used properly, negative space can help isolate your subject and draw attention to it.
For example, filming a jellyfish floating in blue water with nothing behind it gives the viewer a sense of elegance and focus. Avoid cluttering the frame with too many competing elements. Let your subject breathe in the frame. This minimalist approach often leads to more powerful and emotive imagery.
Negative space can also evoke emotion. A lone fish swimming across a vast open sea may convey loneliness, freedom, or mystery depending on how the scene is composed.
Frame Rate, Resolution, and Cropping Room
When planning your composition, consider how you might use the footage later in editing. Shooting in higher resolutions (like 4K) gives you more room to crop or stabilize without losing quality. This is helpful if your framing isn’t perfect underwater or if you want to reframe a shot during post-production.
Frame rate also affects your shot. Shooting at 60fps or higher allows for slow motion, which adds drama and reveals subtle movements that the eye might miss in real time. A simple clip of a fish swimming or a diver exhaling bubbles can become mesmerizing in slow motion.
By thinking ahead about how you intend to use each clip, you can make smarter composition choices while shooting.
Subject Interaction and Anticipation
Anticipating subject behavior is crucial to framing. Marine animals don’t follow scripts, so predicting their movement allows you to set up shots before they happen. This results in smoother tracking and better composition.
Observe patterns in fish movement, diver habits, or wave surge. Set up your frame, and let the subject enter naturally rather than chasing it. This passive approach is not only better for marine life but also produces steadier, more cinematic shots.
Maintain respectful distance and avoid disturbing subjects. Your goal is to tell their story without interference. If a fish turns away from you or hides, wait. Patience often leads to the most authentic and rewarding clips.
GoPro-Specific Framing Considerations
Because GoPro cameras use ultra-wide lenses, subjects near the edges of the frame can appear distorted or stretched. This can be used creatively, but it’s something to be aware of when composing your shots.
Place important subjects near the center or slightly off-center to avoid distortion. If you want to emphasize scale—like showing how large a coral head is about a diver—use the wide angle to exaggerate perspective.
Some GoPro models offer different field-of-view settings (wide, linear, narrow). Choosing “linear” helps reduce distortion while preserving a wide field of view. It’s especially useful for shooting human subjects or when you want straight lines (like wrecks or caves) to appear natural.
Working With the Environment
Underwater environments are unpredictable. Visibility may change, currents may shift, or marine life may not cooperate. Great composition comes from working with what the ocean gives you.
If visibility is poor, frame your subject closer and reduce background distractions. If you’re diving in a current, let it guide your movement and use it to create dynamic motion in your frame. In low-light conditions, frame your subject against contrasting backgrounds to improve clarity.
Adaptability is key. Use what’s available—light shafts breaking through kelp, clouds of silt rising from the bottom, or bubbles from a nearby diver—to enhance your shot.
Editing With Composition in Mind
The final video isn’t created in-camera alone. Post-production offers a second opportunity to enhance or correct composition. Cropping, rotating, or reframing your clips during editing can refine the shot and improve flow between clips.
However, don’t rely on editing to fix poor composition. It’s always best to frame your shots correctly at the time of filming. Good composition in the field reduces editing time, preserves image quality, and creates a more cohesive final video.
Editing is also where you build your story. Arrange your clips so that they build visual interest, flow naturally, and follow narrative arcs—whether you're documenting a dive or building a highlight reel.
Practicing Composition Techniques
Improving composition takes time and repetition. Review your footage critically and identify what works and what doesn’t. Ask yourself:
-
Is my subject the focus?
-
Are there distractions in the frame?
-
Does the shot feel balanced and intentional?
-
How does this clip flow into the next one?
Practicing different techniques—such as using foreground framing, tracking a moving subject, or creating depth—helps build muscle memory. Over time, these decisions become intuitive.
Dive often, shoot, and review your work thoroughly. The more you film, the more you'll understand how to compose shots instinctively.
Composition and framing are what separate simple footage from powerful visual storytelling. When used effectively, they direct attention, create mood, add depth, and immerse the viewer in the underwater world. With a GoPro, you may not have manual zoom or interchangeable lenses, but you have a wide-angle canvas full of creative opportunity.
By applying techniques such as the rule of thirds, leading lines, layered depth, and natural framing, you elevate your footage from simple documentation to artistic expression. In the next section, we’ll explore post-production tips—color correction, editing flow, and audio—to help you bring your underwater footage to life after the dive.