is there a good disposable underwater camera available. We used Fuji and Kodak in Bonaire and were quite disappointed. Maybe its the picture taker

Likely the results were due to insufficient light.

Funny. We will be in Caye Caulker in Feb and are so excited. Our first trip. Maybe we should invest in a good one. Thanks

I am amazed at the quality the disposable now produce. Taking underwater pictures is different than land ones. Get a good dive magazine that features some how to take u/w picture articles and study them.

Remember that with digital you can see immediately what you took, which both gives instant gratification and enables you to retake something that didn't work too well. It's also way cheaper per shot than any film camera (which is what all disposables are). I'd invest in a digital camera and U/W housing - you won't regret it. If you know what you're doing or know someone who does who can help you might pick up a bargain second-hand.

You have to be up close..and have good light..cloudy days..bad pics..

All disposables are film, Peter? I think not. Digital disposables have been around for quite some time (6-7 years). Nothing with any quality, but they do exist. Why anyone would want one is beyond me, but they can be found in the marketplace.

Seriously? I've never heard of them. Can you give some examples? In what way are they "disposable"? Throw it away when the battery needs recharging/replacing? Or when the memory (card) is full?

Don't forget there are underwater digital cameras that do not require a housing. Olympus makes several. I have the Olympus Stylus 1050 SW (10') and Olympus Stylus 1030 SW (33').
If you already have a digital camera that you can get a housing for, it makes sense money wise to go that route.
Another option is to rent a camera while there but this might be expensive, however the camera quality is much better.
I have only used mine snorkeling and must admit, as Harriette says, you need practice taking underwater pictures.
Look forward to seeing the pictures.

i bought dc1000 from sea life...good to 200 ft...vidio and still photos...took some great shots on the reef a week or so ago

Here's the rub with housings for digital cameras. You need to choose the camera first then buy a housing MADE for the camera.
I have a Nikon D70 and the Sea & Sea housing for it. All together I paid about $5,000.00. It weighs about 35 pounds on land but is neutrally buoyant in the water. I used it about five times and put it on the shelf. I was told, while in Bonaire at a shoot out this summer, that I could maybe get a couple of hundred dollars for the housing as the D70 is OUTDATED!
I would rather add it to my Nikonos III, IV and V with all their attended strobes, arms and connocters on my museum shelf than take a "few hundred dollars" for it.

Almost the same with my u/w video; Sony PC 120 with a Light & Motion Mako housing. The LCD screen went out after about 3 years. When I sent it in for repairs I was told they no longer make that model and did not stock parts for it. I love the camera and the housing and basically point and shoot and way too many times find that I have shot too high. AARGH! Of course, in Bonaire they told me it was "time to move up" pushing High Definition which means High dollar amount.

Unless you want to get into serious underwater photography get simple stuff.

Just remember, as was already said, GET CLOSE. If possible GET DOWN (below the critter) and SHOOT UP. Most of them are designed to blend in with their backgounds so you need to do the above in order to have them stand out. The other thing is that a strobe light will only carry five feet under water. Again, you need lots of sun light penetrating the water. All this takes either good buoyancy control (if you are on SCUBA) or good breath holding if you are free diving.

But, as I have said before, I have seen some incredible pictures taken by armatures with cheap outfits.

Harriette - you still have the S500?

Yes, I do. and it takes great snorkel pictures but I desperately need a red filter for it for below 15'. I still take it on every dive and clip it to my video housing. It is very compact, neutrally buoyant and easy to handle.

I've done some interesting stuff, composition wise, and simply converted them to black and white.

Anyone know where I can get a red filter?

I bought a Sanyo Xacti. Got it on ebay for around $200 new. Takes both video and pictures. It is good for around 10' deep- I think. They make several different models with different resolutions but this is a pretty cheap, fun camera. I also have a Sony digital camera (alot more expensive) that I leave at home now. Probably to a real serious photographer the Sanyo is a joke, but we have had a ball with it.

Mark

No, but I could do with one as well. Not for stills, as it's easy to adjust the colour bias in post-processing, but for when I shoot video.

Peter/Harriette
I love this video on fantaseas website showing the effect of a red filter

http://www.fantasea.com/s.nl/it.I/id.58/.f

I recently purchased a Canon underwater camera. It's good to 30 feet so you don't have to worry about how deep you go when snorkeling (most are to 10')
It can also be dropped from 5 feet (I've already done that) and is good to some incredibly low temperature so if you ski it'll work on the mountain. So far, I love it. Light is an issue and it's flash isn't as good as the scuba camera I once had, but for hauling around on the boat, snorkeling, etc. it works great. I studied a lot of reviews and the best "bullet proof" cameras were the olympus and the canon. Both are in the low US$300 range. I've ruined enough cameras it made sense to me.

Thanks Colin, illustrates the effect quite well. As my compact camera housing (Canon's for a G10) doesn't have any provision for fitting a filter, I may see if I can get some red glass and make something up myself. Though how to get red optical-quality glass? And what shade to get?

Harriette, the obvious question has to be - why don't you use your Nikon setup underwater? The D70 may not be state-of-the-art, but it's still no mean camera and will give you excellent pictures. Lots of people still use them. And (the most important point this) you already own it! Were your lens problems resolved, so you again have usable lenses?

If you don't want to use it and it is usable, I can suggest someone who'd be only too happy to use it underwater for you!

I bought a little EcoShot camera with pics and video. Has sea setting (red filter) and zoom. Has flash for cloudy days. Easy to use and works just fine : )

We rent an underwater digital camera in a houseing for $50.usd a day and give you the photos on a disk to take home.
Most dive shops are doing this now, that's an option.

The disposable underwater cameras do have a problem with not enough light; that's why I always light a match when I am taking underwater pictures, plus it is conveint for roasting marshmellows as that is the way most turtles like to eat them.

Sounds good...where can I get one? I google it. Thanks

I have one for sale at our office, or you can rent it. Costa Maya Beach Cabanas/Tsunami, by the split.
Sealife DC1000. It has the red filter built in. Optional Pro Digital Flash. It is easy to use and takes great photos, see their website. www.sealife-cameras.com
Come by our office or contact us.
www.tsunamiadventures.com
information@tsunamiadventures.com
Thanks

Thank you. We may just stop by...and to see your "reef" also.