AmbergrisCaye.com Home Forums The Cayes Ambergris Caye disposable underwater cameras??

Has anybody used the disposable underwater cameras? I've used them for snorkeling and the pictures turned out pretty good, but I'm not sure how they would work at deeper depths. I saw somewhere that you could rent nicer underwater cameras, but didn't see a price? Does anyone know how much they charge?
Thanks,
Susan

The problem isn't the camera at depth, the problem is light. A disposable will get you some very blue pictures. If you want nice colorful shots, you'll want to use a flash. I don't know how soon your trip is, but I suggest taking a class at your local dive shop to learn how to use the equipment.
Have a great time!

I know Ramon's Dive shop rents "Sea and Sea MX 10 (?)" cameras and I think they charge $20/day. I dont know however if they have a strobe. I've used disposable underwater cameras and the pictures are very blue and foggy looking because of lack of light and because its hard to keep very still when you're floating underwater. I took pictures with one in Negril on a very sunny day at less than 10 feet and was pretty disappointed. Maybe they'd be OK if your only a couple feet below the surface though. I looked into buying an MX5 and they start around $200 so its a fairly big investment for occasional use.

Rather than waste money on throw away cameras why not hire the Belize Underwater Video people to video you and all the beautiful stuff you will be seeing? Then you will have the best of Belize captured on film. I think they even add music to it.

You're right, scubalady. We got a video from Belize UW Video and the music they added was Barefoot Skinny. We enjoyed watching it very much especially me since I don't dive. Even tho I didn't participate directly in the video I got to see things I wouldn't normally see and I can understand a little bit better my husband's passion for the beautiful blue of the sea. Belize UW Video is located across from Fido's Courtyard.

My wife has been asked to smack me in the head with a rock if I EVER start to buy a disposable underwater camera again.

Unless you are VERY CLOSE tothe subject, VERY CLOSE to the surface, and its a VERY sunny day, forget it.

and even if you have all three, most all is trash.

you need LIGHT to punch up the colors. What you see ain't what you get on film. without a good flash, you get murky colors and crappy exposures.

Now it is POSSIBLE to get a couple decent pics with one, but make sure all the VERY's above are in line.

But if any of you guys ever see me start to buy one, get a rock.

SWMBO has the MX-5 35mm with the built-in flash. With 400ASA film she has been taking extraordinary pictures up to 100 feet in BZ. Have samples of same from last 12 months buried somewhere on my hard drive, also using them in album format as a screensaver.

Around $200, but it's only money.

Everything thats been said about the disposables is true.

Glad I came upon this post, cuz I was going to buy one for Shark Ray Alley pics. Now, I will just keep it in my "mind's eye" after I see it.

Imarquis, the disposable camera may not be too bad to use for Shark Ray since it is only a snorkeling trip. Our pictures on the Punta Girls Shark Pictures post were taken with a disposable underwater camera. Yes they may look a little dark, but you can still see what we were doing. The hardest part is looking thru a mask into the viewfinder and staying underwater while doing it, but I would imagine that is true with any. So, you could look at the pictures and see what you think, and may find it is worth it if you are snorkeling.
Good Luck
Punta Rebel Girl
Debbie

Well... now I feel like a real amateur who is easily impressed. We took shots with an underwater disposable at Shark/Ray Alley and we love them! My husband even put one up in the waiting room of his office. Yes, they are kinda "blue" but hey! so was the water!

Kathy (slinking back to corner)