Why the Olympus TG6?

For beginners, the Olympus TG6 is a powerhouse. It’s compact, rugged, and designed for the underwater environment. Unlike bulkier DSLRs that require expensive housings, the TG6 is waterproof up to 15 meters right out of the box. Add an underwater housing, and you’re good to go deeper.

What makes it stand out? A powerful macro mode, custom white balance, and RAW shooting capability—all features that can turn an average shot into a stunning one with just a bit of practice.

Mastering Your Shots: Key Techniques

1. Get Close, Then Closer

Water reduces sharpness and color saturation, so the golden rule is to get as close as possible to your subject. Enough that it fills at least ¾ of the frame, or until the subject stays in place—because even the water pressure you create while moving closer can disturb it. The TG6’s Microscope Mode lets you capture tiny marine creatures with incredible detail. Though the macro mode is enough, I still prefer using a +6 diopter to enhance subject focus and color. Whether it’s a nudibranch crawling over coral or the intricate patterns of a shrimp, proximity is key.

2. Lighting is Everything

Natural light fades quickly underwater. If you’re shooting below 5 meters, using a strobe or dive light helps bring back lost colors. Personally, I prefer using a strobe over a dive light. Video lights can scare away marine life, while a strobe only fires when you click the shutter, making it less intrusive. Additionally, a strobe provides a more powerful burst of light that enhances the subject’s colors better than a continuous dive light.

3. Steady Your Shots

Even the slightest movement can blur an image. Practice your buoyancy first before attempting underwater photography. If not, you’ll quickly realize that taking clear shots forces you to have better control in the water. In areas surrounded by corals, where there are no rocks or sand to stabilize yourself, buoyancy control becomes even more crucial. Without it, all your photos will end up blurry.

4. Shoot in RAW and JPEG

If you’re serious about improving, shoot in RAW format. JPEGs may look fine on your camera screen, but RAW files retain more detail and allow better post-processing. RAW is also required for most photo competitions, so it’s best to get comfortable with it. That said, I always shoot in both RAW and JPEG—RAW for editing, and JPEG for immediate sharing on social media.

5. Composition Matters

Underwater photography isn’t just about taking pictures—it’s about telling a story. Use the rule of thirds, play with negative space, and look for leading lines. Some key composition techniques I use:

• Black or bokeh backgrounds create a clean shot that emphasizes the subject.

• Focus on the eyes of the subject (or the “rhino” of a nudibranch).

• Shoot from a frontal or looking-up angle for a more dynamic perspective.

• For turtles and starfish, highlight their unique patterns.

• Look for symmetry and textures to add depth.

• Consider movement—leave more negative space in front of a swimming subject to show direction.

Learning from Experience

I’ve had my share of missed shots—bad lighting, wrong focus, and the occasional photobomb by an unsuspecting fish. But each dive teaches something new. One of my best macro shots happened when I spent 10 minutes watching a tiny pygmy seahorse blend into a sea fan, waiting for just the right moment to capture its details.

I’ve also learned the hard way about camera fogging and housing floods. On one dive, my housing fogged up so badly I couldn’t see anything on my screen. Turns out, I had left my camera in direct sunlight before the dive, causing condensation to build up underwater. Since then, I always place silica gel or tissue inside the housing to absorb moisture and never expose my camera to heat before a dive.

Another time, my housing flooded—an expensive mistake. I later discovered a tiny hair on the O-ring was enough to break the seal. Now, I clean the O-ring meticulously, ensuring there’s no dust, lint, or even excess silicone grease, which can also create heat and lead to fogging. Burst shooting mode can also heat up the camera, contributing to condensation, so I use it sparingly.

Before every dive, I always double-check all locks on my TG6 and its housing. A simple pre-dive routine can mean the difference between capturing stunning images and ruining a dive (or worse, a camera).

Final Thoughts

Underwater photography with the Olympus TG6 is an exciting journey. Start with the basics: get close, master white balance, steady your shots, and shoot in RAW. Most importantly, enjoy the process. The more you dive, the better your shots will get.

And if you capture that one perfect image—the kind that makes you stare in awe—you’ll know exactly why we keep going back underwater, camera in hand.