History
In 1870, Eadweard Muybridge, took the first underwater photos in San Francisco Bay, and the first official underwater camera was developed by Louis Boutan, a French scientist, in 1893.
Types
Today, there are three types of underwater cameras: housed, amphibious and disposable. A housed camera is regular camera protected in a waterproof enclosure. Amphibious cameras can be used underwater or on land, and disposable cameras are just like the inexpensive ones you use on land, except they're waterproof.
Depth
Water distorts images through a lens, so often subjects need to be photographed as close as possible to get an accurate image. However, there are some special lenses that help capture subjects through long distances of water.
Lighting
Depth affects the quantity and quality of light; most deeper photos will be all blues without lighting equipment. Film loses red at about 15 feet of depth, orange at 30 feet, yellow at 60 feet and green at 80 feet.
Deep Sea
Deep-sea photography, taken below 150 feet, requires specialized cameras and lighting. Watertight cases must be able to withstand the pressure of the deep sea.
