Rolling in the deep

How to get started in underwater photography

- Ross McLaren

I would love to say that photography has been a passion of mine from an early age, but it’s actually something I’ve fallen into by mistake. It’s a case of one expensive pastime leading to another expensive pastime, neither of which I had ever planned to take quite so seriously.

Seven years ago, I started diving on the west coast of Scotland in preparation for visiting Australia’s Great Barrier Reef the following summer. My wife and I decided to do our diving qualifications before we left, so we didn’t have to spend our holiday time in a classroom.

Sadly, the trip down under didn’t happen, but it opened up a whole other side of Scotland for us. From the first time I put my head beneath the water of Loch Long, I was absolutely blown away by the abundance of life down there. I had no idea there was such a cacophony of colours lying just beneath our grey, dreich waterline.

Scotland’s natural beauty is well known, but beneath our waters is a world that remains unseen by so many. After that first dive, I decided to start making videos to show friends and family – whether they were interested in seeing it or not! Little did I know that having fallen in love with one new pursuit, another would soon follow.

Ross’s five tips for better underwater photography

1 Learn camera skills on land