Diving in Palawan

Underwater photo editing without Photoshop: keep it simple

You don’t need layers, masks, or complex tools. Underwater photo editing is about enhancing the memories you’ve captured—not making them perfect. Most divers are just looking to share their best moments with friends or relive the experience. These simple adjustments can help your photos reflect the dive more accurately, without taking up your time or budget.

Note: Due to their historical value, many of these sites are protected, and it is illegal to remove artifacts.

Underwater photo editing tips for GoPro and action cam users

If you’re not a photographer, don’t worry—these underwater photo editing tips are designed for divers who just want better results from their dives:

• Fix the white balance first – Adjust the color temperature to remove the green or blue cast.
• Increase contrast and clarity – This helps make shapes and subjects stand out more clearly.
• Boost saturation or vibrance – Do it gradually to recover lost coral and skin tones.
• Crop and straighten – Focus attention on your subject and remove distractions.
• Sharpen lightly – Especially helpful for images taken in lower visibility conditions.

With just 2–3 minutes of editing, your photo can go from dull to dynamic.

Here is a great link to an interview with world class price winning underwater photographer Alex Dawson. Oceanographic interview

Underwater photo editing without Photoshop: keep it simple

You don’t need layers, masks, or complex tools. Underwater photo editing is about enhancing the memories you’ve captured—not making them perfect. Most divers are just looking to share their best moments with friends or relive the experience. These simple adjustments can help your photos reflect the dive more accurately, without taking up your time or budget.

Underwater photo editing: how to capture better images while diving

Even without professional gear, you can take beautiful underwater photos. By learning a few easy techniques, you’ll quickly improve your shots—especially with action cameras like a GoPro. Here’s how to get better results on every dive.What makes diving in El Nido so special is the diversity you’ll find within just a short boat ride. One moment you’re exploring a deep swim-through tunnel with hidden chambers, the next you’re drifting past a coral slope surrounded by schools of snapper, sweetlips, and the occasional turtle. And because most dive sites are sheltered, conditions are usually calm and perfect for relaxed, enjoyable diving year-round.

Use a reference for your underwater photo editing to show scale and story

One of the easiest ways to make a photo more interesting is to include something familiar. For example, place a diver next to a wreck, or position your buddy behind a coral fan. This gives the viewer a better sense of scale and creates a stronger story. A lonely structure can seem flat, but with a person nearby, it becomes real and impressive.

Add movement and depth with gear or bubbles to your underwater photo

Sometimes, even a small detail—like fins, a torch beam, or a trail of bubbles—can bring a still photo to life. These natural elements guide the eye and add motion to an otherwise static scene. It also helps the viewer feel more present in the moment.

Shoot slightly upward for better light and contrast

Rather than pointing your camera straight forward or down, try tilting it slightly up. This angle allows more ambient light into the shot and adds depth to your composition. Your subject becomes clearer, backgrounds separate more naturally, and photos tend to look more dynamic.

Get close—but move slowly and stay patient

The best underwater photos often come from proximity, not zoom. Since water reduces sharpness, try to gently approach your subject and wait. Fish, turtles, and even macro critters are more likely to stay still if you move calmly and give them space.

Take multiple shots—then choose the best one later when doing the Underwater photo editing

Visibility, timing, and your own movement all affect how a photo turns out. That’s why it’s smart to take several shots of the same scene. Later, during editing, you can pick the sharpest frame with the best composition and lighting.

Think in stories, not just subjects

A single coral or fish can look beautiful—but a photo that shows interaction tells more. Try to include your buddy, an animal in motion, or an environment that suggests scale or emotion. These are the images that stay with people long after the dive.