tgreenhaw

I'm hoping to go snorkeling in Maui at the end of April. I have a Gopro Hero 7 and a recently purchased inexpensive waterproof led light for it. Any idea what to expect or other advice?

Rongnongno Loc: FL

Check the underwater section or however it is named.

mikee

For snorkeling. you may not need the light. If you plan on diving down over 10 feet, you can buy a red filter and gopro filter holder, to go over the lens, which brings back the red coloration you lose with diving. They make 2 filters, one for "green" water, like pacific northwest, and the other for "blue" water. Get the blue water filter. With underwater photo one key is to get close, another is to not shoot down. Fish look boring from above. Have fun.

Retired CPO Loc: Travel full time in an RV

Careful with flash or other artificial light. Except in the very cleanest water there are particles suspended in the water that will cause 'backscatter" with the light reflected and "scattered" back into the frame. Think tiny bright white spots in your photos. The best way to avoid that is to put the light source(s) out wide from the lens. And, of course, careful not to kick up stuff into the front of the camera.
If you are experienced and comfortable underwater you can establish neutral buoyancy so you aren't struggling to hold steady at a particular depth while you operate the shutter...very important! Practice in a pool before hand if you need to.
Shoot horizontally or upward, shooting down onto a subject usually (but not always) gives unsatisfactory results.
If you are shooting fish don't chase them, it doesn't work! If you can hold your breath long enough to just sit for a minute or two, they will come to you. Practice holding your breath.
Bring vienna sausages diced in a ziplock bag. Just a few small chunks will attract them. Any more will cloud the water and interfere with the photography.
If you think you are close enough get closer by half.
I could go on, but you get the idea, I hope.
Good luck and let's see some of the results of your adventure.

tgreenhaw

Thanks!!!

Fstop12 Loc: Kentucky

It's been a few years since me and my brother-in-law dove off the Kona coast on the Big Island of Hawaii. My brother in law liked to use a GoPro mounted on a pole when he dove. It gave him extended reach and allowed him to place the camera closer to things he wanted to photograph. I had my Gopro mounted on my Scuba mask which allowed me hands free diving. I had the GP so that it would take movies and stills at the same time. Wherever my head looked is where the angle of the image or video would be. I think the main thing is to not get too caught up with the photography and miss the experience being in the beautiful Hawaiian waters. Have a great trip,be safe. I look forward to seeing what you photograph.

OnDSnap Loc: NE New Jersey

I used the GoPro 7 while snorkeling in at Grand Cayman's. Didn't need anything.

IHH61 Loc: Homestead Fl

Mostly good advice above (let’s just say chumming with Vienna Sausage is no longer seen as good diving or snorkeling behavior). Practice with your camera first. Don’t forget you are a snorkeler first and a photographer second!

Hugh

Fstop12 Loc: Kentucky

billnikon Loc: Pennsylvania/Ohio/Florida/Maui/Oregon/Vermont

If your Snorkeling you usually do it in water up to 10 feet deep. If it is a sunny day the sun should light up everything for you OK. Make sure your LED light will not over expose your shot.
I did a lot of Scuba with Ikelite housings. Under 10 feet we generally did not use the attached strobes unless we were shooting for magazines.
I recently snorkeled with a friend, he had a GoPro and used the following, I believe it was a little overkill.
https://www.amazon.com/Diving-Flashlight-Underwater-Submersible-Outdoor/dp/B07G15QZNQ/ref=sr_1_9?dchild=1&keywords=underwater+led+lights+for+photography&qid=1611406812&sr=8-9

Fstop12 Loc: Kentucky

I think your GoPro 7 will serve you well. Here is a link to a short video I put together with movie clips from my Hero 3 Gopro and my brother-in-law's Gopro 4 in Hawaii. You can see my Gopro mounted on my Scuba mask. Oh and, that's about a 13-14 foot curious tiger shark that circled us and came into our group for a closer look. The hand on the back of the diver is mine. https://youtu.be/lhbvVNlWJps
Filename

sb Loc: Florida's East Coast

I hear that great white sharks just LOVE Vienna Sausage! Can't wait to see some photos!

JBRIII

My experience is that batteries last about an hour. If your going to be longer, take materials for drying camera before changing and extra batteries. In Hawaii, lots of fine sand can cause the particles mentioned previously. If I remember correctly, clarity varies in different areas there with time of year, some places good at one time of year, others another.

If you ever get the chance, Galapagos are unbelieveable for snorkeling. There in July-August, water very!!! cold, but snorkeling like being in heaven. Once had a dozen sea turtles within 0 to 20 feet, while two furries swam around, over and under me, twisting me into knots trying to follow and photograph them. Boats take trips of 4 days to 2 weeks, snorkelled almost every morning or afternoon, sometimes both, for about an hour each time, along with hikes to see all the land critters . Penguins are like missiles in the water.

jeep_daddy Loc: Prescott AZ

I went to the Galapagos in 2014. We went in November and the water wasn't too cold. I brought a lightweight wetsuit but probably didn't need it. What I should have brought was a weight belt. It was hard to stay down 10 feet for any length of time because of how buoyant the wetsuit made me. But you are right about the wildlife seen there. It was fantastic. We were on a 15 day trip on a 125 foot yacht called the Tip Top IV. We snorkeled twice a day and landed in different locations of most islands twice a day.

Stan Wieg Loc: Fair Oaks, CA

I have the same camera; on any kind of a sunny day you won’t need the light.
Be really, really, careful to have a dry, clean environment for changing batteries. Also, check GoPro’s recommendations for best quality SD cards to use. I hate to tell you how I learned both lessons!
The selfie stick and weight belt are good recommendations too; I use a floatie handle on mine.
Good luck - it’ll be great!