My GoPro Hero 12 diving tips will help you to make your underwater videos bright and colorful.
Drawing from my own diving adventures in the Philippines, I’ve gathered a wealth of practical tips to enhance your underwater filming.
In this article, you’ll discover essential techniques and insights to capture stunning underwater videos with your GoPro Hero 12.
To start with, watch my GoPro Hero 12 diving settings tutorial:
GoPro Hero 12 Diving Tips
Here are some of the most important ones:
Protect your camera
Your GoPro Hero 12 is waterproof up to 10 meters or 33 feet, but if you want to dive deeper, you need to use a protective underwater housing. This will prevent water damage and also improve the sound quality of your videos. Please make sure the housing is clean and free of scratches before using it.
Add some color
Underwater, the colors tend to fade and become dull, especially the reds and oranges. To compensate for this, you can use a color filter that attaches to your housing. A red filter is recommended for blue water and a magenta filter for green water. This will enhance the contrast and vibrancy of your videos and make them more realistic. You can also adjust the white balance and color settings on your camera to suit the water conditions. Don’t hesitate to use GoPro Luts in post production as well!
Keep it steady
One of the biggest challenges of underwater filming is keeping your camera stable and avoiding shaky footage. To do this, you need to have good buoyancy control and use a suitable mount or handle for your GoPro. A dual-hand tray is the most stable option, but it requires two hands to operate. A floating grip or an extendable pole is more flexible and allows you to get closer to your subjects, but they can also cause more movement if you are not careful. You can also use the Hypersmooth 6.0 feature on your GoPro Hero 12, which reduces the shakiness and smooths out your videos.
Lighting it up
Underwater, the light is dimmer and more scattered than on land, which can affect the quality and clarity of your videos. To improve the lighting, you can use an external light source, such as a video light or a strobe, that attaches to your housing or mount. This will illuminate your subjects and bring out their colors and details. You can also use the HDR video mode on your GoPro Hero 12, which balances the exposure and dynamic range of your videos and makes them more vivid and natural.
Avoid foggy situations
Another common problem with underwater filming is fogging, which occurs when the air inside the housing condenses and forms droplets on the lens. This can ruin your videos and make them blurry and unclear. To prevent this, you can use anti-fog inserts that absorb the moisture and keep the lens dry. You can also avoid opening and closing the housing in humid environments, and make sure the housing is sealed properly before diving.
Clean the lens
Before and after each dive, you should check and clean the lens of your GoPro and your housing. Any dirt, dust, sand, or water droplets can affect the focus and sharpness of your videos. You can use a soft cloth or a lens cleaner to wipe the lens gently and remove any debris. You should also rinse the housing with fresh water and dry it thoroughly after each dive to prevent corrosion and damage.
Know your subject and distance
Underwater, the visibility and perspective are different than on land, which can make it harder to judge the size and distance of your subjects. To get the best shots, you need to know what you are filming and how close you can get to it. Generally, you want to get as close as possible to your subjects, without disturbing them or endangering yourself. This will reduce the amount of water between you and them, and improve the clarity and color of your videos. You should also avoid zooming in or out, as this can reduce the quality and resolution of your videos. Instead, use the different fields of view (FOV) on your GoPro Hero 12, such as wide, linear, or narrow, to adjust the angle and framing of your shots.
Take your time
Underwater filming is not a race, but a journey. You need to take your time and enjoy the experience, rather than rushing to capture everything. You should also be patient and respectful of the marine life, and wait for the right moment to film them. Sometimes, you may need to stay still and let them come to you, rather than chasing them around. This will result in more natural and authentic videos, and also minimize your impact on the environment.
If you wonder what settings to use while diving with Hero 12, check out this article>>>
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some FAQs for you.
What is the best resolution and frame rate for underwater videos with GoPro Hero 12?
The best resolution and frame rate for underwater videos depends on your personal preference and the type of video you want to create. However, some general guidelines are:
- For high-quality and detailed videos, you can use 5.3K or 4K resolution, which will give you the most pixels and clarity. However, these resolutions will also take up more storage space and battery life, and may not be compatible with some devices or platforms.
- For smooth and slow-motion videos, you can use 120 or 240 frames per second (fps), which will capture more frames and allow you to slow down your footage without losing quality. However, these frame rates will also reduce the light and color of your videos, and may not be supported by some devices or platforms.
- For balanced and versatile videos, you can use 2.7K or 1080p resolution, which will give you enough pixels and quality without taking up too much space or battery life. You can also use 60 or 30 fps, which will capture enough frames and smoothness without reducing the light and color of your videos.
How long can I record underwater videos with GoPro Hero 12?
The recording time of your GoPro Hero 12 depends on several factors, such as the resolution, frame rate, battery level, memory card capacity, temperature, and so on. However, some approximate estimates are:
- With a fully charged battery and a 64 GB memory card, you can record up to 1 hour and 10 minutes of 5.3K video at 60 fps, or up to 2 hours and 20 minutes of 1080p video at 60 fps.
- Whereas, a fully charged battery and a 128 GB memory card, you can record up to 2 hours and 20 minutes of 5.3K video at 60 fps, or up to 4 hours and 40 minutes of 1080p video at 60 fps.
- And using a fully charged battery and a 256 GB memory card, you can record up to 4 hours and 40 minutes of 5.3K video at 60 fps, or up to 9 hours and 20 minutes of 1080p video at 60 fps.
How can I edit and share my underwater videos with GoPro Hero 12?
There are many ways to edit and share your underwater videos with GoPro Hero 12, such as:
- Using the GoPro app on your smartphone or tablet, which allows you to transfer, view, trim, crop, rotate, add music, adjust color, apply filters, and share your videos directly to social media or cloud storage.
- Using other video editing software or tools, such as Adobe Premiere Pro, Final Cut Pro, iMovie, DaVinci Resolve, and so on, offer more features and options for editing your videos, but may also require more skills and experience.
Thanks for reading!
I hope this guide helped you learn some useful Diving tips for Underwater Videos 🙂
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