I purchased my first underwater camera in December 2003. This was an Olympus C5050 compact camera and I was forced to replace it eight months later after failing to correctly fit the underwater housing’s o-rings. My Olympus C5060 compact camera fared better than its predecessor and was only “retired” in June 2006 when I purchased my present camera, a Nikon D200 digital SLR. I found the transition from a compact camera to a digital SLR far from easy and must thank Steve Warren of Ocean Optics, Basildon, Essex UK as well as Alex Mustard and Martin Edge for their advice and much tested patience.

If you are considering purchasing an underwater camera system and are UK based I would strongly recommend that you contact Steve. Ocean Optics is renowned for its impartial advice and fantastic after sales care. I know many of the satisfied clients who have left testimonials on the Ocean Optics website and concur with every comment made. Steve regularly organises underwater photography events and talks and to ensure that you do not miss any, you can subscribe to Steve's newsletter through the Ocean Optics website - see my Profile/Links page.

I am fairly careless so my SLR is housed in a robust Subal ND20 housing and I also use two Inon Z-240 strobes held by Inon arms. I have found Inon strobes to be very reliable and I prefer to have two strobes rather than one as I consider this gives me more lighting options.

Depending on the issue, my photographic equipment is either serviced and where necessary repaired by Ocean Optics or Kevin & Margaret Reed’s Aquaphot of Essex, UK. Both provide a superb service.  The Aquaphot Helpful Information website page is full of useful tips and suggestions for amateur underwater photographers and maybe one or two professional photographers as well! A link to the Aquaphot website is on my Profile/Links page.