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Inside Scuba Issue #26
Byron Conroy & Andy Deitsch
January 26, 2025
Welcome to Issue #26 of Inside Scuba
Welcome to Issue #26 of Inside Scuba! This edition spotlights the wonder of coral spawning, offering a detailed guide for divers to witness this rare underwater spectacle. Dive into the latest scuba news, including Ocean Art 2024 winners and groundbreaking feats in diving. Plus, master the art of backlighting in underwater photography with expert tips and techniques to elevate your macro shots.
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What’s happening in this edition?
Witness Coral Spawning: A Diver's Guide to Nature's Underwater Spectacle
My first experience with coral spawning was as a relatively new dive instructor. At the time, I was working daily on a dive boat alongside many other instructors, diving all day. However, in November, the dive center where we worked offered special night diving trips to witness the coral spawn. These trips were thrilling, even for those of us immersed in diving every day. Many staff members would join as paying customers, eager for the chance to witness something so rare and extraordinary.
I vividly remember seeing the hard coral reef release both eggs and sperm into the dark water column. Even though this event took place over 12 years ago, it remains a surreal and unforgettable experience. We saw corals in an entirely new light. Typically, they appear static—beautiful but seemingly unchanging. Yet, during this night dive, they came to life in front of our eyes, transforming the reef into a dynamic, pulsating spectacle.
Coral spawning is a vital reproductive process in coral reef ecosystems, ensuring the survival of coral species and the diverse life they support. For experienced divers, witnessing this phenomenon offers a unique glimpse into an essential natural process. This article delves into the biology of corals, the mechanics of their reproduction, the environmental factors influencing spawning, the current state of coral reefs, and the best destinations for divers to experience this awe-inspiring event firsthand.
In each issue of our newsletter, we will curate some top dive news from around the world. Links to each of the original articles are available.
Dive Magazine: “Survivors speak of Sea Story liveaboard sinking cover up”
Ocean Art 2024 winners announced
PR Newswire: “Marine Veteran Barrington Scott Sets Guinness World Record for Fastest Scuba Dive Across Seven Continents”
Scuba Travel: “Divers Alert Network, DAN, has launched DANcast: their official podcast”
Dive Magazine: UK-divers: “Poole-based recompression chamber to close”
Dive Magazine: “Cave diver dies in Spain’s Cueva del Agua”
Divernet: “Pod-builder completes 120 days under sea”
Deeper Blue: “Margo Peyton named Beneath the Sea’s 2025 Diving Pioneer”
Divernet: “Underwater model shoots just went into deco”
Deeper Blue: “Caribbean Faces Soft Coral Invasion”
Photo Tip of the Week - Mastering Backlighting in Underwater Photography
Of all the lighting techniques and tricks to master, backlighting is one of the most challenging for me. There are often issues with how the light falls on the subject, and managing its spread can be tricky. However, when I finally dedicated time to learning it properly, backlighting delivered some of my favorite and most striking macro shots. These shots often stand out from the crowd and add real diversity to your portfolio.
This article explores what backlighting is, its primary uses, how to do it effectively, the camera settings needed to master the technique, and the common pitfalls to avoid.
What is Backlighting?
Backlighting refers to positioning a light source behind your subject to illuminate it from the rear. Instead of lighting the front or sides, the light creates a glowing halo, outlines shapes, and enhances the subject’s natural translucence. This technique is particularly effective with marine life that has textured edges, such as a hairy frogfish. It also works well with translucent fish, like the leafy scorpionfish, where the light can penetrate through the body or eyes. Additionally, backlighting can be used to create silhouettes when it’s the only light source in the image.
Backlighting here adds texture to the hairs of the frogfish, a constant light source using a blue filter
In underwater photography, backlighting helps isolate the subject from the background, making it stand out against visually busy or cluttered scenes. The resulting images are dynamic and can reveal intricate details of a subject in ways that conventional lighting methods cannot.
This week’s Instagram Spotlight features Billy Ball who describes himself as “just a dude with a camera”. Definitely check his feed out, some lovely shots in there.
Summary
Thank you for taking the time to explore Issue #26 of Inside Scuba. We hope you enjoyed the stories, tips, and updates we shared. If you found this newsletter valuable, please consider sharing it with friends who might also enjoy diving into the underwater world. Your support helps us grow and continue bringing you exciting content. We look forward to seeing you in upcoming issues as we explore more about diving, photography, and ocean adventures. Until then, happy diving!
Andy & Byron
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