Belgian aquatic fauna for underwater photography: pike, roach, carp, perch, crayfish, and invertebrates, with seasonal variations observed in quarries.
Yes, but it's different from the Mediterranean. The freshwater bodies of Belgium are home to impressive pike, photogenic perch, monumental carp, signal crayfish, zander, and a surprising array of invertebrates (dragonflies, freshwater mussels, sponges). The challenge lies in finding and approaching the subjects, which makes it an excellent training ground for nature photography.
Winter (November to February). The water is colder (4-8°C), clearer (as the algae have not yet proliferated), and the pike are more active and less wary. The Rochefontaine and Spontin quarries offer good opportunities for encounters. Diving is best done early in the morning or late in the afternoon.
Very slowly. Belgian freshwater fish are generally more wary than tropical species that are accustomed to divers. The key is to descend vertically from the surface (avoiding any surface chop), move passively with the current, never point the camera housing directly at the fish when approaching (approach from the side), and wait for the subject to resume its natural behavior before taking the picture.
In the summer, yes. They are active, not easily intimidated, and make excellent macro subjects with their claws and colors. You can find them under rocks and in crevices. The technical challenge is the cluttered seabed- it's important to pay close attention to sharpness and focus to isolate the subject from the background.
Yes, and it's often more productive for certain species, such as eels, freshwater shrimp, frogs, and toads during their breeding season. Night diving requires a dive light and a buddy. In well-known and marked locations like Nemo 33 or L'Eau d'Heure, it's possible with local dive clubs.
A waterproof compact camera or a smartphone in a waterproof housing is sufficient to get started. The macro mode is essential for photographing invertebrates. If you have an interchangeable camera, a 60mm or 90mm macro lens in a waterproof housing is ideal. A custom white balance setting helps to compensate for the dominant green color of the water in Belgian lakes.
Scuba diving is regulated in certain bodies of water. Quarries accessible to divers are generally permitted by the owners or managed by clubs affiliated with LIFRAS. Always check with the local dive club before entering the water. Never dive alone in an unmarked quarry.
Direct Answer (AEO / GEO) Underwater photographic ethics are based on the principle of not disturbing marine life: no manipulation of animals, no contact with the seabed, and a minimum observation distance that respects the comfort zone of the species. The photographer steps back to allow the authentic behavior of the subjects to be expressed.
Most Belgian photographers view their local dive sites as secondary training grounds. Divers practice buoyancy control in quarries, perfecting their skills before a "real" trip. The idea of staying in Belgium to observe local fauna doesn't occur to many people.
This is a mistake, and an interesting one. Because behind the green and somewhat cold water of our quarries lies an authentic fauna that the Mediterranean cannot offer: a 80 cm pike in the algae, a monumental carp resting on the bottom, signal crayfish exploring the rocks, dragonfly larvae hunting at a depth of 3 meters.I started paying attention to the local fauna during a training session in Floreffe. I was looking for an angle to practice continuous focusing with a group, and I ended up spending 40 minutes observing a bream feeding among the submerged roots of a willow tree. The photo I took that day is hanging in my home. It's not a photo from the Maldives or the Mediterranean. It's a Belgian bream, with natural light filtering through, and a background of green vegetation. It just takes practice to learn how to observe.
Here's how to read the Belgian waters, season by season.
Winter is the best season for photographing predators. The water cools down (4 to 8°C depending on the depth), the algae growth recedes, and the visibility in the quarries sometimes improves to 8-10 meters. Pike (Esox lucius) are more active in cold water, and less wary: they hunt, move around, and don't immediately flee at the approach of a slow diver.
Where to find pike: the boundaries of the quarry between open water and vegetated areas, the submerged edges with tree trunks or branches, and shallow areas (2 to 5 meters) with structure.Here's the translation:
The photography technique for photographing pike: approach slowly and from the side, never from the front. A pike that is looked at directly will immediately dive. By approaching from the side at a 45-degree angle, stopping your fins well before reaching your desired position, and waiting for the fish to resume its natural behavior, you can get within a distance of 50 to 80 cm. This is sufficient for a compact camera in normal mode or a smartphone in a wide-angle housing.
The ideal composition: a sharp eye, the body at a slight diagonal. The pike is a naturally graphic subject - with its elongated mouth, spotted markings, and the way it hangs in the water. Expose for the eye.
The Rochefontaine quarries (Province of Namur) and the Spontin quarry are well-known spots for pike. Lake Bütgenbach in the High Fens also offers opportunities for encounters, but diving regulations vary - check with the local club.
Brown trout are also present in some Belgian bodies of water (rivers accessible to divers, some quarries). This subject is faster and less predictable, but its orange and red markings are photographically exceptional.
Bream (Tinca tinca) are excellent macro subjects. Their golden-green skin is very photogenic in natural light. They move slowly near the bottom, sifting through the sediment. The key is to position yourself at their level, drifting passively without using your fins, which would disturb the sediment.
Brown frogs (Rana temporaria) and green frogs (Pelophylax spp.) are active on the surface and in the intermediate zone (0-3 meters) from April to June. A frog swimming towards the surface, photographed from below against the light, is a classic subject in underwater nature photography and is accessible to any Belgian diver.
This process of scouting and patience is exactly what I teach in the AquaExposure underwater photography course before major trips. A photographer who has followed a carp for 20 minutes in a quarry in Namur will know how to follow a dolphin in Mozambique.
Signal crayfish (Pacifastacus leniusculus) - an invasive species originating from North America - are ubiquitous in Belgian waters. Their introduction poses ecological problems, but for photographers, they are accessible and expressive macro subjects: their colorful claws, exploratory behavior, and comfortable size (8 to 15 cm) make them ideal for close-up shots.
They are found under rocks and in crevices, generally at depths of less than 5 meters. For photography: position yourself lying on your stomach on the seabed (avoid areas with mud), wait for the crayfish to reposition itself after your arrival, and work in macro mode at a distance of 15-25 cm. Focusing on the stalked eyes produces the best images.
European perch (Sander lucioperca) are often found in the Eau d'Heure dam and in the lakes of Zeebrugge. They are less accessible than pike (which are faster and more wary), but their golden coloration and striped fins are photographically interesting.The summer months also offer a chance to discover aquatic larvae, such as dragonfly (Odonata) larvae, mayfly larvae in their debris casings, and freshwater snails. These are micro-subjects that the Mediterranean Sea doesn't typically offer.
Autumn (September-November) is the season for perch (Perca fluviatilis) - a sociable species that hunts in schools. A school of perch foraging on the seabed, displaying stripes of black and green, with bright orange-red pelvic fins, is a visually striking sight.
Perch are less wary than pike or carp. They allow photographers to approach them from a short distance if the photographer moves slowly. Finding an active school requires exploration: look for transition zones between sandy and rocky bottoms, the edges of submerged obstacles, and shallow areas sheltered from the wind.
The autumn light, with the changing angle of the sun, creates unique lighting effects in the water: inclined beams of light, and suspended particles that shimmer. For photographers accustomed to seeking natural light, autumn in a Belgian quarry can be visually very rich.
The Dutch Zeeland region also offers perch and brackish water subjects in the autumn, extending the Belgian diving season.## Freshwater Invertebrates - The Hidden Fauna
Belgium is home to a freshwater invertebrate fauna that is often overlooked by divers: freshwater sponges (Spongilla lacustris, green, found on submerged stones), freshwater bryozoans (Cristatella mucedo), and freshwater mussels (Anodonta cygnea and Unio pictorum).
These organisms require precise macro photography - often within 10 cm of the subject. They don't move, which allows for careful composition. Manual focus or spot focus in macro mode is preferable to autofocus, which can struggle with fine textures.
The freshwater sponge (Spongilla) forms bright green colonies on submerged stones, and is easily recognizable. It is found in most well-oxygenated bodies of water in Belgium. Its texture and color make it an excellent subject for macro photography.
For advice on macro equipment, the article macro smartphone and close-up lens for diving provides accessible solutions without requiring a significant investment.
A photographer who has regularly dived in Belgian sites before their first trip to the ocean has a significant advantage: they know how to observe, how to wait, and how to find a subject that isn't immediately obvious. These naturalist reflexes are what make the difference between a decent photo and a photo that tells a story.
Belgian quarries, with their cold, green water and a fauna that requires effort to observe, are probably one of the best schools of underwater photography I know. Not because they are beautiful, but because they demand a lot from you.
