Underwater Photographer Toolbox
15 tools to prepare your trips, compare your gear and plan your photo dives
When I started preparing my first dive photo trips, I would open fifteen tabs to check whether my batteries were cabin-safe, three spreadsheets to compare housings, and I always ended up asking on a forum whether my budget made sense. Every tool you will find here was born from that very concrete friction. I built them for myself first, then for the divers who were asking exactly the same questions. Create a free account to access them, and they are updated every season.
9 tools
Diving
Briefings, species calendar and planning for your photo dives
Dive Photo Briefing Sheet
Generate a photo briefing sheet before each dive. Conditions, settings, subjects, dive plan.
Marine Species Calendar by Destination
Find the best times to photograph each marine species. Sharks, manta rays, whales, macro.
Dive Sites Atlas & Interactive Map (France, Belgium, Switzerland)
Explore 195 verified dive spots in Western Europe. Interactive map, filters by region and environment, live weather, and tide info.
Dive weight calculator
Calculate your ideal dive weighting based on your body, gear and destination. Real physics, result in kg of lead, full breakdown.
Pack My Dive Bag - Dive Checklist
Smart checklist so you never forget anything in your dive bag. Step-by-step wizard.
Dive Destination Comparator
Compare dive destinations: conditions, seasons, species, budget, required level.
Dive Emergencies - Protocols & Contacts
Dive emergency protocols: phone numbers, DAN procedures, first aid steps.
Deep Words - Multilingual Diver Lexicon
Diver's lexicon in 6 languages: 256 essential terms to communicate anywhere in the world.
My Trips - Offline Dive Journal
Offline dive travel journal. Log your dives, photos and memories without a connection.
3 tools
Travel
Airline batteries, trip budgets and dive insurance compared
Airline Battery Checker for Divers
Check your dive batteries comply with 31 airline rules. IATA 2026 rules, free tool.
Dive Trip Budget Calculator
Estimate your next dive photography trip budget. Flights, accommodation, dives, equipment.
Dive Insurance Comparator
Compare dive insurance: DAN, DiveAssure, PADI. Coverage, pricing, exclusions.
15 tools
Equipment
Compare SSDs, power banks, housings and configure your ideal setup
SSD Comparator for Underwater Photographers
Compare portable SSDs for storing dive photos and videos. Speed, durability, capacity.
Powerbank Comparator for Divers
Find the best powerbank for your dive trips. Capacity, airline compliance, durability.
Underwater Photography Gear Comparator
Compare cameras, housings, strobes and lights for underwater photography. Prices, specs, reviews.
Camera Housing Compatibility Checker
Check compatibility between your camera and available underwater housings on the market.
Dive Computers Comparator 2026: Prices, Algorithms & Reviews
Compare 78 recreational and technical dive computers (Shearwater, Garmin, Suunto, Mares, Scubapro). Bühlmann algorithms, color screens, battery life, and air integration.
Dive Gear Product Recalls
Every verified safety recall on non-photographic diving gear (regulators, dive computers, BCDs), updated as new recalls are confirmed.
Online Dive Shop Comparator
Compare 7 online dive shops delivering to France and Belgium: catalogue, price on a test basket, shipping, support. Detailed scores and field notes.
Dive Fins Comparator 2026: Open Heel, Full Foot & Freediving
Compare 60 scuba, freediving, and travel fins. Evaluate thrust efficiency, blade stiffness, travel weight, and in-water buoyancy.
Dive Masks Comparator 2026: Field of View, Skirts & Reviews
Compare 28 scuba and freediving masks. Filter by internal volume, silicone skirt, optical lenses, and field test reviews.
Scuba BCD & Wing Comparator 2026: Jackets & Back-Inflates
Compare 68 scuba buoyancy compensators and wings. Filter by BCD type (jacket, back-inflate, wing), lift capacity in kg, weight integration, and reviews.
Scuba Regulators Comparator 2026: Prices, Specs & Reviews
Compare scuba regulators and packs (Apeks, Scubapro, Aqualung, Mares, Cressi). Filter by DIN/Yoke, cold water certification, HP/LP ports, and verified prices.
Wetsuits & Drysuits Comparator 2026: Thermal Layers & Neoprene
Compare 38 scuba wetsuits, shorties, and thermal undergarments. Evaluate thermal insulation, neoprene flexibility, and donning ease.
Delayed Surface Marker Buoy (DSMB) Comparator 2026: Safety & Tests
Compare 54 scuba DSMBs and surface marker buoys. Detailed analysis of duckbill valves, overpressure dump valves, and surface visibility.
Scuba Spools & Reels Comparator 2026: Buyers Guide & Specs
Compare 70 finger spools and exploration reels. Analysis of Delrin and aluminum bodies, double-ender clips, line length, and snag-free deployment.
Smartphone Housing Comparator
Find the compatible underwater housing for your iPhone, Samsung Galaxy or Google Pixel. SeaLife, Divevolk, Kraken, Weefine.
7 tools
Photo
Build your rig piece by piece and calculate the buoyancy of your setup
Underwater Camera Gear Comparator
Which smartphone or camera to choose for underwater photography in natural light? B1-B7 scores, used prices, available housings. Regularly updated.
Underwater Action Cameras & 360° Comparator
Compare tested underwater action cameras (GoPro, DJI, Insta360). 4K/8K resolution, 10-bit Log profiles and 60m dive housings.
SD & MicroSD Cards for Underwater Photo Comparator 2026
Compare SD and microSD cards for underwater camera housings and action cameras. Sustained V30, V60, V90 video speeds and marine endurance.
Underwater Photography Rig Builder
Build your underwater photography rig piece by piece. Buoyancy calculator, presets, budget.
Kai App, the free underwater photography app
Kai App teaches you underwater photography lesson by lesson. Free access with a daily quota, subscribe for unlimited use and the full training.
Guide to the main mistakes to avoid in underwater photography
Receive the 7 essential underwater photography settings for free. Course accessible to all: no technical knowledge required, any camera, at your own pace.
Guide to Underwater Photography Technology
Pixels, sensors, RAW, underwater optics: 11 interactive chapters to truly understand the technology behind your images.
Why these tools exist
Underwater photography is 20% technique in the water and 80% preparation on land. Finding the right housing for your camera, checking that your batteries pass with Emirates and AirAsia alike, estimating whether a Philippines trip fits the budget, knowing which season to aim for mantas in Komodo. All these questions come up again and again in forums, in groups, in the messages I receive every week. Rather than answering the same thing a hundred times, I chose to build the tools that give the answer in three clicks.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need an account to use the tools?
Yes, a free account is all you need to access every tool. It takes less than a minute and only requires an email address. No subscription needed.
Are the tools paid?
The tools come with your account at no cost. No hidden fees, no ads. Some advanced Dive Deck tools are reserved for subscribed members.
Is the data kept up to date?
Each tool is manually maintained. IATA rules for the battery checker are updated every season. Equipment comparators follow manufacturer releases. If you spot an error, just drop me a message.
Can I suggest a new tool?
Absolutely. Every tool on this page was born from a real need, often expressed by a diver preparing a trip or shopping for gear. Write to me, and if the need is shared by others, there is a good chance it becomes the next tool on the list.
These tools are our way of giving back to the diving community what it taught us in the water. And if we invest this much energy to simplify your life, it is because our underwater photography courses are built with the same level of care.
Free access. No credit card required.