Underwater photography is an excellent way to share your diving experiences with friends and family, but it can also be an unwieldy distraction. Here are some basic rules of etiquette to help you stay on good terms with the rest of the dive boat.

1. Get organized

On the deck of the dive boat, keep your photo gear consolidated on the camera table or in the designated buckets. Equipment scattered around the deck or on the benches can be a hazard, not to mention it could put your expensive cameras and housings at risk of getting knocked over.

2. Be considerate of non-photographers

Not everybody on the dive boat is an underwater photographer or has the same interests. Rather than insist that every site be a muck dive, for example, explain your interests to the dive crew, allow them to pick sites that accommodate everyone and be prepared to change your lenses or goals accordingly.

3. Don’t crowd

If you’re diving with other photographers and you see one of your dive buddies setting up a great shot, resist the urge to crowd in next to them. Instead, hang back at a reasonable distance until they finish shooting and move out of the way.

4. Share the reef

On the flip side, if you find a rare critter, be considerate of those waiting to get a shot of their own. Once you’ve finished, carefully back away so you don’t spook the animal, allowing everybody the chance to see or photograph it.

5. Watch your fins

It can be tricky to maintain neutral buoyancy while looking through the viewfinder. Think about where and how to position yourself so you won’t touch or break fragile corals, and avoid kicking your fins near the seafloor — a few strong fin kicks over silt or fine sand can ruin the visibility for everyone.