About Us

Bluewater Photo has been the world's premiere underwater photo & video store for over 12 years. Our staff have decades of experience taking professional underwater photo & video and each of us has a passion for teaching and introducing people to our wonderful artform. 

Our goal is to help you get the perfect underwater photo or video system for your needs. Whether its your first system or the next upgrade in a long history of shooting underwater, we're here to help. No question is too basic, and we love helping new photographers! We have a large inventory of housings, strobes, and accessories already in stock. Call us for advice on what to buy, regardless of the manufacturer.

We'll help you make the right choice, show you how to use your new gear, and give you feedback on your photos.

Stay ahead of the tide with exclusive offers, expert photo tips, gear reviews, and the latest underwater photography news. Sign up for the Bluewater Photo Store newsletter and be the first to discover new arrivals, limited-time promotions, and insider content that helps you capture the deep like never before.

Scott Gietler is the owner of Bluewater Photo, the Underwater Photography Guide, and Bluewater Travel, the world's leading full service dive & snorkel travel agency. He also founded the world-renowned Ocean Art underwater photo competition. He is on the board of ReefCheck.org, and has volunteered at the Santa Monica Aquarium. He is also the author of the Guide to the Underwater Flora and Fauna of Southern California.

Scott regularly shoots underwater with a wide-range of compact, mirrorless and dSLR housings. His photos have appeared in most major dive magazines.

Nirupam Nigam is a marine biologist, underwater photographer, and senior editor at Bluewater Photo, where he specializes in reviewing underwater camera gear. With a background in marine biology from UCLA and years of dive experience around the world, Nirupam combines scientific knowledge with real-world testing to deliver clear, honest, and practical gear reviews.

Known for his hands-on approach and technical expertise, Nirupam helps divers and photographers—from beginners to pros—make informed choices through detailed articles, tutorials, and workshops. His photography has been recognized in international competitions and featured in top dive publications. Whether testing the latest housings or leading underwater photo trips, Nirupam is dedicated to helping others capture the ocean’s beauty with confidence and creativity.

T'Lane Spanos, CFO of Bluewater Photo & Scuba and Bluewater Travel, blends financial expertise with an adventurous, creative spirit. Raised on a cotton farm in land-locked Kansas, T'Lane always had big dreams that led her to explore the world. As an avid adventurer, she thrives on exploration both above and below the water. She finds immense joy in capturing marine life with her Sony A7CR and has a deep passion for both ocean exploration and African safaris. Outside the office, T'Lane enjoys acting, abstract painting, and staying active to keep up with her next adventure. She is truly grateful to combine her love for photography, art, travel, and diving in a role that connects her with creatives and explorers from all over the world.

Here's a list of my most-used gear: Sony A7CR, Sony 100-400, Sony 90mm macro, Sony 16-35, GoPro with the housing, Ikelite A7CR housing, Ikelite strobes, Kraken video lights, Bluewater 1500 Focus Light.

Mark Strickland’s life-long interest in the sea has included over 10,000 dives and careers as a lifeguard, boat captain, and scuba instructor. His passion for underwater photography has led him to many top dive locales, including the Virgin Islands, Australia, and Thailand, where he spent 17 years as Cruise Director on a series of liveaboards. Mark now resides in Ventura County, California.

An avid marine naturalist, Mark has discovered several nudibranch species. He is co-author and principal photographer for Lonely Planet’s award-winning book, “Diving and Snorkeling Thailand”, and his work appears in many magazines, books, and displays around the world. Currently, Mark leads several dive trips each year to his favorite destinations, while working on a career-spanning large-format pictorial book.

Mark's photos and articles have appeared in magazines and books around the world, including Action Asia, BBC Wildlife, National Geographic World, Natural History, Scuba Diving, Skin Diver, Sport Diver, Sportdiving, Unterwasser, and many others.

Anthony Grote is a South African based professional photographer renowned for his expertise in underwater, wildlife, adventure sports, and hospitality photography. His passion for photography began in the early 1990s during his studies, where he initially focused on bird photography.

After progressing into underwater photography, he moved to the Cayman Islands and working as an underwater photo pro for 2 years, before moving back to South Africa and starting his own photographic business, focusing mostly on Adventure Sports and the Hospitality Industry.

While receiving numerous accolades for his underwater and wildlife photography, as well as working on a National Geographic production on the Serengeti, called the "Real Serengeti", he continues to dive around the world, photographing Nature as often as he can. He now works for Bluewater Photo as the Website Manager, while still covering some adventure sports in his spare time. 

Wayne leads the sales team at Bluewater Photo, bringing a unique blend of project management experience and a deep-rooted passion for the ocean. As a PADI Assistant Instructor, he has lived, worked, and dived in some of the world’s most exciting underwater environments, including South Africa, the UAE, and the Red Sea coast of Saudi Arabia.

While in Saudi Arabia, Wayne served as the project manager for the launch of an Adventure Sports Hub, where scuba diving was the centerpiece. He played a key role in establishing and naming several new dive sites along the Red Sea—a testament to his drive for exploration and contribution to the dive community. In South Africa, Wayne developed a love for the ocean early on. His favorite dive sites include the adrenaline-pumping Protea Banks, known for its shark encounters, the vibrant marine life of Aliwal Shoal, and the breathtaking reefs of Sodwana Bay. His love for nature and underwater photography continues to inspire his work every day.

Gear list: Sony A7CR, Ikelite DLM/A Housing, Dual Ikelite DS160 II Strobes with Ikelite sync cords and TTL on 5"/8" arm combo with Stix Jumbo Floats on the inside arms. Sony FE 16-25mm f/2.8 G Lens for wide angle behind a 6" Dome, Sony 90mm Macro F2.8 G OSS Lens for macro. When not carrying my full gear I also have a SeaLife SportDiver Housing with an iPhone 13 Pro and dual 2500 lumen SeaDragon Video lights on a dual handle SeaLife Tray with SeaLife Flex-Connect Arms.

Elma Tarr is the Scuba Gear Brand Manager at Bluewater Photo and an IDC Staff Instructor with over 3,500 dives to her name. Her passion for the underwater world began over 21 years ago, and she has since turned that passion into a thriving profession.

Elma’s interest in dive gear was sparked by a key insight early in her teaching career: one of the biggest obstacles for new divers was often improperly fitting equipment. This realization drove her to deepen her expertise in gear selection, fit, and performance, making her a trusted resource for divers of all levels.

An avid traveler and underwater photographer, Elma has explored dive sites across the globe, with a special love for macro photography. Her blend of field experience, technical knowledge, and customer-first mindset makes her an invaluable part of the Bluewater Photo team.

Henrique Pedroso — known by most as Henry — is a passionate underwater photographer, PADI scuba instructor, freediver, and sales consultant at Bluewater Photo. Originally from southern Brazil, Henry began his diving journey at the age of 20 in Australia. Since then, he has taught and dived extensively across Indonesia, Australia, the Caribbean, Europe, and Brazil.

While Henry is newer to the professional underwater imaging world compared to some of his peers, he brings deep technical knowledge, real-world experience, and a relentless drive to learn and grow. Curiosity and passion for the ocean are the core of his work — always seeking to improve, understand more, and invite others to connect with the sea through his lens.

When he’s not crafting custom gear packages or supporting trips through Bluewater Travel, you’ll find Henry freediving, surfing, or creating along the rugged coast of Ericeira, Portugal — camera in hand, chasing light, stories, and connection with the ocean

Courtney grew up in Salt Rock, a small coastal village situated in the dolphin coast of Kwa-Zulu Natal, South Africa. She studied a BA in Creative Brand Communications specializing in Multimedia Design. While studying, she completed her advanced diving course and fell in-love with diving. After her studies, she went on to do her Dive Masters and Instructors, spending 4 years traveling, diving and teaching in Mozambique, South Africa and a stint in the Caribbean - making sure to take over each dive center's social media accounts. Finally merging her two passions - she now coordinates Bluewater Travel’s Social Media accounts.

Photo Gear I'm using: Canon R10 in an Ikelite Housing

Ulysses manages the daily shipping operations at Bluewater Photo. He ensures all orders get shipped out on time and items inside boxes are well protected, and checks in order orders from suppliers. 

Outside of work, I like hiking, bike riding and spending time with my family.