Underwater gannet photography

Nesting in colonies numbering into the 10 000’s and occupying some of the continent’s most remote and dramatic sea cliffs and reaching diving speeds of over 60mph on entering the sea in search of their prey, the northern gannet is an iconic species which offers exciting opportunities for nature photography.

Very few images have been made of gannets diving underwater within the UK. Over the last ten years by studying the gannet’s behaviour, and understanding the movement of the fish they feed on, I have been able to successfully predict the best times to photograph gannets underwater.

This is a unique opportunity with no one else offering the chance to capture the dramatic diving behaviour of gannets. Shetland is one of the best places in the UK to photograph gannets underwater because of the beautiful clear oceanic seas that surround the islands. Furthermore, not all places gannets will dive around a boat but here on Shetland they have got used to my RIB and several thousands gannets can be circling and diving round the boat at any one time.

Number of people:

• Maximum of 6 people per group.

Group size is limited due to the available space on the boat to make sure everyone has a great experience and makes great images.

Duration and Time:

• 4 to 6 hours out at sea

These tours run between April and the end of September.

Cost:

One day underwater gannet photography for 1 person £1300, for 2 persons £1500 and additional people after that is £750 per person.

Clothing and Requirements:

When preparing for your outdoor adventure, it's essential to gear up appropriately for optimal comfort and convenience. Be sure to wear warm attire, including a snug hat, insulating gloves, a reliable waterproof coat, and durable trousers, as well as sturdy footwear. Lifejackets are provided but the boat is open so camera bags need to be protected in a waterproof covering.

There is no obligation to dive, however, for those with diving experience, you need to have your own diving equipment.

Transport

We will agree a meeting point from which we will travel as a group in our transport to the different locations throughout the day.

Food and Drink

The price does not include food or hot drinks, so please bring your own packed lunch and drinks.

Equipment

Obviously, to take images of gannets underwater you need to be able to put your camera underwater. If you have an underwater housing for your camera then please bring it. There is no need to dive or snorkel, I have developed a method to take the images from the boat. However, for those with diving experience, it is also possible to photograph from under the water if you have all your own diving kit.

You must supply your own photography equipment. A range of camera gear can be used to create different images from wideangle to telephoto lenses. I would recommend as minimum a DSLR body, one telephoto lenses of a minimum length of 200mm with a teleconverters (1.4, 1.7 or 2x converters). Plus a wide angle lense for creating images of seascapes and seabirds in the landscape.

What's Included

To photograph gannets underwater you need to give yourself time. Shetland weather is unpredictable and to work with gannets it needs to be relatively calm. For this reason, you need to allow a few days to be able to get the right weather conditions. The best way to do this would be to combine photographing gannets underwater as part of a photographic trip to photograph other species, such as otter photography or seabirds.

More information:

• Find out more about Richard Shucksmith
• See what accommodation is available in Shetland
• Read our FAQs