Everything you need to create beautiful underwater images
Taking the guesswork out of your underwater photography journey!
The Underwater Photo Company is a collaboration between Indigo Scuba and Underwater Photo Coach Kate Jonker.
Here, you will find everything you need to start, grow and flourish in your underwater photography journey.
When we started taking underwater photos back in 2002, there was very little information available on what to buy and how to take photos. Today, there is too much information and too many people with different advice and opinions. This can make choosing the right setup for you confusing and frustrating, often leading to impulse buys and mistakes.
Over the years, we have progressed from film cameras to compact digital cameras (Canon G16, G7X, Olympus TG), crop sensor DSLRs (Canon 600D, Canon 7d mark ii) and mirrorless cameras (Sony A6400) to full frame DSLRs (Nikon D850) and full frame mirrorless cameras (Canon R5). We have an in-depth, working knowledge of many cameras, and their pros and cons, which means we can help you choose what is right for you.
Ever-enquiring minds and a determination to know absolutely everything about underwater photography has given us a great deal of experience that we want to share with you, to make your life easier and to save you money.
What you can expect from us is complete honesty. We want you to be happy with your purchases. It’s important that you to get what you need, and what suits your budget. Underwater Photography is a journey and the camera that you have in your hand is the best camera you can have – as long as you know how to use it!
This is why we offer a wide range of underwater photography courses and workshops, both live and online, as well as one-on-one coaching. Not only do we want you to be happy with your setup, we want you to know how to use it. So many people think they need to get an “upgrade” or a new camera to take better photos, when the reality is, you just need to know how to use the one you have.
As we own a dive centre with a dive boat that is perfect for underwater photographers, we offer photographer-friendly diving. This means you can dive with one of us, or we will pair you up with another underwater photographer. We have a regular set of divers, and we know how they dive, so we will do everything we can to team you up with someone who you can dive for photos with.
Furthermore, the only time we really get to relax and enjoy our underwater photography is on dive trips, which we like to plan diving holidays to destinations that offer amazing underwater photography opportunities. As many of the resorts we visit are quite small, we only have a limited number of spaces available. This means that you will not get lost in the crowd and we will be there to help and guide you with your underwater photography. We also offer informal, mini-workshops on our trips to help you get the best shots possible.
We look forward to being part of your journey, and guiding you every step of the way. Please contact us today, or fill in the form below so that you can start taking beautiful photos underwater.
We can’t wait to hear from you!
Kate & Deon Jonker
Deon is the hands-on owner of Indigo Scuba, based in Gordon’s Bay on the eastern coast of False Bay, Cape Town, South Africa.
Diving and instructing since 1999, Deon is very involved in our training courses and is an instructor for both RAID and SSI. He is one of the most patient and calm instructors you will find!
He will always be on the boat with you, skippering and either instructing, leading dives or taking photos. A great underwater photography dive buddy, it is always a treat to dive with him!
Deon started taking photos in 2002 with a film camera and progressed to compacts (Canon S95, Canon G16) and then to a crop-sensor DSLR (Canon 7D mark ii). He currently uses a Nikon D850 in Isotta Housing.
He doesn’t like to enter underwater photo competitions but has entered (under duress) the Durban Underwater Shootout, in which he was placed.
Apart from the experience he has gained over the years, he is our technical expert. He’s also pretty great at fixing things and solving problems. Definitely your “go-to” person when you need help!
Kate is our underwater photography geek. She knows A LOT and insists she is always learning!
A professional underwater photographer and writer for many international underwater photography and scuba diving magazines (including X-Ray Dive Magazine, ScubaShooters, Underwater Photography Magazine, EZDive, Wetpixel, Dive Mag, Dive Photo Guide and Triton Magazine). She serves as a judge on underwater photography competitions and teaches all our underwater photography courses.
Kate caught the underwater photography “bug” from Deon in 2012 and has used compacts (Sea & Sea HD1200, Canon S95, Canon G16, Olympus TGs), crop-sensor DSLRs (Canon 600D, Canon 7D mark ii) and mirrorless (Sony A6400) and full-frame DSLR (Nikon D850).
Today, Kate uses the Canon R5 mirrorless camera in a Marelux Housing. She is also a Marelux Ambassador.
Kate has been placed in numerous local and international underwater photography competitions, including the Durban Underwater Shootout, Underwater Photo Marathon, Zagreb, Wavescape, CUPOTY and International Underwater Photography Competition – Proteus.