If you’re diving into the world of (pun intended) underwater photography, whether you’re a beginner wanting to capture the first shimmer of a reef, or an advanced shooter planning to nail complex lighting setups in the deep, then this article is for you. In this guide I’ll walk you through some of the best underwater photography books that will help you improve your craft-and at the end, I’ll let you know how my website, aitinsider, can support you with image-editing services that pair perfectly with what you’ll learn from these books.

Why You Should Invest in the Best Underwater Photography Books

Underwater photography is a very different beast compared to land photography. Your light behaves differently. Your subject may move with the tides. Color disappears. Gear is cumbersome. Composition and buoyancy matter. And the post-processing workflow is different. That’s why the best underwater photography books are valuable: they bring all these complexities together in one place, blending technique, creativity, gear, and mindset.

When you open one of the best underwater photography books, you expect guidance on things like:

• Choosing and preparing your housing, strobes, or mirrorless rig for underwater use.
  
• Understanding how water affects light, contrast, and colour, and how to correct for that.
  
• Mastering composition and framing underwater: wide-angle, macro, wrecks, divers.
  
• Learning how to anticipate behaviour, work with ambient light vs artificial light.
  
• Getting workflow tips: from capturing, through to post-processing, selecting shots, editing colour and removing haze.
  

Reading solid books on the topic means you’re not just relying on trial and error; you’re learning from photographers who’ve gone deep (both literally and figuratively) and distilled their experience into accessible guidance. Within the realm of underwater photography, the best underwater photography books stand out for three main reasons: they’re inspiring (beautiful images), educational (technique + gear), and applicable (you can take what you read and directly apply it to your dives).

How to Choose the Right Best Underwater Photography Books for You

Before jumping into specific titles, let’s talk about how to pick the right ones for you. Because the phrase “best underwater photography books” is broad: beginners will need something different from advanced shooters; someone shooting macro will have different needs than someone doing wide-angle reef scenes or wrecks.

Skill level and focus

If you’re just starting out: you might want something that introduces you to gear, basic exposure underwater, colour correction, basic composition. A beginner-friendly book will walk you through mistakes novices often make.
If you’re intermediate to advanced: you’ll look for deeper dives into lighting setups, advanced ambient vs strobe balance, creative composition, macro lighting, high-end gear workflows.

Gear relevance

Some books are older yet still valuable, but if you’re using the latest mirrorless camera, or shooting with modern LED lights, you’ll benefit from books that cover contemporary gear. For example, one of the best underwater photography books on the market notes updated chapters for SLR, mirrorless and LED lighting. Backscatter.com+2ItsJustLight.com+2

Style of photography

Do you shoot wide-angle reef scenes, pelagic life, macro, wrecks, sharks? Some books specialize in wide-angle and ambient light, others in macro and strobe lighting. Choose accordingly.

Inspirational vs instructional

Some books are more coffee table-beautiful images, lots of “ooh-ahh” moments, less technique. Others are heavily instructional: diagrams, step-by-step, gear lists. Ideally, you want a combination: one of the best underwater photography books for inspiration and one for technique.

Workflow and post-process

Because underwater work often requires strong post-processing to correct colour cast, haze, and exposure, books that address workflow (e.g., RAW development, colour correction, using software) are extremely useful. Some of the best underwater photography books integrate this.

Current edition and relevance

Gear changes rapidly. If you find a book published decades ago, the basic principles may still hold-but some gear info will be dated. Look for recent editions or ones that clearly mention modern systems. For instance, the fifth edition of a prominent book is described as “better than ever” precisely because it updated its gear and technique chapters. DIVER magazine+1

With those criteria in mind, you can more confidently pick the best underwater photography books for your goals.

Review of Top Titles: The Best Underwater Photography Books

Here’s a deep dive into some of the best underwater photography books available-what they cover, who they are best for, and how they might benefit your underwater imaging journey.

1. The Underwater Photographer by Martin Edge

This book is often cited as one of the best underwater photography books, especially for technique. A reviewer of the fifth edition said: “Let us just say that this is the best underwater photo technique book on the market… period!” DIVER magazine

What does it include?

• Comprehensive coverage of principles: from the basics of underwater light, contrast, exposure, to advanced subjects like wrecks, night diving, macro, mirrorless systems. Backscatter.com
  
• Over 400 updated colour images (in the latest edition) with explanations of how shots were taken, what went well, what didn’t, and how to correct issues. Backscatter.com+1
  
• A strong emphasis on mindset: how to think like an underwater photographer, not just a diver holding a camera. WaterPixels+1
  

Who is it for?
It’s great for intermediate to advanced shooters who already know their way around gear and diving, and want to elevate their image-making. It can also be valuable for passionate beginners willing to dig deep and invest the time.

Why it stands out among the best underwater photography books
Because it covers full breadth: gear, lighting, composition, post-process. It also has strong testimonials and updates to modern gear. The fact one review calls it the “best underwater photo technique book” underscores its reputation. DIVER magazine

2. Underwater Photography Masterclass by Alex Mustard

Another heavyweight in the underwater photography book field and often listed as one of the best underwater photography books for aspiring pro shooters. According to one review: “When Scuba Diving surveyed our go-to shooters for their recommendations, this text … was mentioned most often, hands down.” scubadiving.com

Highlights:

• Focuses both on stills and video-so if you plan to shoot underwater video or hybrid projects, this book helps. Splash Spiral
  
• Covers equipment, lighting, framing, but also dives into creative thinking: how to make compelling images underwater, not just technically correct ones.
  
• Given Alex Mustard’s reputation as an underwater pro, this book offers real-world experience and inspiration.
  

Best for:
Intermediate to advanced photographers who want to move from competent to exceptional, especially those interested in creative underwater imaging and perhaps video.

What makes it among the best underwater photography books:
It’s not just a manual-it’s a masterclass. That means it pushes you beyond the basics. For anyone serious about underwater image-making, it’s a recommended title. undercurrent.org

3. Underwater Photography by Tobias Friedrich

A bit lesser-known compared to the two above, but nevertheless frequently cited among the lists of best underwater photography books. ItsJustLight.com+1

What stands out:

• It explains complex concepts in accessible language, making it suitable for beginners who want to avoid feeling overwhelmed. Splash Spiral
  
• It covers both macro and wide-angle shoots, and gives practical tips right away.
  

Best for:
Beginners and intermediate shooters who want a solid all-rounder book on underwater photography without tons of jargon.

Why it made the list of best underwater photography books:
Because sometimes the “best” doesn’t mean the most advanced-it means the best fit for your current level. This book is a strong bridge.

4. Winning Images with Any Underwater Camera by Paul Colley

If your focus is on maximizing every dive, getting great results even with less gear, this book is frequently noted as one of the best underwater photography books especially for the “real-world” shooter. Alphamarine Photography Ltd

What you’ll get:

• Discussion on composition, making engaging images regardless of your gear level.
  
• Practical examples of how photographers got winning images and how you can replicate that mindset.
  
• Less about the ultra high-end housing and more about smart technique, rewarding for divers who may not have pro rigs yet.
  

Best for:
Anyone who wants to be effective and efficient underwater-whether hobbyist, travel diver, or enthusiastic shooter. Also great as a companion to more gear-heavy books.

Why it’s among the best underwater photography books:
Because it fills a niche: delivering top techniques that any photographer can apply, without requiring you to own the most expensive rig.

5. Other strong mentions

There are several other titles that may not make a “top 3” list but are still excellent when considered among the best underwater photography books. For instance:

• The Underwater Photography Handbook by Annemarie & Danja Kohler: An earlier text covering stills and video. scubadiving.com+1
  
• Larry Gates’ books like Underwater Photography: A Pictorial Guide to Shooting Great Pictures and Advanced Underwater Photography: Techniques for Digital Photographers. ItsJustLight.com
  
• There are mentions in forums of older classics like Successful Underwater Photography by Howard Hall. scubaboard.com
  

If you have a particular niche (wrecks, freediving, macro), you might also seek out specialized titles-but for broad learning and picking up the “best underwater photography books” for building your base, the ones above serve very well.

Comparison: Which Book is Best for Your Need?

With multiple excellent options, how do you choose which of the best underwater photography books to buy (or buy first)? Here’s a quick comparison based on your situation:

• If you’re brand new to underwater photography: Go with a book that’s friendly, covers fundamentals, doesn’t assume deep gear knowledge. For example, Tobias Friedrich’s Underwater Photography is a good fit.
  
• If you already have some experience (a few dives, an underwater housing or compact camera): A book like Paul Colley’s Winning Images with Any Underwater Camera gives you gear-agnostic technique and helps you get better NOW.
  
• If you’re serious about improving, maybe advancing to pro-level, experimenting with advanced lighting, mirrorless rigs, video: Then Martin Edge’s The Underwater Photographer and Alex Mustard’s Underwater Photography Masterclass are top picks.
  
• If you travel frequently and shoot lots of dives (reef, wrecks, big creatures, maybe video): Choose a book with broad coverage (gear, divers, ambient light, video) and practical workflow tips. Alex Mustard’s book covers video and creative approaches.
  
• If budget is limited: Maybe pick one strong book now, then add another later. Many of the best underwater photography books maintain value over time (because the principles stay relevant even if gear changes).
  
• If you shoot a specific niche (macro, freedive, wrecks, cavern, deep): After the broad foundational book, look for niche titles. The lists of best underwater photography books often list such niche titles (e.g., for wrecks, check books like Ghost Ships of the Baltic Sea mentioned in forums). scubaboard.com
  

Key Takeaways: What You’ll Actually Learn from the Best Underwater Photography Books

By investing in and studying from the best underwater photography books, here are the kinds of practical takeaways you can expect to gain:

Understanding light underwater

You’ll learn how water absorbs wavelengths, how colour changes with depth, how to apply filters or strobes to correct colour. For example, Martin Edge’s book covers these principles in detail. Backscatter.com

Gear & rig set-up

From choosing housing, ports, strobes, to understanding mirrorless vs DSLR, macro vs wide-angle lenses, how to maintain your gear underwater. The books typically walk through gear checklists and maintenance tips. WaterPixels

Buoyancy, positioning, and composition

In underwater photography, camera settings matter-but equally important is positioning yourself, understanding the environment, dealing with surge, and composing the shot underwater (not just above water). Some of the best underwater photography books emphasise that the mindset and technique matter as much as the gear. scubadiving.com

Lighting techniques

When to use ambient light, when to use strobe or flash, how to balance them, how to place strobes to reduce backscatter, how to shoot macro vs wide-angle. The lighting section is often where you see the biggest leaps in image quality.

Workflow and post-composition

How to handle colour correction, exposure adjustment, removing haze, cropping, printing etc. These workflow sections help turn your good dive images into great images.

Inspiration and creativity

Beyond technical mastery, the best underwater photography books serve to inspire: show you what’s possible underwater, spark ideas for new dives, new subjects, new compositions. Learning from published work helps you visualise your next photo project.

Real-world stories and problem solving

Many of these books include case studies-how a photographer solved a tricky shoot, overcame gear failure, anticipated animal behaviour, or converted a mediocre dive into a great image. These stories are valuable because they prepare you for real dive situations. For example, in Martin Edge’s book, the “how the shot was taken and how to fix mistakes” sections add enormous value. Backscatter.com+1

My Personal Recommendations & Buying Strategy

Since there are many excellent books but budgets and time are finite, here’s the strategy I suggest (and you can adopt for your own dive photography journey):

1. Start with one foundational book: Pick one that matches your level (beginner or intermediate). Get comfortable with the basics of underwater imaging-gear, light, composition.
   
2. Practice what you learn: Read a chapter, dive again, apply one technique. Underwater photography learning is iterative-books give you the roadmap; dives give you experience.
   
3. Add an intermediate/advanced book when you’re ready: Maybe after a dozen dives, when you feel gear-confident and want to push creatively. Then pick one of the “big” books from the list of best underwater photography books (e.g., Edge or Mustard).
   
4. Use niche books for special projects: If you plan a freedive macro trip, or wreck expedition, pick a book specific to that niche.
   
5. Complement learning with editing/post-processing services: Because capturing the image is one part, processing is another. This is where aitinsider comes in (more on that below).
   
6. Keep learning: Gear changes, techniques evolve, light becomes more accessible, video becomes more integrated. A good book remains valuable, but staying current helps.

Final Thoughts and Next Steps

In short: if you’re serious about underwater photography, investing in the best underwater photography books is one of the smartest things you can do. The knowledge you’ll gain is transferable dive after dive, camera after camera. The books are your mentors when you can’t bring a pro underwater with you.

Here’s a quick recap:

• Start with one solid all-round book that suits your level.
  
• After practicing, add one advanced book when you’re ready.
  
• Make sure the book covers gear that resembles yours.
  
• Use the book to guide your dive sessions: plan, shoot, review.
  
• Pair your reading with real-world practice and editing.
  

And of course: once you’ve captured your images, you’ll need to make them shine. That’s where aitinsider comes in. At aitinsider we provide professional image-editing services tailored for underwater photography-whether it’s colour correction, de-hazing, enhancing contrast, removing back-scatter or preparing images for print/web. Think of your books as the how and our services as the did it shine. We’re here to help you turn those underwater images into gallery-worthy pieces.

So go ahead: pick one (or more) of the best underwater photography books, dive deeper (pun intended), practice, learn, and if you ever need help polishing your images, the team at aitinsider is ready.

Happy diving, happy shooting-and thanks for reading our guide here at aitinsider.