Scuba Diving is a fast growing sport all around the world! It is social, adventurous as well as an educational activity. More and more people treat it as a lifestyle where they can go out explore nature and relax under the water. Just think about the time you spend underwater with no traffic, no mobile phones, just you, bubbles and the beautiful marine life!

Khaled Zaki, a Master Instructor, underwater photographer, film-maker and marine consultant that has been an active diving expert in the country for over 15 years says, “What you can see underwater in just 10 minutes is more than you can see by spending 10 days in a forest!”

Qatar Scuba Diving

Qatar Scuba Diving in a Nutshell:

The country might not be listed under the top 10 scuba dive sites in the world but this small nation can definitely offer you a great scuba diving experience. Be it starting your scuba diving adventure here by getting certified or further your development in the sport by doing advanced or specialty courses, Qatar will have something special for you.

One must remember that the peninsula is surrounded by the heavy saline waters of the Arabian Gulf, which makes the marine life and activity vary to some extent compared to other countries that are directly connected to the Indian, Pacific or Atlantic Ocean. Good weather conditions such as sunny skies, tranquil waters with great temperatures and very little current ensure that the reefs are easy accessible, which makes it a user friendly experience.

Qatar Scuba Diving

Qatar scuba diving sites are mainly manmade wrecks or shipwreck dives with some natural reef in the inland sea and offshore. The best time of year for scuba diving is March, April and May. During the hot summer months the rising water temperatures attracts jellyfish, which makes it not ideal but still possible to scuba. October is marked as the start of the season, which lasts until February and you will also find many westerners visiting Qatar for a scuba diving experience to escape their cold winter months back home.

Learn How to Capture it on Camera!

If you love spending the time under water with the fish in the sea, you might also like the idea to learn how to capture these moments so it can last for a lifetime! This is possible by completing an underwater specialty course (combined with lots of practice), and where would a more suitable place be than right here in Qatar with its favourable weather conditions.

There are three main types of underwater shooting namely, Sports & Recreational, Environmental and Military or Industrial. To start this experience you need to learn how to dive, complete a specialty course, buy equipment and gain experience.

Qatar Scuba Diving

The digital underwater photography course consists of theory and practical sessions with the practical sessions being the most important. You will also need to have a few open water dives under your belt to ensure you are comfortable underwater and ready to take the next step to dive with a camera in your hands.

The practical sessions, done in a swimming pool, is the key ingredient for success because you will soon notice that objects underwater appear much closer and bigger than above, an important factor that you need to take into consideration from the start. This affects the equipment you plan to use; for example, the type of lens and lights. The colours of objects also start to change when you submerge under the water depending on the depth you are at, the subject distance, the weather and surface conditions and adding a filter to your lens can help you overcome this problem.

As a diver you need to have:

Good buoyancy and airway control is essential – as mentioned above it comes with experience.

Exceptional navigational skills – you need to know your way underwater. Yes, you do still have to dive in a group, but one obviously wants to avoid all the unnecessary bubbles around you and you naturally tend to wander off when captured in the moment (pun intended).

Knowledge of fish behaviour – with repetitive practice but also doing some research on certain species you will soon realize what to do and not to do when approaching or finding that special underwater creature. Also, take note that the bubbles that form when breathing out plays a role when doing that snap shot!

Practice makes perfect! Dive a lot, but remember, “Take only photos, leave only bubbles” to ensure we conserve the environment.

Qatar Scuba Diving

There are various options for underwater photography equipment and it all depends on your budget and what is your goal or reason for photography is. Will it just be a hobby or do you want to start a business and sell pictures?

It is possible to use something as simple as a GoPro and nowadays they even have underwater casings for your iPhone. However to really take this specialty further you need to think about and do research on different cameras, light systems and strobes. There are also other advanced equipment that can improve underwater photography such as silent rebreathers MK6/MK7 and DPV Underwater Scooters.

Khaled Zaki

Khaled Zaki is an underwater photographer & filmmaker recently conducted an underwater photography workshop at the Katara Culture Village for the Qatar Photography Society, showcasing the dream-like underwater world that makes this unique activity so popular — courses such as these help create further interest not only in diving and photography, but also creates environmental awareness and oceanic conservationism. Combining his unique skills as a qualified dive instructor, as well as exceptional underwater photographer, Khaled has developed a distinctive course that will be a wonderful next adventure for the underwater enthusiast. If you’re feeling ready to add something extra to your diving experience, then this might be just what you are looking for.


Words by: Eulogy van Dyk

Photos by: Khaled Zaki