Taking along an underwater camera during your diving trip can add an interesting twist to an exciting activity. Documenting the beauty of the ocean and tweaking a camera setup to produce high-quality photos is a hobby that many people have sunk countless hours into. An important part of producing a top-notch photo is purchasing top-notch gear, and this article focuses on a crucial piece of that process: a good dive light mount.

There are multiple different options for dive light mounts, and we’ll go over three different types below and try to explain what makes each one different. Using this information, you should be able to choose a dive light mount that’s right for your needs.

Ball Mounts

Ball mounts simply connect to your camera housing and have a ball or pocket to allow you to attach your dive light. The ball setup allows you to easily rotate your dive light, as well as allowing easy connection to dive light arms.

Camera Tray

These products are more of an all-inclusive option. They typically attach at the bottom of a camera, and add a little horizontal platform. Easily adjustable handles allow you to attach multiple dive lights and position them exactly at the angle you need. This is probably one of the more common and effective forms of dive light mounts, but they’re also slightly more expensive. If you’re invested in the hobby, however, they’re definitely a good buy and will lead to some seriously beautiful photos.

Bar Mounts

Bar Mounts typically attach the dive light securely, but are less flexible than the other options when it comes to movement. You may still be able to angle the light depending on the construction of the dive light itself, but this mount doesn’t come with the capability for easy movement. Bar mounts are typically pretty secure, though, so if you’re paranoid about losing the camera it might still be worth looking into.

This overview of the different kinds of dive light mounts should give you the basic knowledge you need to start purchasing a quality dive light mount. Do your research, and pick a mount that’s optimized for your underwater photography needs.