As most people know, getting the best underwater shots means getting the best waterproofing for your camera to start. There are a number of great products out there that can protect your camera underwater--even in deep waters--without sacrificing image quality. Here's a quick run-down of some waterproofing methods you can use when taking your camera out for some shots.

The Aquapac is one such item. The Aqua pack is a heavy-duty plastic bag with an amazing seal that protects the camera from sand, water and anything else. When using this method, make sure you place the camera in the bag in a dry atmosphere to prevent fogging. Also, don't use a flash or it will reflect on the packaging and give you a whiteout. The picture quality with an Aquapac isn't ideal though, so if you want crystal-clear shots try a container made of hard plastic or glass. These containers are much more expensive but will ensure unrivaled quality.

Next, here are some tips to help you get the best possible underwater shots. Don't use your digital zoom above all else. Also, try to cover the housing in front of your internal flash when using an external strobe to prevent backscatter. You should also keep your external flash far away from the housing to reduce the risk of backscatter. If you're having trouble focusing your camera, try using a dive light. This will allow your camera to adjust its focus automatically.

There are a number of mistakes beginners commonly make when shooting underwater shots. Before you head out, make sure your JPEG image quality is set high enough so the pictures have a high quality when you view them. You don't want to spend an entire session shooting on a low picture quality! Also, don't oversaturate your photos. Here's another great idea: think about what you'll see before you go and set your strobe and f-stop before hand. This will prevent you from missing a great shot because you're trying to fix the settings. If you find a great static background underwater look around for a foreground subject. If you find a great static foreground subject you can wait for a background to swim by. These tips will ensure you get the best quality underwater shots with minimal effort!