tips for taking great underwater photos

When you're on vacation, everything is a photo—the gorgeous white sand beach...the huge sandcastle someone built on the beach...your kids squashing the huge sandcastle that someone built on the beach. On your next trip, why not take your photo-taking prowess underwater and snap some awesome undersea (or even underpool) pics? Here's how!

You don't need a fancy schmancy (read: super expensive) underwater camera to take great underwater pics. Pick up a super cheap disposable underwater camera and you'll get great underwater shots without having to worry about your kids spilling a virgin Pina Colada on your pricey equipment.

Yes, some underwater cameras have a flash, but they rarely produce good pictures. The reason? The light particles from the flash often reflect off of algae, dust and other underwater stuff, making your picture look like it has been attacked by fairy dust. Instead, save your flash for the nighttime indoor festivities and take your underwater photos when the sun is high in the sky.

Gunky things like silt and mud tend to sink—which means that taking pictures of the bottom of the ocean can result in murky-looking photos. Stay close to the surface where it's sunnier and the water is clearer and you'll get brighter, more scrapbook-worthy pics.

Your kids are probably going to spend a good part of your family getaways in the pool. So toss your kids your underwater camera and let them in on the photo-taking action. See who can snap the best underwater funny face or the most graceful water ballet move—there's nothing like a goggle-eyed underwater grin to help you remember what a blast you had on your vacation.

Check out more awesome cruise tips and tools at "Chart Your Course" on Nick Jr. Happy sailing!