I made my first underwater images when I was 16. In those days, and for many years, underwater photographic equipment was cumbersome and complex to use. These days, inexpensive, lightweight, fully automatic equipment is available for underwater photography; the wonderful Nikonos 35 mm camera is a fine example. These smaller, automated cameras give the underwater photographer much more time to hunt out subjects and record them. There are also digital cameras for underwater work. If you are starting out, I suggest you seriously consider digital video, which is a perfect medium for underwater photography.