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What People Say About Us
Ocean Optics, run by Steve and Mark Ocean Optics is the UK's leading specialist camera system retailer for the underwater photographer. Based at the Action Underwater Studios movie lot where a purpose built 6m underwater filming tank offers a superb facility for photographic training and practising.
Paul Flandinette
Steve and Mark have done it again.
A session on the Underwater Photography Stage is an absolute must for anyone who has an underwater camera. No matter what style of photography you like, you will have plenty of subjects to choose from. There are artificial corals and small critters for extreme macro all the way through to a real wreck for wide angle. A lot of thought has gone into setting up the stage. The positioning of the props means that buoyancy and spacial awareness are also practiced and fine tuned. This combined with the 6m depth and various lighting conditions make for an extremely realistic experience, but without an impatient diving group! You are given ample time to practice new techniques or try new equipment, so that your time in the open water will be more productive.
Well done guys.
James Aqualina
Good afternoon,
Zoom gear arrived safely, slid on to the Tokina 10-17 quite easily and engaged perfectly in the ND70 housing.
Everything points to happiness!
Thank you for your help and most excellent service.
Kind regards
Richard Scales
www.dodgydivers.com
Hi Steve,
Just wanted to say thank you for re-arranging the stage diving for Saturday, it was great to be able to get back in the water and get some practice in before my trip at the end of the month. I found it very helpful being able to try some new things particularly Macro & depth of field so hopefully I will be able to produce some better results while I am away. Sorry I did not get a chance to say goodbye on the day but did see Fred & Mark before I left. I will certainly be interested in visiting your facilities again in the future and will spread the word to others.
Thanks again for your help in making the dive possible on Saturday
Cheers
Mike
Mike Skyring
Steve.
Ocean Optics's UW Photography Stage is the worlds first large scale dedicated set for learning to take images underwater.
At 32*C (measured by my computer) it was a comfortable dive - I never dreamed of a "t-shirt and shorts" dive in the UK. And you couldn't meet friendlier people than Steve and Mark, nor people more generous than their time and expertise.
Joe Bater
Dear Mark and Steve
Thank you for your day in the underwater photo studio . I did not appreciate previously what you had to do to make the day possible ; I was bowled over by the quality and quantity of the work you put in to create the reefs and other features . You really were able to take reality images and as a training arena it is fabulous and I am truly spoilt to be so close to it by car . Thank you also for the use of the second strobe and the results were eye opening both for wide-angle , close up and the combination ; I thought it would remove the handicap when on one strobe on wide-angle at worst and it improved other situations impressively . I hope it was a successful day for you .
Thanks again
Peter Froomberg
We did an advanced buoyancy course with Steve at Maverick diving in Basildon last year which was amazing and has changed our diving completely, so with better buoyancy photography now stands a chance.
Daimon Haywood
Steve and Mark
Thanks for the time you spent testing my housing. This is the type of service that keeps you head and shoulders above the rest. It was very much appreciated.
Kind regards
Jan and Mike Malloney
And as for the Subal and liking it? Err.... YOU CAN'T HAVE IT BACK - NEVER!! It's mine, all mine!
Best wishes,
Linda
Hi Mark, hi Steve
I am absolutely happy with your support and the stuff you suggested / sold to me. Thanks a lot!
Kind regards
jurg
Steve's the man if you want to talk about underwater camera gear.
Tony Dwyer
Steve and Mark
Wanted to say "THANKS!!!" again for a wonderful session (on the Ocean Optics Underwater Stage )on Saturday... I really enjoyed the time and I'm delighted with some of the results. I'd be keen to try again at some point in the future with even more concentration on macro :-)
Joe Bater
I exclusively and extensively use, Nikon camera's and lenses, for use underwater I fit them in Subal Housings. Ocean Optics, have been an invaluable help in meeting all my needs with both practical assistance and technical know how. I am grateful of the help and support of Ocean Optics, without whom I would not be able to facilitate my photography.
Edwin Marcow
"The nicest staff in the game"
Nigel Wade
Ocean Optics rocks!!!
Johan du Toit
Ocean Optics and Mavericks diving Steve Warren and his team are the UK's leading underwater photography specialists.
Chris Walter
Mark and Steve have been working with some of the leading names in the world of underwater photography for many years but are equally happy sharing their enthusiasm with those who are taking their first tentative steps into the underwater world. Ocean Optics has a wide range of superb equipment from leading brands and their unique location on the Underwater Studios movie lot means that, using special underwater radiophones, they can talk you throughhow to use it in the environment that you will be using it. They regularly run an Underwater Photography Stage where one can practise ones techniques on mocked up reef a brilliant facility that has the potential to greatly improve the quality of the images that you bring home form your sub aquatic expeditions. As Mavericks Diving they also run courses in other areas of diving such as precision buoyancy control, an area about which they've run presentations on at the annual Dive show.
Howard Payne
The good guys with all the goodies
Jason Gregory
We did an advanced buoyancy course with Steve at Maverick diving in Basildon last year which was amazing and has changed our diving completely, so with better buoyancy photography now stands a chance.
Daimon Haywood
Hello there Steve
Just wanted to say thank you for all your help with the strobe etc...it all worked a treat & I've just heard that 2 of the photos (below) from that first trip with the camera 2 weeks ago are going in 'London DiverMagazine' for an article on Technical Diving so I'm really pleased.
Annie Walters
Well, Alan and I went along to see Ocean Optics' Underwater Photo Stage yesterday, and I loved it! It's clear that Steve and Mark have spent alot of time and thought putting this together.
The set is made up of a number of artificial "coral outcrops", with all sorts of sponges, fans, and hard and soft corals. In and around these have been placed various "critters" - crabs, hawkfish, starfish, cowries, clownfish, etc. In one corner, they've created a wreck using a small boat, and placed fish in and around it. There are a couple of jellyfish floating mid-water, a Hammerhead (with a very friendly smile!), and even a diver floating mid-water. There was plenty to keep Alan and me occupied for a couple of hours underwater.
It's perfect for practising UW Photography - no Dive Guides to hurry you along, no queue of other divers waiting to take photos of the critter you've found, and since the pool's only 6m deep, you can do a 2-hour dive on a single tank!
Neil Stead
"It's also nice to see from the cover shots that Steve Warren, owner of Ocean Optics and a regular visitor to Gibraltar, still knows what to do from behind the lens'.
John Liddiard reviewing Philip Smiths and Darren Fa's book "UnderwaterGibraltar' for Diver Magazine
Ocean Optics - Steve and Mark's advice is both fantastic and very patient. They also put on alot of underwater photography workshops and talks from various presenters.
Helen Rushton
Thank you for your advice about a new compact and housing: star-class as always.
Robin Offord
60mm loan port enclosed. Bubble pack not a towel this time.
Thanks for the great service once again!
Jason
My thanks to AJ for a very interesting, enjoyable, knackering and instructive day. I really feel that I gained a great deal and I'm sure the opportunity to practice the skills will make me a better and, more importantly, a safer diver.
Best regards
Jeff
Hi Steve
Really glad that I did the buoyancy course with you a few weeks back. Just spent a week in the Red Sea and was able to go on 3 canyon dives the longest lasting 30 minutes - all your skills came into play and I really started to feel comfortable in those tight places.
Karl Thomas
I purchased my first underwater camera in December 2003. This was an Olympus C5050 compact camera and I was forced to replace it eight monthslater after failing to correctly fit the underwater housing's o-rings. My Olympus C5060 compact camera fared better than its predecessor and was only "retired" in June 2006 when I purchased my present camera, a Nikon D200 digital SLR. I found the transition from a compact camera to a digital SLR far from easy and must thank Steve Warren of Ocean Optics, Basildon, Essex UK as well as Alex Mustard and Martin Edge for their advice and much tested patience.
If you are considering purchasing an underwater camera system and are UK based I would strongly recommend that you contact Steve. Ocean Optics is renowned for its impartial advice and fantastic after sales care. I know many of the satisfied clients who have left testimonials on the Ocean Optics website and concur with every comment made. Steve regularly organises underwater photography events and talks and to ensure that you do not miss any, you can subscribe to Steve's newsletter through the Ocean Optics website.
I am fairly careless so my SLR is housed in a robust Subal ND20 housing and I also use two Inon Z-240 strobes held by Inon arms. I have found Inon strobes to be very reliable and I prefer to have two strobes rather than one as I consider this gives me more lighting options.
Malcolm Nobbs
I have bought all my housings, strobes, arms, connectors and other assorted necessities from Ocean Optics Along the way I have had much good advice from Steve and Mark, who are always ready to discuss the most appropriate options with no pressure or hard sell.
Alan Larsen
To Steve
Just a quick note to say a huge big thank you for running the camera course for our students. They all thoroughly enjoyed themselves and learnt something new.
Angie
Manager, Newhaven Scuba Centre
The Precision Buoyancy Workshop is a must for every diver at any level. I have never before experienced such individual and personal tuition on a diving course.
The pool facilities are second to none, the depth being a huge advantage over other venues!
During the day Steve watches and reviews your performance and offers advise and support that will improve your diving ability.
I have definitely come away with skills that will make me a better and safer diver.
Many thanks again to Steve and co for an excellent day.
James Aquilina
Hello Mark,
Just a quick line to thank you so much for spending the time with me yesterday. Goodness only knows what I was thinking in Gangga (or not thinking!), so I am feeling back on track now. I will be in touch after my hols to do some practice in the pool.
Best wishes, Isabella
Hi Steve and Mark,
just wanted to thank Mark for spending so much tim
with me yesterday, and hope it was not too tiring.
Cheers, John Leslie.
Mark & Steve,
Thank you for an outstanding service. The housing and all 3 ports worked perfectly for the first 20+ test dives that I have managed with them. You may be interested to know that the new Nikon 60mm macro lens also works perfectly well (I recall that this was the first time that you had set one up in a Subal housing and thought that you might appreciate the feedback).
Best wishes
Paul Colley
Thank you!
I realy enjoyed meeting you and Sue at the weekend, and although it was rather tiring I found the whole experience was brilliant the hospitality was next to none especially the constant supply of coffee, I felt not so much like a customer but like I'd met some more new friends who had so much knowledge and information and was willing to share it with me, and I bought my housing, I am looking forward so much to using it and just hope that everything you told me has actually sunk in.
Elaine White
Hi Steve/ Mark
Thanks for organising the camera trials the other day, everyone enjoyed the evening and learnt a lot from it. I hope you got what you wanted from it as well, I'm sure you'll see them again in the near future! I can't wait to get out in the channel again (slight exaggeration!) and try some of the stuff I practiced in the pool. It's a great facility and the effort you put in to set up the props was much appreciated.
All the bestDave Wood
Mark & Steve
Thank you for an outstanding service. The housing and all 3 ports worked
perfectly for the first 20+ test dives that I have managed with them. You may be interested to know that the new Nikon 60mm macro lens also works perfectly well (I recall that this was the first time that you had set one up in a Subal housing and thought that you might appreciate the feedback).Best wishes
Paul Colley
Hi guys just a quick note of thanks the housing delivered ok and I'd like to let you know how impressed I was with the service I received. . . wonderful.
My Thanks again. . . . . Daniel
Just a short note to thank you for all you help in spending my money !!! I really appreciated the time on Saturday going over the ND30 kit and I already feel confident of the key features and how to put the kit together. It was a long day but very worthwhile and certainly justifies my patience in waiting to buy it through you guys.
It was also great to have the availability to get into the pool and actually try out the rig.
Anyway will see you around no doubt and thanks again for all your help. I'll let you know how I get on !!!
Keith Lyall
"Underwater photography is a demanding pastime. I have endless admiration for the brave souls who have made it their profession and who continue to inspire me. As an amateur, however skilled, I am indebted to Steve Warren at Ocean Optics who has supplied the right equipment at the right time. I use Nikon cameras in Nexus housings with Inon underwater flashes".
Tim Priest
Ocean Optics are , INMHO, unbeatable for advice on whatever underwater photography kit you want and will spend as many hours, days or even weeks as you need to talk about your requirements. They never push anything you don't want and will offer advice even if they don't stock it but it suits your needs. The aftersales service is completely faultless - in my experience anyway.
Alex, Dive Magazine Underwater Photography Forum
"I purchased my Subal housing from Ocean Optics in the U.K. Their advice and service was excellent and I thoroughly recommend the
organisation".
Guido Del Guidice
Why I have stayed loyal to Ocean Optics
I was such a beginner when I first approached Ocean Optics! Well – I had a little Sea and Sea MX10 which actually took some very good pictures But I was keen for something with more scope. I don’t remember who actually recommended Optics, but I know we finished up at Visions about 6 years ago, bought a Nexus housing which was right for us, especially as we already had a Nikon F90X which fitted inside. We bought flash gun and arms, the set up was heavy on land, but this was to share with my sturdy farmer husband so that was OK! It was – and still is - very comfortable to handle underwater. We’ve had a lot of success and enjoyment out of it.
I think the reason I’ve stayed with the company has to be Steve and his staff mostly. A couple of years ago a friend bought a small light digital set-up and my husband said “Go on - get yourself something which doesn’t need film. ” I phoned Steve who said “Wait! I know the quality you’re looking for and they haven’t quite made it yet in your price range!” Fair enough! I waited.
Last month I phoned again “David can’t dive any more and the big set-up’s a bit heavy for me to carry, also, I think it’s high time I went digital.”
“OK”, says Steve “Come down, I’ve something now which I think you’ll like......”
The answer to the question above is simply faith. And also helpfulness. And friendliness. The atmosphere over a coffee at the desk in the old shop was always more like a small club, customers are friends and are introduced to one another – no standing on ceremony, just a correct assumption that we all have interests in common – of course! And I don’t know anyone who would not go back there for any reason.
I’m very pleased to see that in the new shop there are even comfy chairs and a coffee table! Well, I stayed all morning!
And this time, getting a bit long in the tooth as I am, I was shown, demonstrated and encouraged to play with a little light digital set up which would go very easily into hand-luggage, with the option of a few accessories. No rushing, no pressure, no sales talk, just the importance of understanding what I’m getting and that I feel it’s right for me. I didn’t buy the accessories - yet, that’s OK, I can go back again if I want them.
There must be other underwater camera suppliers out there! I haven’t enquired, I’m happy where I am!
Cheers!
Julie England ARPS DAPAG AV-AFIAP
(all credits gained with sub-marine photography).
Hi Steve & Co
Just a quick e-mail to say a big thanks for all the attention you gave me on Saturday. As I said before your customer care is superb and I will recommend your services highly to any divers I meet who are interested.
I 'played' with the Subal all weekend, (much to Diana's annoyance) tried out various settings and configurations and I'm confident I will get some excellent photos when we go to Irian Jaya and Lembeh Strait next April. We hope to take a liveaboard in the Red Sea to get some 'pre big trip' practice. I will send you sample photos when I have some.
Please could you re-remind me of the dates of the 'event' in London in October that you mentioned.
Trevor Syrett
PS - The 'welcome to the Subal fraternity' books were are very nice and unexpected touch.
From Simon Reid, shooting freediving championships with Emma Farrell, author of "One Breath"
Hi guys,
No broadband available here in sunny (very sunny) Kalymnos so no pics to upload to Flickr, but just a quick note to say that the fisheye lens is awesome and after realising that if you have freediver fins on they WILL be in the shot like it or not! Jeez that lens is w-i-d-e. I've got the hang of it now though and the pictures are wonderful. The half & half shots have been coming out fine. I've taken loads of photos of Emma for her website and she is delighted with them.
Regards
Simon
Sent from my Trčo (TM) handheld.
To Ocean Optics with my very best regards and many , many thanks for their help, assistance, kindness and professionalism
Alexandre Gries