Peter Rowlands

Peter is the publisher of the online magazine Underwater Photography which he started in 2001. He is also half of Magic Filters which have revolutionized digital photography underwater with available light. In addition he services and repairs underwater photo equipment which he has been doing for over 30 years. He shoots stills with a D70 DSLR in a Subal housing and a Panasonic compact camera as well as video with a modified Top Dawg housing for his Sony HC1 HD camera. He started diving and underwater photography in the early 1970\'s and in 1976 formed Ocean Optics in London to import and distribute underwater photography equipment in the UK. This expanded to producing camera housings and services to the offshore oil industry. In 1987 he published a printed magazine Underwater Photography which he expanded 2 years later into Sport Diver. This was bought out 2 years later and eventually became the PADI magazine in the UK. Peter sold Ocean Optics in 1994 and now lives in Devon in the southwest of the UK where he enjoys diving as much as if not more than overseas.

As a keen underwater photographer access to the water is the most important criteria. The freedom to dive as and when the subject matter dictates will not only produce better images but will also provide good visual publicity for the liveaboard and the diving location. Knowledgeable dive guides who know where to find subjects are a big bonus as is a helpful crew, a good cook and a well stocked fridge!