Master Underwater Video: The RAID Action Camera Course with Jeff Goodman (Part 6 of 9)

Published 5 days agoon June 26, 2026

Over the coming weeks, Jeff Goodman shares in part some key sections from his RAID Action Camera Video Course. Jeff has selected 9 extracts from the Underwater Video Course which will be published here at Scubaverse.com.

Part 6: Night Time Filming

This is a different kettle of fish, and in a way much easier as you don’t have to balance your light’s exposure with any ambient light. The artificial video light has now become the prime source of illumination. Be very careful not to over expose.

Now of course you have no daylight to see with and any artificial light source needs to last the entire dive. I would suggest that to save your filming light batteries, carry a torch to see with and then only use the video light when required. However, if you do have a video light that will burn throughout your entire planned dive, great, but do carry a torch with you anyway in case of emergencies and light failure. It does happen! This is particularly the case when cave diving where the loss of light due to equipment failure is one of the major causes of fatalities.

One of the joys of night diving is that there is a change in reef life. Many of the daytime animals go to bed as it were and the night-time animals come out. Usually these night time species are on the hunt and will often use your light to find their prey. A prime example of this is the Lion Fish. Often quite shy by day, these dynamic fish will sit on the perimeter of your light beam and wait, watching for you to light up some small unsuspecting prey. Then, as quick as a flash, the Lion Fish will cruise in and snap up the confused creatures. A little unfair for the prey but amazingly adaptable of the Lionfish.

action camera course

Next Time: Check Your Gear

Find the full course at diveraid.com/action-camera.

Jeff Goodman

Jeff is a multiple award winning, freelance TV cameraman/film maker and author. Having made both terrestrial and marine films, it is the world's oceans and their conservation that hold his passion with over 10.000 dives in his career. Having filmed for international television companies around the world and author of two books on underwater filming, Jeff is Author/Programme Specialist for the 'Underwater Action Camera' course for the RAID training agency. Jeff has experienced the rapid advances in technology for diving as well as camera equipment and has also experienced much of our planet’s marine life, witnessing, first hand, many of the changes that have occurred to the wildlife and environment during that time. Jeff runs bespoke underwater video and editing workshops for the complete beginner up to the budding professional.