Underwater Infrared or Ultraviolet Photography

Does anyone know if the full spectrum or ultraviolet camera conversions will work for underwater photography?  I know there is a technique where one can use a UV light and "excitation filters" (article link).  would the conversions make the excitation filters useless? would I still need the uv lights?

Dann-Oh wrote:

Does anyone know if the full spectrum or ultraviolet camera conversions will work for underwater photography? I know there is a technique where one can use a UV light and "excitation filters" (article link). would the conversions make the excitation filters useless? would I still need the uv lights?

Both IR & shorter wavelength UV get blocked fairly quickly by water, but local lighting can still be used to some extent for either UV or IR. Longer wavelength UV will travel a moderate way through water possibly enough for UV induced fluorescence (UVIF) which seems to be what you are referring to.

UV fluorescence is usually best shot with a normal camera. The UV light excites the subject which then emits some of the energy gained as visual light. UV or sometimes just blue light is needed to excite the compounds involved the excitation filters then block the wavelengths used for excitation so you see only the longer wavelength light given off by the fluorescence. If you have a UV lamp it's relatively easy to try UVIF out of the water, some flowers work but subjects like plain white (or dayglow) paper/fabric usually fluoresce nicely.