Continuous video lights rather than strobes, a wide lens, a stable two-handed tray, red filters for available-light depth, and a lot of storage — 1–2TB per week.
Video and stills need different tools, and trying to do both well on the same dive usually means doing neither. Pick one per dive.
Lighting: video needs continuous lights, not strobes. Two lights of 3,000 to 8,000 lumens each with wide, even beams cover most reef work. For available-light shooting beyond about 10 metres, a red filter restores warmth, but remember to remove it when you switch the lights on or everything turns magenta.
Stability: handheld footage at depth looks amateurish very quickly
A two-handed tray with arms, or a proper video rig with slight negative buoyancy, transforms the result. Slow, deliberate movements — and long static shots — cut together far better than constant panning.
Storage and power: 4K footage eats cards and drives
Budget 1 to 2TB of external SSD storage for a week, bring at least four high-speed cards so you never reformat in a hurry, and pack enough batteries for four dives a day plus lights, because charging windows are short.
Technique that matters more than gear: get close, shoot slightly upward, hold each shot for at least 10 seconds, vary wide and close framing so you have cutaways, and respect the animal — chasing a turtle produces bad footage and bad diving. Log your best clips each evening while you still remember which dive they came from.
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