This photo essay explores the underwater world of our second epic photo destination. Our list of top 5 destinations, selected by Bluewater Photo, started with the biodiverse reefs of Raja Ampat, and today we visit the clear, sharky waters of French Polynesia.

Underwater photography and international travel go hand-in-hand, and hopefully these photos get your fingers itching to get in the water on your next trip.

Every day we're bombarded with underwater photos and videos, but it takes something a little different, something a little special, to really stand out from the crowd.

Ocean Shutter's recent film, Darwin's Dream, really stood out to us. Yes, it is a fantastic film and it has won some prestigious awards and selections, but it also contains a very strong marine conservation message. We decided to reach out to creator Dustin Adamson for more insight into this message, which we share below.

Shooting from the hip is a technique where one pulls the trigger without looking directly through the camera viewfinder.

So why should you shoot from the hip when you can use the traditional method of looking through a viewfinder?

The Nikon D800 and D810 have the capability to take amazing underwater photos, if the settings, composition, and lighting all come together. Oh - and you have to be using the right lens. And you thought underwater photography was easy? In this article, we try to help with one part of the equation - settings. For more info, I highly encourage you to read my full Nikon D810 review.