Ever surfaced from an incredible dive only to discover your photos look like an underwater snowstorm? Those bright white spots ruining your shots aren't magical particles—they're backscatter, and it's the most common frustration for underwater photographers at every skill level. In this episode, Camila Reyes breaks down exactly what causes those annoying orbs and specks, the physics behind why your flash makes them worse, and how understanding this phenomenon can transform your underwater images from amateurish to stunning.

• Backscatter occurs when your camera's flash illuminates tiny suspended particles—plankton, sand, silt, and organic matter—that reflect light directly back into your lens, creating bright spots throughout your image.

• The closer your light source sits to your camera lens, the worse backscatter b ...