I had the opportunity to take a cruise with my family through French Polynesia, with landings in the Society Islands, the Tuamotus, and the Marquesas.
I only had the chance to make five dives, and in every one, the divemaster believed that everyone would see more by swimming faster...needless to say, this made photography difficult. In addition, prior to every dive, either the ship DM or local operator DM would emphatically tell me what I would see and what to shoot (between wide angle and macro), and in every case, the dive turned out to showcase the opposite of what they had recommended.
If I ever returned to the area, it would be to Nuku Hiva (of the Marquesas), where on one dive, I found a variety of species, including Lysmata amboinensis cleaner shrimp with eels, dragon morays, pipefish, dragonets, lionfish, scorpionfish, octopus, and all manner of gobies and blennies...this being just a single dive. Of course, this was when w/a was recommended. Next time, perhaps...
As a result, I have, for the first time, intermixed the diving and topside photography. Hope no one minds 
. And sorry for the plethora of anemonefish...
Enjoy.
