AI Underwater: Which Model Masters the Deep?

Ocean water isn't uniformly blue—it transitions from bright turquoise near the surface to deep navy in the depths, with green tints in nutrient-rich waters. This vertical gradient is fundamental to convincing underwater imagery. Models that understand light absorption at different depths produce more authentic results.

In this pure water study, we observed that Gemini 3 Pro produced the most nuanced color transitions—the gradual shift from bright surface waters to darker depths felt natural. Flux 2 Pro and Seedream V4.5 handled the basic gradient well but sometimes produced more abrupt transitions. Qwen Image tended toward more uniform coloration, missing some of the subtle depth cues.

Great white sharks present specific anatomical challenges: the distinctive conical snout, proper gill slit arrangement, accurate tooth structure, and the characteristic two-tone coloration—dark gray dorsally and white ventrally. The eyes should be small and black, set in a specific position on the head.

Gemini 3 Pro and Flux 2 Pro both produced anatomically convincing sharks with accurate proportions and proper gill placement. Seedream V4.5 captured the predatory atmosphere well, though occasional generations showed slightly exaggerated features. Qwen Image produced impressive initial results but sometimes included subtle errors in eye placement or tooth arrangement that would be noticeable to marine life enthusiasts.

Beyond anatomical accuracy, whale mother-calf scenes require emotional resonance—the protective positioning, the size differential, the intimate proximity. These compositional elements distinguish memorable wildlife photography from mere species documentation.

Gemini 3 Pro consistently captured the emotional weight of these interactions, with calves positioned believably close to mothers and compositions that conveyed protection. Seedream V4.5 also produced touching scenes, sometimes with more dynamic positioning. Flux 2 Pro handled the technical aspects well but occasionally placed subjects too far apart, losing the intimate quality. Qwen Image produced good whale shapes but the emotional connection varied between generations.

Coral reef scenes are the ultimate test of underwater generation capability. They require coherent integration of dozens of elements: various coral species, multiple fish types, larger marine life, proper depth layering, and consistent lighting across the entire composition.

Gemini 3 Pro's semantic understanding shone here, producing reefs with believable species combinations—butterflyfish near appropriate coral types, clownfish with anemones, surgeonfish in schools. Flux 2 Pro created visually appealing reefs with good color variety. Seedream V4.5 produced vibrant scenes quickly, useful for exploring compositions. Qwen Image generated colorful reefs but sometimes with less species diversity or occasional inconsistencies in scale relationships.

Octopus imagery tests a model's ability to render complex organic forms—eight tentacles with proper sucker placement, the distinctive rectangular pupil, and skin textures that can change color and pattern. The challenge is capturing both anatomical accuracy and the sense of intelligence these creatures convey.

All four models struggled with consistent tentacle arrangement—octopus anatomy is genuinely challenging. Gemini 3 Pro tended to produce the most coherent sucker patterns and believable eye placement. Flux 2 Pro captured good textures and coloration. Seedream V4.5 created atmospheric scenes with dramatic lighting. Qwen Image occasionally produced impressive results but with more variability in tentacle coherence between generations.