Point-and-Shoot Cameras with Underwater Housings
Point-and-shoot cameras are a step up in quality and flexibility. While they’re not waterproof on their own, they become powerful underwater tools when paired with a dedicated housing.
Pros:
- Larger sensors for better image quality
- External SD card storage
- More manual control over settings
- Doubles as a great land camera
- Supports high-quality video recording
Cons:
- Requires a separate underwater housing (adds cost)
- Switching between photo and video modes underwater can be tricky
- Higher upfront investment
- Risk of flooding if housing is not properly sealed
Real-world tip: I’ve used my Canon S100 for over 10 years — it’s still going strong and is still used. A good setup can last if well maintained.
Best for: Hobbyist divers, underwater photographers who want better control and image quality
If you have a digital camera this could be a cheaper option to get you started. You will need to buy a waterproof housing for it. There are some excellent housings from companies such as Ikelite. But, unless you're extremely familiar with the controls and functions it can be tricky switching between modes, meaning you don't always get the results you want.
Why not a mobile phone case?
While underwater phone cases offer a budget-friendly and accessible option, they come with trade-offs in image quality and reliability. We live our lives on our mobile phones, is it worth the risk of the case flooding, or worse dropping it into the water and losing it? For serious underwater photography, investing in a dedicated waterproof camera or housing system is often the better long-term solution.
- Flooding: Even high-rated cases can fail under pressure or due to improper sealing.
- Limited Controls: Touchscreens often don’t work well underwater, making it hard to adjust settings or capture video.
- Risk vs Reward: If your phone floods, you could lose more than just photos. For serious underwater photography, a dedicated camera is a safer bet.
What about a point and shoot camera?
Waterproof Cameras (Built-In Housing)
These are compact cameras with built-in waterproofing, often marketed as “rugged” or “adventure” cameras. They’re typically the most affordable way to get started.
Pros:
- Budget-friendly and easy to use
- No need for separate housing
- Lightweight and travel-ready
- Suitable for snorkeling and shallow water use
Cons:
- Limited waterproof depth (often less than 10m)
- Smaller sensors = lower image quality
- Limited manual settings and controls
- Internal memory may be small
- Video quality ranges from 2K to 4K, but performance varies
Best for: Casual snorkelers, beach holidays, and beginners on a tight budget
Honestly, I wouldn't recommend these. They're not suitable for diving where colours have disappeared and the light isn't as strong or the subject matter moves. There are much better value for money options.
However, if you are prepared to spend a bit more money then the Sealife Micro 3.0 is probably the best option for the new photographer if this is what you want. It has adjustable white balance, up to 120fps for video, slow motion and stills photography and a 16M pixel sensor. A good way to get started but for the cost you could buy the Osmo Pro 5 and have an excellent piece of kit.