The best underwater camera is easy to navigate, compact, and waterproof, of course! The ocean can be a great source of photographic inspiration. But many cameras don’t have waterproof abilities. So you have to invest in the right kit to get started in underwater photography.
Our top choice is the OM System Tough TG-7. This is thanks to its rugged exterior and great image and video quality.
What Are the Best Underwater Cameras?
Here is a quick look at the best underwater cameras! Read further to find the best camera for you.
10 Best Underwater Cameras
We have gone through the best options on the market to find the right waterproof camera for you. You will notice a range of different styles. So read about each camera in depth to see if it will suit you!
1. OM System Tough TG-7
| Released |
Released
2023
|
| Megapixels |
Megapixels
12 MP
|
| Camera Type |
Camera Type
Point and shoot
|
| Video |
Video
Yes, 4K
|
| Maximum depth |
Maximum depth
49 ft / 15 m
|
| Other Key Features |
Other Key Features
Shockproof, crushproof, 4x optical zoom, Wi-Fi, and GPS
|
| Best For |
Best For
Photographers who want an all-around camera to withstand the elements
|
Our top choice for the best underwater camera is the OM System Tough TG-7. You will find a 12 MP sensor that has beautiful video settings.
It allows 4K footage at 30 fps (frames per second) and Full HD at 120 fps. If this speed isn’t fast enough, it even allows 480 fps in the standard definition! A speed like this captures even the fastest fish swimming by.
But the success of this camera doesn’t come from its image quality. It comes from all the extra features which make underwater photography as easy as possible. The built-in flash, easy-to-navigate buttons, and big screen make your life much easier.
It even has different white balance settings for underwater environments as presets in the camera. You can also use an underwater HDR mode to get the most out of your underwater photography.
The Tough TG-7 finds itself at home in other adventurous environments. It can withstand the elements, whether it’s freezing outside or in places where it gets knocked about.
The camera also has great tools to make your life easier. Wi-Fi abilities allow you to transfer photos without exporting them onto a computer.
And GPS settings accurately save each location you took your photo. This GPS even gives you precise temperature information and comes with a compass!
I suggest this camera to anyone planning to venture into tough environments. This point-and-shoot can go down to 49 ft (15 m) underwater. And OM System sells a TG-Series underwater housing separately for people who want to go to depths of 148 ft (45 m)!
2. GoPro Hero12 Black
| Released |
Released
2023
|
| Megapixels |
Megapixels
27 MP
|
| Camera Type |
Camera Type
Action camera
|
| Video |
Video
Yes, 5.3K
|
| Maximum depth |
Maximum depth
33 ft / 10 m
|
| Other Key Features |
Other Key Features
HyperSmooth 6.0 image and video stabilization
|
| Best For |
Best For
Adventurers who want to capture spectacular video and aren't fussy about photography
|
The GoPro Hero12 Black makes it high up this list as it is a simple and easy camera to operate with great underwater abilities. The 27 MP camera allows you to shoot 33 ft (10 m) underwater. And its HyperSmooth 6.0 stabilization is the steadiest on this list.
And it also has beautiful DSLR-like video abilities. It lets you film at 5.3K at 60 fps or 2.7K at 240 fps! These features make it the perfect underwater camera for families or casual snorkelers.
The problem with this action camera is that it doesn’t offer many customizable options for photography itself. It works best as a simple point-and-shoot camera. So it is better suited for people who want to capture memories rather than photos.
Professional photographers will still enjoy this camera. It still captures beautiful images in difficult environments. But you don’t get the same control you are used to.
Not only is the Hero12 Black waterproof, but it is also super durable. One of my favorite features is its image and video stabilization. This system means you won’t have to buy a gimbal for stable videos. And your videos of swimming underwater will look as smooth as they feel!
3. SeaLife Micro 3.0
| Released |
Released
2020
|
| Megapixels |
Megapixels
16 MP
|
| Camera Type |
Camera Type
Point and shoot
|
| Video |
Video
Yes, 4K
|
| Maximum depth |
Maximum depth
200 ft / 60 m
|
| Other Key Features |
Other Key Features
Easy underwater scene modes, built-in Wi-Fi and Bluetooth
|
| Best For |
Best For
Scuba divers and those who spend a lot of time underwater
|
SeaLife is a brand specializing in underwater cameras. They say they developed the world’s first commercially available underwater digital camera. Their attention to detail is their biggest strong point. And they are the only brand that specializes in underwater photography lighting!
The SeaLife Micro 3.0 is one of the only underwater cameras dedicated to underwater photography. Every feature is built with consideration of how it will be used underwater. So this camera is for underwater professionals or diving enthusiasts.
With a maximum depth of 200 ft (60 m), you can use the camera in deep waters without worrying about breaking it. Its 16 MP sensor takes great-looking photos on water or land. And with 4K video abilities at 30 fps, you can capture great footage.
My favorite feature of the SeaLife Micro 3.0 is its ease and accessibility. The buttons are designed in SeaLife’s signature “piano key” style. This means they stick out slightly from the camera. It is a godsend for divers, letting them control the camera underwater with gloves on.
I am also a big fan of the easy underwater scene modes the camera comes with. This makes it easy to switch shooting styles based on your environment. The manual white balance settings change the color correction according to your underwater depth and conditions!
4. Pentax WG-90
| Released |
Released
2023
|
| Megapixels |
Megapixels
16 MP
|
| Camera Type |
Camera Type
Point and shoot
|
| Video |
Video
Yes, 4K
|
| Maximum depth |
Maximum depth
46 ft / 14 m
|
| Other Key Features |
Other Key Features
Six-LED macro ring light, crushproof to 100 kgf
|
| Best For |
Best For
Photographers looking for a rugged point-and-shoot camera
|
The Pentax WG-90 is the standard-class model in this long-running waterproof line, now sold under the Pentax name rather than Ricoh’s. It is the only camera here with a ring light built around the lens. Looking at this camera, you can see it would be at home on a worksite. And it equally finds itself just as comfortable underwater.
This camera lets you go to 46 ft (14 m) underwater without potentially breaking your camera. Its 16 MP body also survives drops from 5.2 ft (1.6 m), takes 100 kgf of crushing force, and can operate in temperatures down to 14 F (-10 C).
My favorite aspect about this camera is the ring lighting that comes with it. These six LED lights are spread equidistant around the camera’s lens. They are perfect for exploring corals or even for nighttime scuba diving!
The ring lights are mainly there to assist the camera’s macro mode. This can be ideal for marine biologists or scientists studying underwater features. You can even turn off a selection of lights to add more depth.
Another great feature of the Pentax WG-90 is its accessibility and ease of use. You can even operate the camera with thin gloves on.
Ricoh Imaging has done a great job designing a simple camera that can be operated in difficult places. I recommend this camera to anyone who needs to take high-quality images underwater. Just do not buy it for resolution. At 16 MP it sits below the big action cameras on this list, so if you want the most detail in a single frame, the DJI Osmo Action 6 shoots 38 MP.
5. Insta360 X5
| Released |
Released
2025
|
| Megapixels |
Megapixels
72 MP
|
| Camera Type |
Camera Type
360 camera
|
| Video |
Video
Yes, 8K
|
| Maximum depth |
Maximum depth
49 ft / 15 m
|
| Other Key Features |
Other Key Features
Replaceable lenses, invisible selfie stick, post-shoot reframing
|
| Best For |
Best For
Divers and snorkelers who want to record everything at once and pick the shot later
|
The Insta360 X5 is the only camera on this list that films in every direction at once. Its two 1/1.28-inch sensors record 8K 360° video and 72 MP stills, and the body is rated IP68 to 49 ft (15 m) with no case at all. Insta360’s dive case takes it to 197 ft (60 m).
Filming a reef is where that pays off. You point the camera roughly at the water and choose your framing later in the app, so the shot you missed because a turtle swam past your shoulder is still in the file. That also means you are not fiddling with camera settings in a mask and gloves. FlowState stabilization and 360° Horizon Lock keep the horizon flat when a current spins you.
The practical numbers hold up too. The battery runs 185 to 208 minutes depending on the mode and charges to 80% in 20 minutes over USB-C, so a second dive does not need a second battery. And the lenses are user-replaceable, so a scratch from a sandy shore break costs a $30 kit at home rather than a repair.
Reframing 360° footage is a real editing job though, so if you want clips you can post the moment you dry off, buy the GoPro Hero12 Black higher up this list. And there is no real zoom. Wide sweeping scenes are its strength, but a small fish a few metres away ends up as a crop rather than a close-up, which is the opposite of what point-and-shoot cameras like the Pentax are good at.
6. Insta360 GO 3S
| Released |
Released
2024
|
| Megapixels |
Megapixels
12 MP
|
| Camera Type |
Camera Type
Action camera
|
| Video |
Video
Yes, 4K
|
| Maximum depth |
Maximum depth
33 ft / 10 m
|
| Other Key Features |
Other Key Features
39 g magnetic body, auto horizontal and vertical framing
|
| Best For |
Best For
Casual photographers who want easy pics and videos for social media
|
The Insta360 GO 3S weighs 39 g and is waterproof to 33 ft (10 m) with its lens guard fitted. It is the camera you clip to a mask strap or a paddleboard and then forget about, and it shoots 4K from angles a normal camera cannot reach.
That tiny body is exactly why it beats taking your phone in the water. It switches between horizontal and vertical framing on its own, so a clip you shot while snorkelling is already the right shape for a phone screen by the time you are back on the sand. One press of the front button starts recording without waking the camera up first.
The magnetic mount is the other half of the trick. A pendant worn under a rash vest, a clip on a strap, and the Pivot Stand all take the same magnet, and the 2.2-inch flip screen on the Action Pod turns the camera into an ordinary vlogging setup on dry land. Storage is 64 GB or 128 GB built in.
Two things to know before you buy. The camera on its own runs 38 minutes at 1080p, which is one snorkel and no more, so plan around the Action Pod's 140 minutes. And the Action Pod is only IPX4 splash resistant, not waterproof. The camera goes in the sea, the pod stays in your bag, so if you want to see a screen while you shoot underwater, buy the Kodak Pixpro WPZ2 further down this list instead.
7. DJI Osmo Action 6
| Released |
Released
2025
|
| Megapixels |
Megapixels
38 MP
|
| Camera Type |
Camera Type
Action camera
|
| Video |
Video
Yes, 8K
|
| Maximum depth |
Maximum depth
66 ft / 20 m
|
| Other Key Features |
Other Key Features
Variable f/2.0 to f/4.0 aperture, 50 GB built-in storage
|
| Best For |
Best For
Action sports or other adventurous situations
|
The DJI Osmo Action 6 is a compact action camera that goes deeper without a case than anything else here. Its IP68 body is rated to 66 ft (20 m) bare and 197 ft (60 m) in DJI’s dive case. That is twice the depth either GoPro on this list manages on its own.
It is also the first action camera with a variable aperture. Bright water at the surface and a dim reef 20 m down want different exposures, and this lens moves between f/2.0 and f/4.0 instead of leaning on shutter speed alone. Behind it sits a 1/1.1-inch square sensor shooting 38 MP stills and 8K video at 30 fps.
The rest of the spec sheet holds up on a long day in the water. The battery runs about four hours and charges to 80% in 22 minutes. There is 50 GB of usable storage built in, so a card you forgot does not end your day. It works down to -20 C, and RockSteady 3.0+ with 360° HorizonSteady keeps footage level when a swell rolls you, which is just as useful for action sports on land.
It is a chunky camera though, noticeably bigger than the GoPros here, so skip it if you want something that disappears into a pocket. The variable aperture works in presets rather than as a continuous manual ring. And colors at depth still need a white balance pass in editing, on this camera as on every other one.
8. Kodak Pixpro WPZ2
| Released |
Released
2019
|
| Megapixels |
Megapixels
16 MP
|
| Camera Type |
Camera Type
Point and Shoot
|
| Video |
Video
Yes, Full HD
|
| Maximum depth |
Maximum depth
49 ft / 15 m
|
| Other Key Features |
Other Key Features
Electronic image stabilization, shockproof
|
| Best For |
Best For
Photographers who want an underwater camera on a budget
|
The Pixpro WPZ2 is Kodaks’s attempt to make a rugged camera that can withstand the elements. You can spot it as a Kodak camera from a mile away. And it’s bright yellow color also helps you find the camera if you drop it in the water!
The camera can operate to 49 ft (15 m) underwater with its 16 MP sensor. And it’s shockproof from 6.6 ft (2 m). It doesn’t provide 4K video abilities, but it can still shoot Full HD 1080p video.
I am a big fan of the image stabilization that comes with the camera. It also gives you 4x optical zoom. The latter lets you get closer to the fish without scaring them away!
The LCD screen is also big enough to easily view underwater. And the camera’s simple, easy-to-operate buttons also emphasize its ease of use.
The Kodak Pixpro WPZ2 is a good option for those who want an inexpensive underwater camera. It doesn’t handle underwater colors as well as others on this list. But you do save a couple of hundred dollars.
Overall, there are better underwater cameras to get on our list. But this one is still worth mentioning.
9. Akaso EK7000
| Released |
Released
2016
|
| Megapixels |
Megapixels
20 MP
|
| Camera Type |
Camera Type
Action camera
|
| Video |
Video
Yes, 4K
|
| Maximum depth |
Maximum depth
98 ft / 30 m with the bundled housing
|
| Other Key Features |
Other Key Features
Great video abilities for a great price
|
| Best For |
Best For
People who want a GoPro but don't have the budget
|
The Akaso EK7000 is another GoPro wannabe that can be used as an underwater camera. It aims to be a cheap alternative to GoPro cameras. And with a great price and performance, I’m happy if it’s kept on the shelves!
It has a 20 MP sensor and can shoot 4K videos up to 25 fps. And the waterproof housing in the box takes it to 98 ft (30 m), deeper than either GoPro here goes on its own. Just remember that depth belongs to the case, not the camera, so check the seal and drop in the anti-fog insert before every swim.
It even features some advanced features that you will find on GoPro. It has a burst mode, time-lapse, and loop recording. But these don’t function as smoothly as on a GoPro camera.
The EK7000 is for people who want a GoPro but don’t have the budget. I recommend saving up for the GoPro, but the Akaso still functions quite well underwater.
It won’t provide you with professional levels of control, but it gives you great footage to share with family and friends. And it comes at a very affordable price.
10. GoPro Hero (2024)
| Released |
Released
2024
|
| Camera Type |
Camera Type
Action camera
|
| Video |
Video
Yes, 4K
|
| Maximum depth |
Maximum depth
16 ft / 5 m
|
| Other Key Features |
Other Key Features
Amazing video for a great price
|
| Best For |
Best For
People who want to buy a GoPro for cheap
|
Finally, on our list, we have the GoPro Hero. I included this option as it is GoPro's current entry-level model, and it still functions well as an underwater camera at a fraction of the price of GoPro's flagship Black cameras.
It can shoot to depths of 16 ft (5 m) without a case. So it’s suitable for shallow snorkeling or splashing around at the pool or beach, rather than deeper water sports.
It has a 12MP camera for its still photos and can capture 4K video up to 30fps. It can also shoot 2.7K video at 60 fps! This is still solid quality to capture fish swimming by in shallow water.
The GoPro Hero keeps things simple compared to the flagship GoPro 12. You lose some resolution, frame rate, and depth rating, but you also lose most of GoPro's premium price tag.
Overall the GoPro Hero is my recommendation for underwater explorers on a tight budget. As GoPro is an action camera, it’s aimed at people participating in water sports. Just keep it to shallower water given its 5 m depth rating.
Buyers Guide and FAQs
We answer common questions about underwater waterproof cameras to help you decide which one to buy.
What Is the Maximum Depth an Underwater Camera Can Go?
Every underwater camera will specify the maximum depth it can reach before it may break. The maximum depth on our list is 200 ft (60 m) with the SeaLife Micro 3.0. This depth is suitable for scuba divers and is one of the furthest for a camera without any waterproof housing.
The shortest depth on our list is the GoPro Hero, which can go to 16 ft (5 m) underwater. This is still plenty of depth if you are an average beachgoer staying close to the shore.
What Type of Underwater Camera Should I Buy?
You have lots of different options to choose from when considering an underwater camera. Our list is dominated by point-and-shoot cameras that function without any underwater housing. I recommend one of these cameras for a wide range of photography enthusiasts.
Cameras like the OM System Tough TG-7 and the Pentax WG-90 have a great mixture of manual and auto camera settings.
If you are not bothered about manual controls, consider buying an action camera. The GoPro Hero12 Black and Insta360 GO 3S are great options to easily capture the fun with your friends.
Professional photographers should consider buying waterproof housing for their cameras. These can be expensive and put your gear at risk. But if you want maximum control, this would be your best option.
What Is the Best Underwater Camera for Snorkeling?
The best underwater camera for snorkeling is the OM System Tough TG-7. This is thanks to its great image quality, compact design, and video recording features.
What Is the Best Underwater Camera for Scuba Diving?
The best underwater camera for scuba diving is the SeaLife Micro 3.0. Scuba divers designed the camera. So you know it will be tailored to your needs.
It has an incredible maximum for a compact camera. And I am a big fan of the manual white balance settings it provides. You can find the best color correction for the depth and water you’re taking pictures in.
Conclusion: The Best Underwater Cameras
The OM System Tough TG-7 is the best underwater camera out of the 10 we reviewed. It’s an excellent choice for a reliable and versatile underwater camera. It offers a range of features and functions that make it perfect for capturing underwater photos and videos.
The TG-7 is easy to use and provides great image quality. And with its waterproof construction and robust design, it is the perfect choice for all levels of underwater photography. We highly recommend it to anyone looking for a waterproof underwater camera.
