Are you going snorkeling, and do you want to be able to take some photos to remember the excursion in high quality? Thankfully, we’re here to help you to find a fantastic underwater camera to assist you in your snorkeling endeavors.
Best Underwater Snorkeling Camera
OUR TOP PICK
Summary
Dubbed to be one of the best underwater snorkeling cameras by a whole host of users, this underwater camera is designed to withstand heavy duty adventure. The camera is equipped and ready to go wherever you want to go, and you will be ready to snap a picture at a moment’s notice.
The camera is waterproof for depths up to 50 feet, so it’s ideal for when you want to get an Insta-worthy shot when you’re snorkeling or swimming. In fact, it provides not only impressively high resolution due to the F2.0 anti fog lens, but it also lets you capture every little detail with 8x zoom. It also comes with four macro shooting modes so that you will be able to test out some of your underwater photography skills.
In addition to this, this camera comes with 5 different underwater shooting modes, and it even has an underwater microscope. This microscope will make it incredibly easy to be able to take some stellar shots that you can look at for your lifetime.
The camera also has a three underwater white balance modes that will allow you to be able to play around with shadows and contrasts while you’re taking pictures.
There’s also somewhere here for the aspiring videographers out there, as this camera will allow you to be able to record high speed full HD and 4K videos.
Of course, this camera doesn’t only need to be used underwater. You can use this camera to photograph so many of your best moments and greatest adventures, as it is crush and shockproof. It’s even able to deal with temperatures as low as 14 degrees Fahrenheit.
This camera has so much to offer - compact, lightweight and it has a bunch of professional features, which is what makes this one of the best snorkeling cameras you can get on the market.
EDITORS CHOICE
Summary
This is not just an underwater snorkeling camera. The Nikon W300 Waterproof Underwater Camera is an excellent camera across the board that will be the perfect companion for you on all of your underwater adventures, or onshore adventures for that matter.
Similarly to the Olympus model discussed above, this camera is waterproof, dustproof, freezeproof and shockproof, but it is also able to resist water for depths of up to 100 feet. It will essentially allow you to be able to dive much deeper and capture even more details of the ocean’s bottom.
The camera also has contrast detect and autofocus capabilities that will make sure that the shots you get are perfect every single time.
The camera is perfect both for videos and photos, and you will be really impressed with the high resolution for the images, 4K ultra HD videos, time lapse and super lapse capabilities, and music montages!
The camera comes with proprietary NIKKOR lens, and it has 5x optical zoom in addition to telephoto power and Hybrid VR Image Stabilization.
It also comes with a long battery life, but even when the battery is drained you don’t need to worry because it is fast charging - to the point that it is able to take the battery from totally drained to full in roughly 2 hours and 20 minutes.
This camera is the perfect way to capture all of your adventures, from snorkeling, to surfing to diving. It also comes with an integrated eCompass, a GPS altimeter and it can connect to Bluetooth and WiFi so you will be able to share and track all of your adventures both on the shore and underwater. The performance isn’t quite as good as it is in our previous pick, but otherwise it really does have a lot to offer.
BEST VALUE
Summary
If you want to save a little bit of money but you still want a camera that can provide you with the reliability and high resolution that you need when adventuring underwater, then you are going to love the Panasonic LUMIX. This camera is a quad proof tough model that is perfect for photography enthusiasts with active lifestyles.
Of course, its capabilities underwater are not quite as good as the more expensive alternatives are, but it is still able to give you the fantastic pictures that you want right up to depths of 26 feet. It comes with an integrated mega O.I.S camera lens that will compensate for blurring automatically, so you can be sure that you will get clear pictures even if you end up moving your hands unintentionally due to the movement of the waves.
The camera comes with an advanced underwater mode that is truly spectacular. This mode will help you to make sure that the red tones are still clear when you’re shooting underwater, which means that the images will still look very realistic.
Aside from providing high quality images, this camera will also allow you to be able to create fantastic videos. It has a dynamic MP4 HD that will give you high quality videos whether you are underwater or on the land.
You can use the camera along with SD memory cards and it also has a supplementary built in memory of 220MB. This will allow you to be able to store up to 34 more images, so you don’t need to worry about space running out when you’re in the middle of your adventures, even if your SD card space runs out.
The camera is very durable and dependable, and extremely affordable. Not only this but it is also shockproof, dustproof and it will resist freezing to temperatures as low as 14 degrees Fahrenheit. It truly is a commendable choice for an adventurer on a budget.
RUNNER UP
Summary
The Fujifilm FinePix XP140 Waterproof Digital Camera is a fantastic choice for any underwater adventurer looking to capture all their best moments under the water. The camera is waterproof to 82 feet, it’s freezeproof to 14 degrees Fahrenheit, dustproof and shockproof. You can take it pretty much anywhere you want to go, whether that’s on land or underwater.
The camera is lacking a specific underwater shooting mode, but it has a Smile Shutter so you don’t need to worry about missing that ideal shot.
The camera is perfect for shooting pictures underwater due to the ISO 100-12800 feature that will let more light enter the camera for impeccably fast shutter speed.
Aside from being able to take fantastic photos, this camera is also able to take high quality 4K ultra high definition videos.
The camera comes with Bluetooth capability and it also lets you do automatic image transfers to devices that are paired with it. When you’re underwater and don’t have any synchronization possibilities, you will be able to store images onto the 16GB SD card that is included in the pack.
It doesn’t have as many features as a lot of other underwater cameras but it is definitely more than capable to capturing brilliant videos and photos. It’s a great option if you are on a budget too, or it can be given as a gift for people that enjoy snorkeling.
RUNNER UP
Summary
The GoPro is one of the most well known cameras for adventurers, and the Hero 7 really lives up to the name.
This camera is made for people that are interested in diving, but it is also a good choice for catching pictures when you are on land, regardless of where you are. One of the best things about this camera is that it has waterproof abilities up to 33 feet without a housing.
GoPro also offer a range of waterproof housings that will protect the HERO 7 if you are looking to dive deeper. It also has a Super Photo mode that will let you capture the perfect photos automatically, and it has optimized local tone mapping and noise reduction.
If you are planning on recording your dive, then the HERO 7 has HyperSmooth video stabilization that will predict your movements and it corrects for camera shake. Your footage will be incredibly smooth and will impress all of your social media followers.
It also has a Time Wrap video capture feature that will allow you to create super stabilized time lapse videos. If you are going to be recording for longer, then you will be able to increase the speed for up to 30x, and the live streaming functions will let you share your adventures as they happen.
If you want to use the camera onshore, the HERO 7 has remote voice control, so you will be able to take a picture or start a video and you won’t need to use your hands to do it.
The camera can be used with the vast majority of snorkeling masks for stress free underwater pictures and videos. If you want to take Instagram worthy images or just take some great pictures to pin onto the wall, the HERO 7 is certainly a great option.
RUNNER UP
Summary
This is one of the newest additions to the adventure cameras market and it’s by far one of the cheapest in the market too. It’s an appealing choice for amateurs, but it’s also a good choice for professional snorkelers that don’t have a very high budget.
The camera may not perform quite as well as the GoPro camera, but it has some really impressive capabilities.
This is a 4K ultra HD action camera that is able to snap 12MP photos at around 30 frames per second. It can also record 4K videos at a fantastic speed of 25 frames per second, giving you excellent image quality every time you take a video.
The camera is waterproof to 100 and has a waterproof case included, so it’s ideal for divers and snorkelers alike. It comes with a bunch of extra accessories too so it’s a good choice for a range of other activities too.
The camera comes with a helmet and bicycle mount, two clips and seven other types of mounts that can be used for a range of different things.
It also has a wireless wrist remote which will let you get a shot or begin a video without you even needing to touch the camera. It’s especially good underwater, because vocal commands would be pretty pointless.
The camera also has built in HDMI and it will let you share and edit your adventures in mere minutes. It has a WiFi signal range of 33 feet and instant synchronization with your mobile, so it’s simple to share your pictures to Instagram. This is the ideal camera for your adventures when you’re on a budget.
RUNNER UP
Summary
You may not initially think of RICOH when you are thinking about underwater snorkeling cameras, but it’s still a pretty impressive device that is well deserving of its place on our list.
It doesn’t have the kinds of high tech features like remote control or connectivity, but what it does have is very high optical efficiency and an effective 16 megapixels, which is perfect for getting fantastic, high resolution images.
The camera has a wide dynamic range that will allow the camera to reduce any background noises, and it will give you the kind of crisp images that you would expect from a camera in this price range.
As you may anticipate from an underwater camera, this is waterproof at a depth of 45 feet for around 2 hours, which means that you will have ample time to be able to explore the ocean’s depth.
It doesn’t just offer underwater shooting, however - it’s also perfect for the general adventurer. The camera has a rugged, utilitarian casing and it can resist dust, shocks and freezing temperatures. It also has a digital microscope mode that will let you capture any details that may be otherwise invisible to the human eye, whether you are on land or under the water.
The camera also helps to ensure that you will always get the perfect picture as it has 25 shooting modes, including auto picture.
The camera does not have a video mode, unfortunately. Otherwise, the camera isn’t that bad but it really isn’t exceptional - there are certainly better options at this price point.
Best Underwater Snorkeling Camera Buying Guide
Why Should You Use an Underwater Camera for Snorkeling?
Snorkeling and going to the beach are by far some of the best hobbies on the planet. Actually, when you are participating in these activities it’s truly fantastic to be able to document every single moment. This is why we all like to bring a camera. Of course, it’s no good just bringing any old camera, because it probably won’t withstand the water very well. You will need to make sure that the camera you choose is an underwater option, otherwise, the camera is going to get flooded.
Before, underwater cameras were quite bulky and heavy so snorkelers would need to have more leg power to be able to propel themselves through the water while they hold the camera equipment. Usually the older underwater camera units would consist of a camera, a sturdy casing and an external strobe that was usually a lot heavier than the camera and the casing on their own. Everything was also controlled manually too so the number of shoots that you would be able to take underwater would be largely dependent on the kind and capacity of film that you are using.
Most modern underwater cameras use the same sort of concept, but everything is a lot more digital and compact. These kinds of cameras became a lot more popular in the 90s, and because the casing is compatible you will have an instant underwater camera. You also won’t need to bring a separate external underwater strobe because the internal flash of the camera is more than sufficient.
There are a lot of opportunities that you will be able to take advantage of when you use your underwater camera to take photos because SD cards have replaced old film, which means you can take countless of underwater photos without any worries. The only real thing that links these cameras back to the older ones as far as convenience is concerned is that they still use manual controls. If you use an underwater digital camera, you are still going to need to make the right adjustments for you to be able to have a high quality underwater photo without worrying about blurring and fuss.
Of course, technology is advancing fast, and now we have Action Cameras. From mid size digital cameras, people are now instead using action cameras because they are much more lightweight, compact and they are pretty small in size. The vast majority of action cameras aren’t much bigger than the palm of your hand, so they are incredibly small. Not only are they compact and lightweight, but they also incorporate point and shoot technology that will let your hands be free from making adjustments to the settings all the time. All you need to do is turn on the camera and then press the shoot or the record button. You also don’t need to buy a separate case like you would with old cameras, because action cameras tend to already come with underwater casings.
When the action camera was first emerging onto the market, they were worn using a lanyard and they were strapped onto your hand. They have since evolved as the operation is now hands free. The vast majority of older models come with accessories where you will be able to mount the camera onto your wrist, helmet or you can use it similarly to a selfie stick, which means it’s pretty versatile to use as both a photographic and video recording equipment.
In addition to all of these features, most people continue to use action cameras due to the high quality resolution, and a lot of the more recent models feature an integrated stabilization system that can vastly reduce the shaky recordings that are done by a lot of new photographers. You don’t need to worry about the photos taking up a lot of space either, because a lot of action cameras now use micro SD cards that are able to store a lot more photos and videos in comparison to SD cards.
What Sort of Camera Should You Buy?
We don’t mean specific brands like GoPro, Panasonic, Nikon and other kinds of brands, but what we mean is what kind of camera you are going to need. To start with, a lot of snorkel masks now come along with an attachment for the mask so you will be able to put the camera directly onto your head so you can film the whole snorkeling adventure and you can then edit and make the video later.
You could also get a handheld camera that you will be able to attach onto your wrist or you can hold it so you will be able to take some simple pictures and smaller videos. You could also choose a camera with fantastic zoom so that you can zoom right in on marine life.
Waterproof vs Underwater Camera
There are some cameras that will claim they are waterproof up to a certain depth, like 10 meters or 30 feet. You will need to know how deep you have to dive down so you don’t destroy the camera. A lot of underwater cameras have housing that will protect the camera, and it can usually go down deeper than this. They are also built much stronger and are able to deal with the pressure.
You can use both waterproof and underwater cameras out of the water so there is no need to use 2 separate cameras. Saves a lot of hassle!
Conclusion
In summary, there are a bunch of different price ranges and options when it comes to underwater cameras, and it ultimately just depends on the amount that you are going to be using it and how much you would like to spend. It’s possible to get cheap underwater digital cameras and cheap waterproof digital cameras, and surprisingly there is a difference between the two.
There are a number of things that you should consider before you buy an underwater camera, such as what sorts of pictures you are going to be taking, whether you are going to be making videos, if you want a camera that can attach to your head so you will be able to film all of the things that you see, and more. These are a few of the considerations that you need to make before you buy a camera, so that you can ensure that you get what you’re looking for.