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If you want your vacation photos to stand out on Instagram, take your camera underwater. But what's the best underwater camera for capturing that school of clownfish while scuba diving, snapping a friend who's learning to surf, or documenting that snorkel excursion on your next beach vacation? Whichever splashy situation needs to be photographed, we’ve found the right equipment.
No matter which waterproof camera you pick, there are certain techniques that will help your submerged images have an extra professional edge. “I would say for any kind of underwater photography, the biggest thing is to get as close as possible to your subject,” says Larry Cohen, who handles underwater gear at B&H Photo Video in New York City. “Water is denser than air, and it has particles in it. The closer you are, the better your images are going to be.”
Here is the best underwater camera for every type of environment and skill level.
All products featured on Condé Nast Traveler are independently selected by our editors. If you buy something through our retail links, we may earn an affiliate commission.
1. For the average traveler
Remember when entry level cameras were distinct, separate devices from smartphones? It seems like a bygone era. But if you’re trying to snap some pictures of Niagara Falls while it’s spraying you like a lawn sprinkler, or would like to capture a wet ‘n’ wild blizzard while you ski, your phone won’t cut it.
Enter, the Olympus Tough TG-6 Waterproof Camera. As its name suggests, it's so durable that it can withstand being crushed under pressures of up to 220 pounds, it's waterproof up to depths of fifty feet, and it's also dust-proof, shock-proof up to seven feet, and freeze-proof down to temperatures of 14°F. (All of which also make it childproof.) The TG-6’s photographic capabilities are advanced too. Its focusing distance is remarkably close, at just a centimeter from the lens.
Cohen points out that even photographers who regularly use large SLRs underwater use the TG-6. He also mentions that if you’re new to underwater photography and don’t want to invest in separate lighting or flashes, this camera’s good white balance is an important quality.
Pros: Nearly indestructible, LCD screen that’s bright and visible underwater, takes RAW images
Cons: Lacks manual exposure, glass screen cover easily scratches
Buy it: Olympus Tough TG-6 Waterproof Camera, $399
2. For the blogger on the beach
Underwater still photography is cool, but what if you want your loyal Instagram followers watching in real time? With GoPro’s latest model, the MAX 360, you can take your aquatic adventures public in an even bigger way: with 360 video. This model has two wide angle lenses—one on the front and back—that stitch the footage together. Both cameras can also be used for regular filming too. Because the MAX 360 is waterproof to a depth of 16.5 feet, it’s better suited for shallow splashes than deep scuba dives. Filming yourself sitting in a rainbow-refracting waterfall, or wake-boarding on a lake, would be ideal cases for this camera.
Pros: Supports live streaming, crystal clear surround sound audio, crisp and bright 360 footage
Cons: Not cheap for a GoPro, shaky at night, with two-dimensional video, quality goes down
Buy it: GoPro MAX 360, $499.99
3. For the professional or the hardcore hobbyist
Did you know you can take any regular old camera underwater as long as you have the proper accessories? The most important component to transform a land-based camera to a waterproof one is called housing—a large, waterproof protective case specific to the camera body that keeps settings accessible. Most professionals and extreme hobbyists use this technique.
“Generally speaking, all DSLR and mirrorless cameras work well underwater,” Cohen says. “The lens is really more important. You need ultra-wide lenses for most subjects and macro lenses for small subjects.”
That said, out of all the DSLRs you can take under the sea, we like the Sony A7R IV for many reasons. For professional-grade images, this camera is ideal because it’s capable of rendering incredible levels of detail, color, and brightness even in extremely low-light situations commonly encountered in watery depths. Ikelite’s 200DL Underwater Housing for waterproofing is a popular, solid choice.
Pros: Very high resolution, sensitive autofocus ideal for dark environments, excellent on land as well
Cons: Pricey, need to have significant photography skills to get your money’s worth
Buy the camera: Sony A7R IV, $3,498
Buy the housing: Ikelite 200DL Underwater Housing, $1,695
4. For the deep sea diver
Fiddling with settings on a DSLR accompanied by housing, underwater lights, and other accessories is a sure way to make gorgeous photographs, but we’d be liars if we said it was easy, cheap, or practical. If you’re a diver who lives for the sport, hoping to photograph or record what you see at great depths, but aren’t much of a photo-head, don’t count yourself out. There are other options. Like the Paralenz Dive Camera+. The small, cylindrical camera’s best feature is its ease of use. On autostart mode, you do not have to do a single thing while underwater, from beginning to end—it goes on standby until you go under, when it starts recording, and continues until you hit air on the surface again. Video footage, taken with a 140-degree angle lens, works well even in lowlight and doesn’t distort or have a fisheye look.
Pros: Long-lasting battery, extra accessories unnecessary, can withstand depths of up to 820 feet underwater
Cons: Less manual control and lower image quality than a DSLR
Buy it: Paralenz Dive Camera+, $699
5. For the trekker on a budget
As you can see, underwater photography is not exactly a cheap hobby. But just because you don’t want to invest a month’s rent for a waterproof camera doesn’t mean you are priced out of buying one. The WG-50 has a competitive price point stacked against all others (it’s even more than $100 cheaper than our general pick, the Olympus Tough TG-6). Like the TG-6, it’s rugged and durable, ideal for outdoor adventuring and underwater circumstances like snorkeling and shallow dives that still get ample natural light.
Pros: Waterproof to 45 feet, built-in macro lighting, pocket-sized
Cons: Worse image quality (for detail, brightness, white balance)
Buy it: Ricoh WG-50 16MP Waterproof Still/Video Camera Digital with 2.7" LCD, $279.90
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