6 Best Underwater Cameras for Snorkeling in 2024

By Tati Taylor 21 days ago, Cameras & Lenses

Amazing underwater cameras for snorkeling with top features.

best underwater camera for snorkeling

If you are going to examine the beauty of the underwater world, you definitely need a camera for snorkeling. This review covers the models that are fully protected from water, harsh frost and those that stay undamaged even after accidental falling.

Owning any of such cameras, you can not only see awesome ocean flora and fauna, but also save your memories in the form of photos and videos. Most snorkeling cameras also have Wi-Fi, GPS, and compass features.

6 Top-Rated Underwater Cameras for Snorkeling

  1. GoPro HERO8 - Our Choice
  2. RICOH WG-70 - All-weather camera
  3. Nikon W300 - Stylish
  4. Olympus Tough TG-6 - The best Olympus tough camera for snorkeling
  5. SeaLife DC2000 - Best camera for the price
  6. AKASO V50X - Cheapest action camera

Not only have we described the most reliable and popular cameras for snorkeling currently available, but we have also provided handy tips on how to choose the best model specifically for your needs and budget. Read the article till the end and good luck with your choice!

1. GoPro HERO8

Our Choice
best underwater camera for snorkeling

Type: Action Camera | Sensor size:Motion sensor | Resolution: 12MP | Lens: 16-32mm| Viewfinder: - | Screen type: LCD | Maximum continuous shooting speed: fps

  • ✚ Doesn’t require special mounts
  • ✚ Amazing IS
  • ✚ Designed for trouble-free handling
  • ✚ Intuitive photo post-production in the app
  • Not so durable as earlier GoPro
  • Gets hot while being used
  • You can get a front-facing display with accessories
  • Poor battery life
Rating

This may be the best camera for snorkeling if you need something intuitive to use yet reliable to capture the most striking views. Most features are automatic, which allows even casual travelers without much shooting experience to get decent results. The brand also has many cool accessories to complement your GoPro Hero8 at a moderate cost.

This camera works best when placed on an extended pole, while small dimensions mean you won’t tire your hand. Besides, it doesn’t take much space in a bag.

The camera is perfectly suited for recording selfies videos while surfing, snowboarding, and even riding a bike in the mountains. It features for underwater performance are also absolutely remarkable.

2. RICOH WG-70

All-weather camera for snorkeling
best camera for snorkeling

Type: Waterproof camera | Sensor size: 1/2.3 BSI-CMOS Sensor| Resolution: 16MP | Lens: 28-140 mm F3.5-5.5 Zoom Lens | Viewfinder:None | Screen type: LCD | Maximum continuous shooting speed: 1/4000 sec

  • ✚ Watertight up to 14m
  • ✚ Shockproof up to 1.6m
  • ✚ Can withstand -10ºC
  • Lacks wireless connection
  • Without IS
  • No articulating screen
  • Comes without extra flash shoe
Rating

What makes this device worthy of the title of the best snorkeling camera is its amazing waterproofing, which means you can use it at the depth of 14m for 2 hours. Moreover, it is equipped with a powerful photo processing engine and a back-lit CMOS sensor that allows getting colorful 16MP shots without much effort.

The manufacturer worked hard to optimize this camera for the underwater environment, so that users can get vibrant images with the reds that tend to lose in such photos being on point. What makes this device worthy of the title of the best fishing camera is its amazing waterproofing, which means you can use it at the depth of 14m for 2 hours.

If you feel like recording your adventures, you get a chance to shoot Full HD videos at 30fps, slow-mo footage and even switch to Underwater Movie mode. The latter is known for its Movie SR feature that helps eliminate the consequences of camera shake.

3. Nikon W300

Designed camera for snorkeling
nec np-p554w nec projectors

Type: Waterproof camera | Sensor size: 1/2.3 inc | Resolution: 16MP | Lens:24 - 120mm | Viewfinder: none| Screen type: LCD | Maximum continuous shooting speed: 7.0fps

  • ✚ Intuitive handling and universal design
  • ✚ Many video modes
  • ✚ Straightforward and responsive controls
  • ✚ Watertight up to 100ft
  • Disappointing results in poor lighting
  • No full-manual mode
  • Wireless connection issues
Rating

Adrenaline junkies will definitely appreciate this robust snorkeling camera that can also become a reliable companion in many other heart-pounding activities. At first sight, it becomes obvious that this camera is designed to last for many years with its water-, freeze-, shock-, and dustproof properties.

Using it, you can shoot 4K Ultra HD footage, 16MP images, time-lapses in the most severe conditions. Being watertight up to 100 feet, it is ideal for scuba diving, fishing, or just having fun in the water.

Nikon W300 comes with integrated GPS, eCompass, altimeter, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth to save and share any interesting moment with your friends. If something you want to capture is far away from you, take advantage of the 5x magnification feature. All in all, this is a durable camera that is very easy to operate.

4. Olympus Tough TG-6

Best Olymus tough camera for snorkeling
underwater camera for snorkeling

Type:Waterproof camera | Sensor size: 1/2.3-inch| Resolution: 12MP | Lens: 25-100mm, f/2-4.9. | Viewfinder:No | Screen type: LCD | Maximum continuous shooting speed: 20fps

  • ✚ 4K and high-speed videos
  • ✚ Amazing Microscope mode
  • ✚ Supports RAW shooting
  • ✚ Great macro capabilities
  • Image resolutions limited to 12MP
  • Doesn’t offer fully manual handling
  • High price
Rating

This snorkeling camera is equipped with a 12MP BSI CMOS sensor and TruePic VIII image process, which work in conjunction to deliver amazingly sharp and clear photos. The remarkable low-light performance at ISO 12800 adds to the popularity of this device.

Besides, you can use it for 20-fps continuous shooting, 4K30p video recording, as well as experimenting with Full HD 1080p filming at 120fps. Choosing this waterproof camera for snorkeling, you can not only get detailed videos/photos, but also complement them with data about the shooting environment thanks to GPS, compass, manometer, and thermometer.

In addition to a watertight case, it is also protected from falling and dust. The integrated Wi-Fi and the Image Track app allow you instantly transfer your photos/videos to mobile devices and share with your followers.

5. SeaLife DC2000

Best camera for snorkeling for the price
cheap underwater camera for snorkeling

Type: Waterproof camera | Sensor size: 1.0" CMOS | Resolution: 20MP | Lens: f/1.8 (W) - 11 (T) | Viewfinder: none| Screen type: LCD| Maximum continuous shooting speed: 1/2000 S

  • ✚ Great aperture lens
  • ✚ 920K-dot LCD
  • ✚ Can be used at the depth of 60 feet
  • ✚ Has 200-foot watertight housing
  • Quaint controls
  • Far from perfect High-ISO JPG results
  • Sluggish when shooting RAW
  • No optical zoom
Rating

This is a great waterproof camera for people planning to examine the ocean depths. You can use it at 60 feet down and even go lower by placing it in the special 200-foot housing. The camera has 4 underwater shooting modes and intrigues potential buyers with automatic color correction.

The 1-in sensor produces beautiful 20MP photos. Professional photographers can rely on this camera when it comes to RAW shooting, buy mind that it affects the operation speed. Thanks to an ultra-fast AF and shutter response, you are always ready when something interesting is going around.

Similar to other cameras in this review, SeaLife DC2000 has some drawbacks, but they are fully justified by its strong points.

6. AKASO V50X

Cheapest action camera for snorkeling
best snorkeling camera

Type: Waterproof camera | Sensor size: 1' | Resolution: 20MP | Lens:170° wide-angle | Viewfinder:none | Screen type: touch screen | Maximum continuous shooting speed: 20fps

  • ✚ Supports voice commands
  • ✚ 4K at 60fps
  • ✚ Reasonably priced
  • Lacks an extra mic
  • Poor quality of the recorded sound
Rating

There are many handy features AKASO V50X can brag about while its price is kept at a moderate level. First off, it can be used at the depth of 40m, which is great not only for snorkeling lovers, but also for people fond of serious sports.

Moreover, this inexpensive waterproof camera allows recording 4K/60fps, taking 20MP photos and bringing distant objects closer thanks to 8x digital zoom. The image stabilization mechanism helps a lot if you shoot on the move.

The touch screen with a simple UI allows adjusting the main parameters without hassle. You can also take advantage of the Diving Mode as it filters the red light that can spoil your images taken underwater.

IMAGE NAME FEATURES
best underwater camera for snorkeling
GoPro HERO8
Our choice
  • Type: Action Camera
  • Sensor size:Motion sensor
  • Resolution: 12MP
  • Lens: 16-32mm
CHECK PRICE
best camera for snorkeling
RICOH WG-70
Traveling
  • Type: Waterproof camera
  • Sensor size: 1/2.3 BSI-CMOS Sensor
  • Resolution: 16MP
  • Lens: 28-140 mm F3.5-5.5
CHECK PRICE
snorkeling camera
Nikon W300
Professional
  • Type: Waterproof camera
  • Sensor size: 1/2.3 inc
  • Resolution: 16MP
  • Lens:24 - 120mm
CHECK PRICE

How to Choose the Best Camera For Snorkeling?

best underwater camera for snorkelin

Camera Type

Waterproof and underwater camera is a fully-sealed device that can be used in water without getting damaged. Such products have different depth limits. The budget-friendly options intended for snorkeling and shallow water diving can be used at 8-10m down. More expensive pro-level cameras can be submerged to 15-30m.

Camera with underwater housing is a regular camera that is placed in special watertight housing for shooting at water depths. Such a variant attracts users with better output quality, but mind that it costs significantly more than a standard underwater model. Anyway, they extend the submerging range to 40m.

Image Stabilization

If you want a snorkeling camera that can produce crisp video/photos, you definitely need to invest in one with image stabilization.

Low Light Capabilities

best underwater camera for snorkelin

Shooting underwater, you have to adapt to certain conditions with insufficient lighting being one of them. That’s why, it is better to buy a camera capable of dealing with such a problem.

FAQ

  • • Can I use a waterproof camera underwater?

It fully depends on the camera. The first thing to clarify is the difference between water-resistant and waterproof camera models. The latter are initially intended for underwater use, while water-resistant devices can simply withstand accidental water splashes. Besides, read the characteristics of your waterproof camera to know how much you can submerge it down.

  • • How should I carry a camera while snorkeling?

The best way is to attach it to a wrist strap or a pole, which gives more freedom while taking images. You can also attach it to a catch bag unless you are going to record ultra-fast footage.

  • • Is GoPro good for snorkeling?

Definitely. Such cameras are created to assist you in your extreme adventures, delivering remarkable photo/video quality.

  • • Is GoPro 7 waterproof without a case?

Yes, if you use it at the depth up to 10m.

  • • How can I prolong the life of my snorkeling camera?

First, always rinse your camera with fresh water after each use to remove saltwater or other contaminants. Secondly, avoid exposing the camera to extreme temperatures or direct sunlight for extended periods.

Lastly, handle the camera with care, keeping it protected in a sturdy case when not in use and avoiding impacts or drops that could damage its delicate components.

  • • How deep can I use a typical underwater camera for snorkeling?

A typical underwater camera for snorkeling can typically withstand depths of up to 30 meters (100 feet) or more, allowing you to capture stunning underwater scenes and marine life during your snorkeling adventures.

However, it's essential to check the specifications of the specific camera model you intend to use, as depth limits may vary.

  • • Are there any specific types of lenses that are recommended for underwater photos while snorkeling?

You should opt for wide-angle lenses. These lenses allow you to capture a broader field of view, making them ideal for capturing the vastness of the underwater environment and the marine life in their natural habitat. Additionally, macro lenses can be useful for capturing close-up details of smaller marine creatures and intricate coral formations.

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