Top 10 Best Dive Cameras

Scuba diving is always a great experience, but having the right equipment and being able to record or take photos of your encounters with sharks and turtles… that’s priceless!

Now you take a look at all the options, underwater cameras, types of housing, accessories, etc. and you may think, ‘Oh my god! Where to start?’ No worries. I’m here to explain to you all the different types of diving cameras and help you find the one that best fits your needs!

Check out other gear reviews to find the best scuba lights, knives, dive watches,  and computers!

BEST DIVE CAMERAS

ACTION CAMS

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INSTA360 GO 2

The Insta360 Go2 is a popular choice among outdoor lovers and divers. The manufacturer says it’s one of smallest action cams in the world. It comes with a great 1/2.3” sensor that shoots 1440 video, FlowState Stabilization system, and ultra-wide angle lens. It’s waterproof down to 4 meters without a housing (great for snorkeling), and down to 45 meters with a dive case. 

What I like most about this camera is that you can use it for a lot of activities, and not just for diving. It’s so small that if you hang it on your T-shirt (with a special accessory), you won’t notice you’re wearing it.

Find a housing: Insta360 • Amazon

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INSTA360 ONE R 

The Insta360 One R captures high-quality 5.7K video and 24 MP images. You won’t need to worry about framing and points of view. Afterward, you can use the editing features to choose your favorite angle. This action cam features a modular system that allows you to switch between cameras, batteries and positions. It’s waterproof down to 5 meters without a housing.

Compared to the previous model, this camera offers higher video quality and more advanced features. In my experience, the quality of the Insta360 is close to that of a GoPro. However, this camera sets itself apart from a GoPro because it can record 360-degree video.

Find a housing: Insta360 • Amazon

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GOPRO HERO 11 BLACK

We all have seen amazing photos and videos taken with a GoPro and we know the great results. I just love it. The new GoPro Hero 11 Black offers excellent video quality, and it’s equipped with the amazing Hyper-smooth technology as well as horizon leveling (the footage looks always straight when you activate this option).

Every year, more models are competing with GoPro. That means it’s getting harder for GoPro to remain the market leader. The Insta360 can record 360-degree videos, and that’s making a lot of people switch brands. However, having used both cameras, I still think the GoPro offers the best video quality among action cams.

BEST UNDERWATER CAMERAS FOR WHICH YOU DON’T NEED A HOUSING

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SEALIFE MICRO 3.0

The Sealife differs from the rest of the models because it’s specially designed for diving and snorkeling. The main advantage is that you don’t need a housing. You can take amazing pictures (thanks to its 16 MP sensor) and videos (it can record in 4K), and bring it down as low as 60 meters in depth. The camera is easy to use with quick setup menus. 

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CHECK OUT the Sealife Micro 3.0 + 5000 Dual Light Set!

Check price on Amazon

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OLYMPUS TG-6

The Olympus TG-6 is a very popular, tough camera, and one of the best dive cameras you can get for snorkeling, without a doubt. Besides the underwater performance, this camera is pretty good at taking regular land pictures (great for hikers, bikers, adventure travelers).

By the way, this camera stands out from the rest because it resists falls (from several meters), impacts, dust, water, low temperatures, etc. This is my favorite option among tough cameras. 

BEST DIVING CAMERAS

MID RANGE

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SONY RX100 VII

The Sony RX100 VII will surprise you with a 20.1 MP CMOS sensor, 4K HD quality video and its consistently fast 24-200mm lens. It would be hard to find another camera that can provide better image quality in such a small package.

This camera cannot be compared to the previous models. The quality of the lenses and the sensor is much better. The biggest drawback is that it’s not a waterproof camera per se. You’ll have to get an underwater housing.

Find a housing: Seafrogs

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SONY ALPHA a7II

The Sony Alpha a 7II takes stunning pictures thanks to its full frame sensor format. It features a super fast auto focus system and 24.3 MP of resolution. The in-body image stabilization is very robust and works amazingly during both image and video capture.

Find a housing: Meikon ⁄ Nauticam

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OLYMPUS OM-D E-M5 Mark III

You will love the Olympus OM-D- E-M5 Mark III because it features a 20 MP sensor, 4K full HD video capabilities and a 5-axis image stabilization system. What I like about this camera: It offers the quality of a high-end mirrorless camera, but at a fairly reasonable price. Keep in mind that you’ll need a housing. 

Find a housing: Nauticam

BEST DIVE CAMERAS – TOP END 

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CANON 7D MARK II

The Canon 7D Mark II is one of the best dive cameras you can find for an affordable price (in its category). This is a top-end camera that features a 20.2 MP CMOS sensor with dual pixel autofocus, high-speed continuous shooting up to 10.0 fps and amazing full HD video. 

I think the biggest advantage of this model is that it can focus automatically when you’re taking underwater videos. That’s a cool feature. While it’s a bit heavy to hold, that’s a common trait among high-end cameras.

Find a housing: Ikelite ⁄ Nauticam

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NIKON D850

The Nikon D850 stands out as one of the best cameras on the market for nature, landscape, and diving photography. It offers stunning high-resolution images with a full spectrum of colors and a complete dynamic range, plus the best low light performance. The 45.7 MP CMOS sensor, EXPEED image processing engine, 153-point autofocus sytem and professional full-frame 4K UHD video capabilites make it by far the best camera on the list.

Find a housing: Housing

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THINGS TO CONSIDER WHEN CHOOSING THE BEST UNDERWATER CAMERA FOR SCUBA DIVING:

Why do you want your diving camera?

This is actually the key question! In this article I focus on the best diving cameras; that’s why I’m going to recommend that you get a camera with good performance (those you already know of, like Canon, Nikon, Sony, etc.) and a housing to make it waterproof.

If you are going to use your underwater camera for snorkeling, that’s cool, too! But maybe you don’t need to spend a lot of money; you can get a tough underwater camera like the Olympus TG-6 (here on Amazon), which is actually a great camera. But as I said, I’d use it only for snorkeling, traveling, etc.

Types of cameras

We can divide modern cameras into three types: compact, mirrorless and DSLR.

In addition to those, some companies have created specific cameras for scuba diving like the Sealife Micro (here on Amazon), and you wouldn’t need to use any housing in this case. I’ve heard different opinions about this camera, but it might be a good solution depending on your budget.

Compact cameras and Action cams

These are the smallest and usually the cheapest on the list.

Mirrorless cameras

I love mirrorless cameras when it comes to diving. These cameras allow you to take great photos without spending the fortune you would for a DSLR camera.

DSLR cameras

For those looking for a camera with the maximum performance, greatest image quality and the most options in terms of lenses, DSLR cameras are the best option.

Finding the right housing for your dive camera:

Basically, there are two types of housings: plastic housings and aluminium housings.

Plastic housings are way cheaper than aluminium, and so you can assume that the quality is not the same.

Carefully choose the housing, because in some cases it migh cost you much more than the camera itself. That’s why they also have to be ergonomic, resistant and durable.

If you are a recreational diver who is going to use the housing from time to time on your vacations, a plastic housing might be enough. Ikelite has amazing plastic designs with almost the same quality as aluminium ones, and at half the price.

For serious divers and photographers looking for the most ergonomic and durable housing, and willing to get the best underwater pictures, I’d suggest that you go for aluminium housing. However, keep in mind that they are “quite” expensive!

WHAT IS IMPORTANT IN A CAMERA?

RAW

If you want to take high-quality pictures and then retouch them in Photoshop or Lightroom, your camera must have the option to take photos in RAW mode. This way, you get the image in raw, which means you can modify it, raise or lower lights, contrast, etc. You’ll get better results than if you made these adjustments on the photo in JPEG format.

A GOOD AUTOFOCUS

All cameras on the list have an autofocus option, which usually works well on the mainland. However, focusing underwater can be a bit tricky. This is because the visibility is worse; the same amount of light isn’t available down there, you might encounter suspended particles in the water and some fish move very fast.

Therefore, it’s important that the camera has a good autofocus system, including several autofocus modes and multiple focus points to achieve the highest accuracy.

WIDE ANGLE

It’s crucial that the camera lens offers a wide angle to properly capture an open image of the underwater world. When it comes to cameras with interchangeable lenses, your selection will depend on the type of photography you will be doing.

For open photos, a “fish-eye” lens works well. In the case of built-in lenses, some cameras, such as the GoPro and the Sealife, feature this type of fish-eye lens (an angle of about 140°). Other cameras offer 24mm lenses, which are equivalent to about 100º of amplitude.

VIDEO MODE

Video quality in today’s cameras is one of the features that have advanced the most over the last few years. Even economical models have decent video. Most cameras on this list feature 1080p Full HD video quality, which is quite acceptable. The GoPro has an excellent video for its price and size.

A FEW EXTRA TIPS:

How to care for your camera

Most people feel love for their cameras (I do, at least). I mean, you go through many unforgettable moments together. After a while, the camera becomes like a travel buddy. In addition, cameras are not exactly cheap, so we want them to last as long as possible. It is very important that we take good care of our cameras.

STORAGE:

Regardless of the type of camera you are using, whether it’s a compact, bridge or reflex camera, you must store it in a dry, fresh and clean place. Humid areas must be avoided at all costs, as they can cause the formation of fungi in the lens and other parts of the equipment.

Keep it inside a protective bag, always with the cap on.

TRAVELING WITH YOUR CAMERA:

Sometimes you want to save 20 euros by buying a cheap camera bag, but this can ruin an expensive camera. It’s important to bring a bag that adequately protects the camera from shocks. The camera must be fixed inside the bag without moving from side to side.

PROTECTION:

In this article we recommend several underwater housings for your camera. Make sure you get good protection to prevent water leakage. The housings can be very expensive but you must see this as an investment.

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