Must-Haves for Underwater Photography

Must-Haves for Underwater Photography

Janine van der Kooij - Vink

The must-haves for underwater photography

Dive deeper into the world of underwater photography with the right equipment and discover a realm of colorful corals, fish, and underwater landscapes. Whether you're an experienced diver or want to capture the beauty of the ocean during your holiday, on this page you'll discover the essential items that will bring your underwater adventures to life. From high-quality action cameras to robust underwater housings and innovative lighting systems, we offer an extensive selection to choose from. Still unsure which underwater equipment suits you best? Then take a look at our underwater buying guide for expert advice!

Action Cameras

Action cameras are suitable for underwater photography due to their compact and portable design, waterproofness, wide angle of view, robustness, and affordability. They offer the ultimate ease of use and are designed to withstand the challenging conditions underwater, without needing an extra housing. With their waterproof properties you can dive without worry and capture the beautiful underwater world in vivid colors and razor-sharp details. Thanks to their wide angle of view, you effortlessly capture breathtaking underwater landscapes and fascinating underwater life on both photo and video. You can also easily mount them using the handy accessories.

GoPro HERO 12 Black

  • Waterproof to 10 meters
  • 27MP photos in RAW & JPG
  • 5.3K resolution at 120fps
  • Battery life: 70 minutes

DJI Osmo Action 4

  • Waterproof to 18 meters
  • 10MP photos in RAW & JPG
  • 4K resolution at 120fps
  • Battery life: 2.5 hours

Insta360 X4

  • Waterproof to 10 meters
  • 72MP photos in DNG & INSP
  • 8K resolution at 30fps
  • Battery life: 135 minutes

Action Camera Accessories

When using an action camera for underwater photography, there are various accessories that can be useful to enhance your experience and optimize your recordings. Although action cameras are often waterproof, adding an underwater housing can provide extra protection, especially when diving to greater depths. A good underwater housing protects your camera from water pressure and potential shocks. A floating handle prevents your action camera from sinking if you accidentally drop it while diving — especially useful in deeper waters where it can be difficult to find the camera.

Compact Cameras

Some compact cameras are built with a waterproof housing, making them suitable for underwater photography. These cameras are often sturdy and resistant to rough conditions, making them a good choice for divers looking for a more traditional camera experience. These cameras give you just a bit more control over your photo compared to an action camera, and the megapixel count is considerably higher.

OM SYSTEM Tough TG-7

  • Waterproof to 15 meters
  • 12MP photos in RAW & JPEG
  • 4K resolution at 30fps

Ricoh WG-80

  • Waterproof to 14 meters
  • 14MP photos in JPG
  • Full HD resolution at 30fps

Kodak Waterproof WPZ-2

  • Waterproof to 15 meters
  • 16MP photos in EXIF & JPEG
  • Full HD at 30fps

Underwater Housing

Do you already own a camera and want to use it underwater? That's also possible with an underwater housing. The advantage is that you're already familiar with the camera and can operate it quickly and easily. An underwater housing provides the necessary protection against water, impacts, and scratches, while maintaining the full functionality of your camera.

DICAPac WP-S3

  • For mirrorless cameras
  • Waterproof to 5 meters
  • Maximum duration: 30 minutes
  • For lenses up to 68mm long
  • For lenses up to 65mm diameter

Aquatech

Underwater housing for various camera brands and models. Allows you to capture the fascinating underwater world with your camera down to 10 meters.

Sealife SportDiver Underwater Housing

  • Waterproof to 40 meters
  • Double leak alarm
  • Camera settings remain accessible
  • Color correction filter for better results

Professional Underwater Cameras

Professional underwater cameras offer advanced features and customization options tailored to the needs of experienced photographers. From special white balance settings to advanced autofocus capabilities, these cameras allow you to capture the perfect shot, even in the most challenging conditions. In addition, professional underwater cameras are compatible with a wide range of underwater accessories, such as lighting systems, filters, and lenses, allowing you to express your creativity and take your photos to a higher level.

Sealife Reefmaster RM-4K

  • Waterproof to 40 meters
  • 14MP photos in RAW & JPEG
  • 4K resolution at 30fps

SeaLife Micro 3.0 64 GB

  • Waterproof to 60 meters
  • 16MP photos in RAW & JPEG
  • 4K resolution at 30fps

Lighting

Underwater, natural light quickly diminishes as you go deeper, causing colors to fade and details to be lost. By using external lighting, such as underwater flashes or video lighting, you can achieve perfect color renditions of your subject. Lighting also helps reduce shadows and improve contrast, giving your underwater photos more depth and dimension. Whether you're photographing colorful corals, exotic fish, or breathtaking underwater landscapes, the right lighting ensures your images are vivid and true to life.

Sealife SL963

  • Waterproof to 60 meters
  • Range up to 2.5 meters
  • Approximately 150 flashes

Light & Motion Sola Dive 2500 S/F

  • Waterproof to 90 meters
  • CRI index: 80
  • Beam angle: 60 degrees

SeaLife Sea Dragon 3000SF Pro

  • Waterproof to 100 meters
  • CRI index: 70
  • Beam angle: 90 degrees

Underwater Drones

With underwater drones you can take your underwater photography to an even higher level. With their advanced technologies and powerful performance, underwater drones offer a unique way to explore the depths and capture breathtaking images. These drones are designed to move smoothly through water at various depths, making them perfect for capturing underwater landscapes, sea creatures, and colorful coral. Moreover, underwater drones often offer live streaming capabilities, allowing you to enjoy the underwater world in real time.

PowerVision PowerRay Wizard

  • Maximum dive time: 240 minutes
  • 12MP photos in RAW & JPEG
  • 4K resolution at 30fps

Creative with Domes

With a dome you can create beautiful split-shot images, where both the underwater landscape and the landscape above water are captured in one frame. Domes are special lenses with a large curvature designed to reduce the effect of a waterline and improve the sharpness and clarity of your underwater photos. This creates breathtaking compositions and a unique perspective that would otherwise not be possible. Moreover, domes help minimize light refraction and distortion, keeping your underwater photos clear and true to life.

PolarPro Fifty-Fifty Dome

Aquatech XLD-135 Dome Port

AquaTech PD-12 Dome 12"