The 9 Best Waterproof Cameras for Taking Underwater Photos

Key Specs

• Waterproof: 50 feet
• Shockproof: 7 feet
• Freezeproof: Up to 14 degrees Fahrenheit
• Max Video Resolution: 4k
• ISO Rating: 12800

Olympus' Tough TG-6 is considered across the board to be one of the best waterproof cameras around. Not only is it waterproof up to 50 feet, but—living up to its name—it is shockproof for falls up to 7 feet, can withstand up to 220 pounds of pressure, and is freezeproof in temperatures as low as 14 degrees Fahrenheit. Even better, sporting a 12MP BSI CMOS sensor, it takes great photos—even in low light (it has an f/2 lens and a max ISO of 12800).

Plus, it captures 4K video at 30 fps and has Wi-Fi, GPS, a compass, and a temperature sensor built-in. And if that's not enough, there are a bunch of accessories you can get it for it, too.

Key Specs

• Waterproof: 100 feet
• Shockproof: 8 feet
• Freezeproof: Up to 14 degrees Fahrenheit
• Max Video Resolution: 4k
• ISO Rating: 6400

The Nikon CoolPix W300 is a close runner-up to the TG-6, but though it has equal or better specs in some categories, its picture quality isn't as good. Like the Olympus, it's tough, with shockproofing for falls up 8 feet and freezeproofing for temperatures down to 14 degrees Fahrenheit.

However, its waterproof rating will be its selling point for scuba divers, as it can go with you down to 100 feet (twice that of the TG-6), where its built-in LED light will come in handy. Its 16MP BSI CMOS sensor is paired with an f/2.8 5x optical zoom lens, but with a max ISO of 6400, it's not as adept in low-light situations. It records 4K video at 30 fps and is equipped with Wi-Fi, GPS, and Bluetooth.

The W300 is a great all-around camera, especially for those needing a little more depth.

Key Specs

• Waterproof: 200 feet
• Shockproof: N/A
• Freezeproof: N/A
• Max Video Resolution: 4k
• ISO Rating: 3200

As you might have guessed from the brand name, SeaLife specializes in underwater photography. So for those with the budget, the SeaLife Micro 3.0 is a top-notch choice for capturing everything under the sea.

The Micro can handle depths of up to 200 feet and has three built-in underwater color correction filters. It has a Sony 16MP CMOS sensor and 100-degree wide-angle lens for capturing everything in your field of view. It can record 4K video at 30fps or 1080p at 120fps, and has Wi-Fi for transferring your photos and videos to your phone.

Its ISO maxes out at 3200, though, so if you plan on heading to the darkness of the deep sea, you might want to purchase it as a kit with one or two of SeaLife's Sea Dragon lights.

Key Specs

• Waterproof: 33 feet
• Shockproof: N/A
• Freezeproof: N/A
• Max Video Resolution: 5k
• ISO Rating: N/A

GoPro has become synonymous with action cameras. These small cameras can be mounted just about anywhere to capture everything you do on land and sea.

While GoPro recently released its Hero10, the Hero9 can be had for slightly less and still has plenty of attractive features. It has a 23.6MP sensor for capturing 20MP photos, but video is where it shines; it can record in 5K at 30fps, 4K at 60fps, 2.7K at 120fps, and 1080p at 240fps. And with Wi-Fi connectivity, you can stream live to the web.

Plus, not only does it have a 2.3-inch rear touchscreen, but it also has a 1.4-inch front display that shows a live preview. The Hero9 will only go down to 33 feet as is, but you can purchase a protective housing for extending that to 196 feet.

Key Specs

• Waterproof: 10 feet
• Shockproof: N/A
• Freezeproof: N/A
  
• Max Video Resolution: 4k
• ISO Rating: 1600

Once your kids see you taking photos underwater, they are no doubt going to want to get in on the action. But as you probably won't be too jazzed about what could potentially befall your nice camera, this one from Polaroid is a good option to give them instead. For starters, it's available for only $60, so you won't sweat it if the worst happens. But while it's brightly colored, your kids won't feel like you've given them a toy.

With an 18MP CMOS sensor, it's a capable camera and will even shoot video in 4K. And it's equipped with Wi-Fi, so they can post to Instagram, too. They can even go in the deep end of the pool with it, as it has a waterproof rating of 10 feet.

Key Specs

• Waterproof: 33 feet
• Shockproof: 5.9 feet
• Freezeproof: Up to 14 degrees Fahrenheit
• Max Video Resolution: 1080p
• ISO Rating: 1600

With a 13.2MP CMOS sensor, the Nikon CoolPix W150 doesn’t have the photo quality of its more sophisticated counterpart, the W300, and it’s slightly less rugged as well, with a shockproof rating of 5.9 feet. But for less than half the price of the W300, you get a camera that you can still take with you underwater up to 33 feet. And while this point-and-shoot won’t take 4K video, you still get 1080p video at 30 fps and built-in Wi-Fi and Bluetooth for transferring photos to your phone. It’s also super easy to use, with a dedicated “Shoot Under Water" setting.

Key Specs

• Waterproof: 130 feet
• Shockproof: N/A
• Freezeproof: N/A
• Max Video Resolution: N/A
• ISO Rating: N/A

Although you can't just take your iPhone with you in the ocean as-is, you can bring it with you if you house it in this case from SeaLife. This housing will let you go up to 130 feet underwater with your iPhone, while SeaLife's SportDiver app will allow you to use your iPhone's camera features. The housing fits all iPhones from iPhone 7 and up (including Max sizes), and has an easy-to-use shutter button and other controls.

While the case features an O-ring seal and locking mechanism, to ensure that your phone is never damaged, it also has two internal alarms—one for moisture and one for vacuum pressure—to alert you should the seal be broken.

Key Specs

• Waterproof: 82 feet
• Shockproof: 5.9 feet
• Freezeproof: Up to 14 degrees Fahrenheit
• Max Video Resolution: 4K
• ISO Rating: 12800

Fuji’s FinePix XP140 is a competitively priced camera with a nice feature set. It’s able to go down to 82 feet underwater, and with a fairly high ISO and back-illuminated sensor, it can shoot even in low light. It has 4K capabilities, but at a disappointing 15fps, however. It features a 5X optical zoom and a Smile Shutter, which automatically takes the photo when it detects someone smiling.

Key Specs

• Waterproof: 45 feet
• Shockproof: 5.2 feet
• Freezeproof: 14 degrees Fahrenheit
• Max Video Resolution: 1080p
• ISO Rating: 6400

While most cameras on this list are fairly rugged, you can tell the Ricoh RG-70 is built extra tough just looking at it. Not only can it survive drops from 5.2 feet, but it's also crushproof up to 200 pounds. And while it can only shoot video up to 1080p and its other specs aren’t particularly impressive, it does offer a bunch of features you won’t find on other cameras, including six built-in LED lamps around the lens for lighting close-up and macro photography.