The 8 Best Waterproof Cameras
Updated by · How we research
Rugged pocket cameras, action cameras and a scuba rig compared by depth rating, zoom and video. The OM System Tough TG-7 leads for snorkel photos with no case. When users buy our independently chosen editorial selections, we may earn commissions to help fund the Wiki.
A camera's waterproof rating comes from a test in still fresh water, and it holds only while the rubber seal on the battery door is clean and latched. This guide is for snorkelers, surfers and families heading to the beach, with rugged pocket cameras for photos, action cameras for video and one sealed rig for scuba divers.
Editor's Notes
November 1, 2026, by Ezvid Wiki Admin:
The OM System Tough TG-7 is our new first choice. Among the pocket cameras here, it has the best mix of close-up shooting, 4K video, RAW files and toughness, and it replaces the Olympus TG-6 it succeeded. Action cameras get more room, since many readers want video: the DJI Osmo Action 5 Pro, the GoPro HERO12 Black, the DJI Osmo Action 6 and the AKASO EK7000, which is honest about needing its case.
The Kodak Pixpro WPZ2, Fujifilm FinePix XP140 and SeaLife Micro 3.0 Pro 3000 stay. We dropped the GoPro Hero 9 Black, which is five generations old, the Nikon W300, Ricoh WG-70 and Nikon Coolpix W150, which are scarce or replaced, the industrial Ricoh G900 and the Sony RX0 II, a pricey camera with no zoom.
Depth, drop and cold figures come from OM System, DJI, GoPro and Ricoh spec pages. A three-month field review of the TG-7 and an underwater photo shop's buying guide shaped the top of the list.
November 26, 2020:
One of the most beloved names in dive photography has a new model in the SeaLife Micro 3.0 Pro 3000, which upgrades a significant amount of features from its previous model, including the addition of 4K video. While there is a version of this camera that doesn't come with the dive light, the demographic it's aimed at pretty much demands it, and the bracket included is top notch.
We also saw upgrades in the Olympus TG-6 Tough and GoPro Hero 9 Black, the latter of which now has a display screen on the front and the back, making it easy to frame up selfies and create live streams. GoPro has also upgraded the quality of their video feeds when live streaming with a connected mobile device, increasing it to 1080p from 720, while recorded video in the camera has increased from 4K to 5K resolution.
One other interesting addition to our list is the Ricoh G900 Industrial, which may seem at first to be very similar to the Ricoh WG-70, but upon close inspection reveals a whole host of superior features, like a higher-resolution sensor and the ability to stand up to chemicals in addition to water and dust. Its password protection feature is also fantastic for industries who would wish to guard their trade secrets should the camera fall into the wrong hands.
April 26, 2019:
While the sixth iteration of the GoPro Hero had much of the industry scratching its head and wondering why the company decided to come out with a model that was such a lateral move — and even felt in some ways like a step backwards — the seventh installment reminds us of all the reasons the very first model was so important, and it earned them back a place on our list here with a decent spot. Some other noteworthy upgrades came along for the Ricoh, Fuji, and Sony models, with the latter incorporating an articulating screen that significantly enhances its versatility, especially among vloggers or anyone else who goes diving...to look at themselves. The new Fuji offers little improvement over its last version, though it has gained a few meters in its depth rating. This disappointment caused it to slip a bit, as other brands have improved their models more. A new budget addition to the list, the model by Dragon Touch, offers users a 170-degree field of view in a body that's a bit bigger than a GoPro, but also presents an easier hand-held experience thanks to its bulkier frame.
Special Honors
Ikelite Underwater Housings Divers who already own a mirrorless camera or a DSLR can take it underwater in an Ikelite housing. The Indianapolis company builds each housing for a specific camera body, with controls that reach the camera's buttons, and it also makes ports, strobes and housings for some compacts. A housing adds bulk and costs a lot, and it fits only the model it was built for. ikelite.com
Photos Or Video: Two Kinds Of Waterproof Camera
If you want clips of surfing, biking or skiing, choose an action camera.
Waterproof cameras come in two families, and the first choice is which one fits you. A rugged pocket camera looks like an ordinary point-and-shoot with a sealed door. It has a real zoom lens, a flash and a large rear screen. The OM System Tough TG-7 pairs a 4x zoom (25-100 mm equivalent) with a close-focus mode and 4K video at 30 frames per second. The underwater specialist Bluewater Photo calls it the camera to start with for snorkelers and beginners, because it needs no housing.
An action camera is a small box with a very wide lens, strong stabilization and mounts for helmets, boards and handlebars. The DJI Osmo Action 5 Pro records 4K at up to 120 frames per second from a 1/1.3-inch sensor, and keeps the horizon level when the camera rolls. Action cameras win at video and mounting, but they have no optical zoom and they struggle with close-ups and indoor stills. If you mostly want pictures of fish, reefs and kids in the pool, choose a pocket camera. If you want clips of surfing, biking or skiing, choose an action camera.
What The Depth Rating Really Means
Every waterproof camera lists a depth, and the number has limits. It comes from a test in still fresh water for a set time. Kodak rates the Pixpro WPZ2 for 15 meters for up to an hour, and Ricoh rates the WG-90 for 14 meters for up to two hours. Jumping in, waves and diving down add pressure the test doesn't, so leave some margin.
For a pool or snorkeling, any camera rated 10 to 20 meters is plenty. The GoPro HERO12 Black is rated to 10 meters bare and 60 meters in GoPro's protective housing, and DJI's Action 5 Pro goes 20 meters bare and 60 meters in its dive case. Scuba divers need more. OM System's PT-059 housing takes the TG-7 to 45 meters, and the SeaLife Micro 3.0 is sealed for good and rated to 100 meters by its seller. Watch for budget action cameras that are waterproof only inside a plastic case: the AKASO EK7000 is one of them, and its camera body can't get wet at all.
Ratings terms help too. IPX8 means the camera survives continuous immersion beyond 1 meter, at the depth and time the maker states, and IP6X means it's dust-tight. The TG-7 carries both, per OM System.
Keeping It Dry, Warm And Afloat
Most floods start at the door. Before every swim, check that the rubber gasket around the battery door is clean, with no sand or hair, and that the lock clicks shut. Never open the door while the camera is wet or your hands are salty. After the sea or a chlorinated pool, rinse the camera in fresh water with the door closed, then dry it before you open anything. A sealed camera such as the SeaLife Micro 3.0 has no door at all, which removes this chore.
Cold is the other enemy. Pocket cameras like the TG-7 are rated to minus 10 degrees Celsius, and DJI rates the Action 5 Pro to minus 20 (DJI), but every lithium battery fades in the cold. In its three-month field review, Treeline Review found that cold drained the TG-7 quickly and that its fixed screen was hard to read in snow glare and through polarized sunglasses, so carry a spare battery in an inside pocket. Finally, most of these cameras sink. A floating wrist strap costs little and saves a camera dropped off a boat.
How we researched this
We compared 17 waterproof cameras, including every model on the 2020 list, and read spec pages from OM System, DJI, GoPro and Ricoh, a three-month field review of the TG-7 and an underwater photo shop's buying guide. Where a maker page couldn't be reached, we used the seller's stated figures and marked them in the specs. We checked every brand for recalls with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission and found none for these cameras. We found no independent lab tests of their waterproofing.
Sources (9)
Frequently asked questions
What is the best waterproof camera for snorkeling?
For photos, a rugged pocket camera such as the OM System Tough TG-7 or the Kodak Pixpro WPZ2. Both go about 15 meters with no case and have a real zoom. For video, an action camera like the DJI Osmo Action 5 Pro works without a case to 20 meters.
Do I need an underwater housing?
Not for a pool or snorkeling with any camera on this list except the AKASO EK7000, which is waterproof only in its case. You need a housing to go deeper than the camera's rating, as scuba divers often do: the TG-7's PT-059 housing is rated to 45 meters.
Can an action camera replace a waterproof pocket camera?
For video, yes. Action cameras have better stabilization, faster frame rates and more mounts. For photos, not quite: they have no optical zoom, no flash and a very wide lens that makes close-ups and portraits harder.
Is the OM System TG-7 worth it over the Olympus TG-6?
Yes, mostly because the TG-6 is now hard to find new. The two share the same depth and drop ratings and similar image quality, and the TG-7 adds USB-C charging, vertical video and new branding.
Is there a good waterproof camera that costs very little?
The least expensive pick here is the AKASO EK7000, and it's waterproof only inside its clear case. Cheaper cameras sold as waterproof are often splash-resistant only, so check for a depth rating in meters or feet before you buy.
Do waterproof cameras float?
Most don't. Pocket cameras and action cameras sink, so use a floating wrist strap or a floating handle when you're near deep water or on a boat.
