Best Underwater Camera for Snorkeling

Which is the Best Underwater Camera for Snorkeling? Snorkeling is one of the most aerodynamic sports that exist. So, you can’t use any camera for snorkeling.

There are some characteristics that your camera needs to have when you are underwater. You want something small and comfortable to use when you are underwater.

The best cameras for snorkeling are those that allow you to capture pictures and videos in high quality.

So you can turn memories into something you can hold forever. If you are starting out, read our Snorkeling Beginner’s guide and How to Take Pictures while Snorkeling.

Read more: Best GoPro for snorkeling

Not all cameras that are usually good are the same for snorkeling. When snorkeling, you’ll need a camera with all the excellent quality and resolutions that allow you to react quickly.

In his article, we bring you a list of the underwater cameras for snorkeling and what makes them great.

The 10 best action cameras for snorkeling

1. GoPro Hero9 Black

Specifications:

• Max Video Resolution: 5K
• Max Frame Rate: 240fps
• Max Photo Resolution: 20MP
• Max Battery Life: 112 mins @ 4K
• Extra Front-Facing Screen: Yes
• Image Stabilization: HyperSmooth 3.0 + Boost
• Waterproof Depth: 10m/33ft

GoPro is the first thing that comes to mind when we talk about action cameras sports.

GoPro has kept that spot over the years for a reason, especially when we talk about the new Hero line.

The GoPro Hero9 Black can shoot large 20MP photos and shoot 5K videos, all thanks to the image sensor (23.6 megapixels).

It’s great that it can shoot in 5K, but I know you won’t be using that feature unless you have a computer that can handle that. The best feature is image stabilization.

Even in less than 4K the extra room on the sensor lets you stabilize the video. It would be best to have this when snorkeling because you get shuffled around a lot with the water.

This new GoPro includes a feature called “Horizon Lock” that makes stabilization something serious. It doesn’t matter how much the water moves you; the video will still be level and smooth. But the best feature of the camera, and one of the reasons it is on the list of best cameras for snorkeling, is the new hindsight.

Imagine you are recording all the time you are underwater, then you’ll end up with a memory full and without battery. And what happens if you don’t press the record button on time? You’ll probably miss a great shot if you are not fast enough to take the picture. These two things usually happen when snorkeling.

When hindsight is enabled, the camera will be recording continuously. It will delete the video if you let it pass by in a 60-second history window unless you hit record.

Hindsight takes almost the same amount of battery as if you were recording, so you might want to take an extra battery.

But, it’s important to mention that the GoPro hero9 has the best battery life in the category. It has a front-facing selfie screen that can help you frame self-shots.

The only thing that is not so good is its weight. It’s a little heavier, and you’ll definitely be conscious that it’s in your hand, but with the water’s buoyancy effect, you might not notice it.

2. DJI Osmo Action

Specifications:

• Max Video Resolution: 4K
• Max Frame Rate: 240fps @ 1080p
• Max Photo Resolution: 12MP
• Max Battery Life: 63 mins @ 4K
• Extra Front-Facing Screen: Yes
• Image Stabilization: RockSteady
• Waterproof Depth: 11m/36ft

DJI Osmo Action is one of the best options among cameras underwater for snorkeling. It’s seriously giving GoPro’s hero black a run for its money.

It’s waterproof to a deeper depth than the GoPro Hero 9. You won’t get that deep while snorkeling, but it’s nice to know you can use it when scuba diving.

The image-stabilization technology called Rocksolid is very capable of giving you solid images. And the 4k video and 12-megapixel photo capability guarantee you that your snorkeling images will be unique.

It has a front-facing selfie camera like the GoPro Hero9 Black. But, the DJI OSmo action has a small battery and sensor size. But the DJI OSMO is a really capable camera for snorkeling.

3. GoPro Hero8 Black

Specifications:

• Max Video Resolution: 4K
• Max Frame Rate: 240fps @ 1080p
• Max Photo Resolution: 12MP
• Max Battery Life: 74 mins @ 4K
• Extra Front-Facing Screen: No
• Image Stabilization: Hypersmooth 2.0 + Boost
• Waterproof Depth: 10m/33ft

GoPro Hero9 black improves many aspects of this model, but the Hero8 Black is still one of the best underwater action cameras for snorkeling.

It has all the best characteristics of a GoPro, such as:

• Hypersmooth image stabilization

• Decent battery

• Lots of accessories.

But, It fails in one thing, it doesn’t have the extra front-facing selfie screen of the other cameras.

It’s an excellent camera for a lower price compared to the Hero9 Black. The image stabilization and all the other capabilities that a GoPro camera usually offers are worth it.

4. SJCAM SJ10 Pro

Specifications:

• Max Video Resolution: 4K
• Max Frame Rate: 60fps @ 4K
• Max Photo Resolution: 12MP
• Max Battery Life: 95 mins @ 4K
• Extra Front-Facing Screen: No
• Image Stabilization: Supersmooth GYRO
• Waterproof Depth: 10m/33ft

SJCAM SJ10 Pro is very similar to the DJI Osmo Action in many ways. But the SJ10 Pro stands out when talking about battery life and screen size.

It can last 95 minutes of use when recording at 4K. It’s the best at this from the list. Its screen is bigger than the others (2.33″). It might not sound important, but it is nice to have a huge screen when you’re trying to change settings while floating.

On the opposite side, it doesn’t have an extra front-facing screen and lacks options for frame rates. The limited frame rate isn’t that important when snorkeling since anything more than 60fps is unnecessary. But it can limit you for activities outside the water.

SJCAM is basically new in the action camera, but it’s already on our list of best underwater cameras for snorkeling because it has shown a lot of promise.

5. SeaLife Micro 3.0

Specifications:

• Max Video Resolution: 4K
• Max Frame Rate: 30fps @ 4k
• Max Photo Resolution: 16MP
• Max Battery Life: 95 mins @ 4K
• Extra Front-Facing Screen: No

This is a really easy underwater camera to use for photos and videos. It’s recommended for people looking for a small camera to document what is happening underwater.

If you are not interested in a professional point of view. The battery can last almost 3 hours which is great for snorkeling.

It’s really easy to operate, which is essential when you are underwater. It has three buttons that look like piano keys to make it easier to locate and control. The camera has an option to guide you through the right setting based on where you are shooting, depth, light.

6. Olympus TG-6 Camera

Specifications:

• Max Video Resolution: 4K
• Max Frame Rate: 30fps @ 4k
• Max Photo Resolution: 12MP
• Max Battery Life: 95 mins @ 4K
• Extra Front-Facing Screen: No
• Waterproof Depth: 15m/50ft

The Olympus TG-6 camera is a very popular underwater camera. It can be used for snorkeling and is waterproof up to 50ft, but only if you usually don’t go that deep.

Besides, this camera being waterproof is also shockproof, freeze-proof, and dust-proof.

Olympus TG-6 camera is a great option, but you’ll need additional housing if you want to go deeper than 50ft.

7. Canon G7X III

Specifications:

• Max Video Resolution: 4K
• Max Frame Rate: 30fps @ 4k
• Max Photo Resolution: 20MP
• Max Battery Life: 95 mins @ 4K
• Extra Front-Facing Screen: No
• Waterproof Depth: 15m/50ft

This camera is really small and has a large 1-inch and 20MP sensor. It has an excellent image quality, fast-focusing, and macro focus.

It can shoot a 4K video, slow motion, and a better image processor.

It has an affordable price, and it’s a nice option to have in mind when looking for a camera for snorkeling.

8. Gnolkee G44H

Specifications:

• Max Video Resolution: 4K
• Max Frame Rate: 30fps @ 4k
• Max Photo Resolution: 20MP
• Max Battery Life: 60 mins @ 4K
• Extra Front-Facing Screen: No
• Waterproof Depth: 15m/50ft

Gnolkee is a great camera to shoot videos underwater. But, you’ll need a case for it. This is a disadvantage when comparing it with natively- waterproof cameras.

It supports the Android and iOS system and WiFi remote control to have a real-time recording. It has an ergonomic design, so you’ll have a great experience taking pictures or shooting videos.

It has an anti-shake function to guarantee you a stable image no matter how much movement is happening in your ride.

This camera comes with high-capacity 1050 mAH batteries. It’s enough to record for an hour at least, which it’s great for the water when you don’t know when the best moment can happen.

What to look for in an underwater action camera for snorkeling

Waterproofing

It sounds obvious when you’re looking for cameras for snorkeling, but you need a camera that’s natively waterproof. A lot of action cameras nowadays have an available case to make your camera waterproof, but it’s not the same.

Suppose you want a camera that is specifically for snorkeling. In that case, it’s vital that you buy a natively waterproof camera because you don’t need to buy an extra accessory to keep it safe. You won’t have to worry if your camera gets a little wet, which is basically inevitable.

Photo and Video Quality

This is the main goal when buying a camera for any purpose. We always want our pictures and videos to look great. It doesn’t matter the camera or the kind of pictures we are taking. But the rules are different underwater, and the cameras for snorkeling need to be special to deliver outstanding results.

Image Stabilization

While snorkeling, you are constantly moving; sometimes, you don’t notice, but your body never stops moving.

Shooting a video without a good image stabilization will make anyone who sees it sick. They won’t need to go to the boat. So we have to buy a camera that smooths the videos while shooting them.

Battery Life

Action camera usually records around 40 to 16o minutes until it runs out of battery. This might change if you record at a higher resolution or use more features; it will consume more energy than usual.

Some cameras come with extra batteries that you’ll need to carry with you on any trip. So, pay attention to how long you want your camera battery to last.

Videos in low light

Most action cameras are designed keeping in mind that most outdoor activities are done in broad daylight.

So when you are recording at night or indoors, some images can look shaky. This is because of the overdensity camera movement detected during these types of recording.

These shaking issues happen most of the time when the motion sensor is enabled.

This was our article about the best GoPro for snorkeling. Leave your comment!