The Best Waterproof Cameras of 2023

The Akaso Brave 7-GY offers similar styling (and specs) to a GoPro at a significantly lower price. The Brave 7 has LCD screens on both the front and the back of the camera, as well as a screen on the remote control. Shoppers found the Akaso offered great value, with several included mounting options and accessories.

Reviewers mentioned that setup was easy and the remote option was useful. Some experienced issues with the sound on their camera, however, noticing there was significant static. One reviewer in particular had a camera replaced because of this issue and found the second camera to be significantly better.

Akaso offers a one-year warranty on their cameras, which can be extended to two if you register the camera on their website. Some users experienced issues with the waterproofing on their camera, with the camera leaking even within the recommended depth restrictions. Other reviewers also noted the remote is not waterproof.

Some reviewers had issues with the app for the camera, noting there were several advertisements and it was a bit tricky to work through. If the remote isn’t a feature you’d see yourself using, go with the Brave 7; the specs are similar, and you’ll save a bit of cash.

The Olympus Tough TG-6 has a list of conditions it can handle to varying degrees: waterproof, dustproof, crushproof, shockproof, freezeproof. In reviews, the durability of the underwater camera wasn’t driving any complaints, with many shoppers pointing out how durable the camera is. The main concern by reviewers was the ease of use.

The TG-6 isn’t exactly a point-and-shoot, which many users seemed to be looking for. Some reviewers were frustrated with the different settings on the camera and felt the manual wasn’t particularly helpful. That said, the happiest reviewers mentioned moving down from a DSLR to the Olympus TG-6 because they didn’t want to risk their more expensive gear.

Reviewers who used the macro settings were particularly happy with the TG-6, noting the crispness of the images. One reviewer in particular felt the 12-megapixel sensor shot images better than expected, even in low-light conditions. The panorama, HDR and focus-stacking modes also got praise from reviewers.

Shoppers were concerned about the lack of a lens cover as well as the touchscreen being vulnerable to scratches. With the camera’s waterproofing down to 50 feet without an extra case, using the TG-6 for diving or snorkeling is a reasonable expectation.

Reviewers liked the different underwater shooting modes on this camera and found using the TG-6 underwater straightforward. With an additional waterproofing case, as well as underwater LED light, the TG-6 can reach 195 feet, well past recreational scuba limits. With some time invested in learning the settings for this camera, the Olympus TG-6 offers excellent results from a waterproof, rugged camera. You can purchase an additional year of warranty from the Olympus site; this includes a checkup and camera cleaning during that time, too.

If you’re the designated photographer on family holidays, often it looks like your family goes on vacation without you. With a waterproof camera like the Insta360 One X2, even the photographer is included in shots. Reviewers liked the shots, using a particular selfie stick that gets erased by the Insta360 software, resulting in footage that looks like a drone or a camera crew snapped it.

Shoppers liked the high quality of the camera and the straightforward use with the quick capture button. While some reviewers mentioned the software is easy to use, other reviewers were frustrated by the requirements for the phone or computer connections. The camera doesn’t work on its own—a newer smartphone needs to be connected to it to access files, with particular speed and OS requirements. The files are large, which has its own pluses and negatives.

On the upside, the camera captures everything. If you missed a great shot, reviewers reported being able to edit and frame it. However, with big files, your hardware is working, well, hard.

The camera is also selective about the SD card; some reviewers were frustrated by the limited type of SD card that works with this camera. The updated One doesn’t seem to have the same overheating issues that other cameras from Insta360 are reported to have. However, there can be issues with the waterproofing. While battery time is estimated by the manufacturer to be 80 minutes, some reviewers felt the battery lasted just under an hour.

Several reviewers mentioned the lenses scratch easily and, considering there are lenses on both sides, it’s hard to set the camera down without touching a lens. Support from Insta360 seems to be lacking, with several shoppers commenting on the long wait for a response or support simply not being helpful.

The GoPro is a popular action camera and useful as a waterproof camera in taking photos where there’s water threatening. Both the GoPro 9 and 10 have high resolutions—20 MP stills for the GoPro 9 and a slight increase at 23 MP for the GoPro 10.

With the new GoPro offering just a slight bump in resolution and a new processor, the GoPro 9 is still a great deal for shooting in a watery environment. With LCDs on both the front and the back of the GoPro 9, taking selfies is much easier than before.

Reviewers like the “Hindsight” feature that records a bit of video before a photo, letting you catch great action shots even if you’re slow on the draw. Shoppers liked the improved batteries, although generally the expectation is about an hour’s worth of shooting.

Users have noted that the image stabilization is an improvement over earlier versions. For some, there are still issues with the GoPro overheating, along with complaints about the customer support. There isn’t any onboard memory, so don’t forget to pick up an SD card for this one.

The Nikon Coolpix W300 Waterproof offers an affordable camera that can survive holiday beach conditions so you can relax and enjoy your vacation. The Coolpix offers a 16 MP sensor—a reasonable resolution for most hobbyist use—and 4K HD video. The camera also has GPS and Wi-Fi, making it easy to upload photos to your camera in a .jpg format.

Many reviewers commented on the camera being easy to use, with several even letting their children use it since it’s both rugged and intuitive.

Shoppers recommend getting a memory card right away. There’s a small amount of onboard storage that lets you use the camera out of the box, but it’s very limited. Though some reviewers found the camera getting dunked in water seemed to be fine, others who used it while snorkeling or diving were disappointed with it fogging up or leaking.