The best action camera for snorkeling

Discovering the underwater wildlife in clear waters, on a sunny day, is probably one of the best experiences, especially when you can share it with friends and family! This guide will help you pick the best action camera for capturing your snorkeling outings.

Image by Insta360insta360 ace pro 2 snorkeling

How to choose an action camera for snorkeling

  • Low light performance The resulting footage with any camera depends mainly on the amount and quality of the light when filming. Cloudy weather and murky waters can lead to very disappointing results when capturing your snorkeling outings. Picking a camera with good low light performance can help get the best results possible, even when the conditions are not optimal.
  • Waterproofing Most cameras are waterproof without a case, but their waterproofing relies on seals around openings which can leak when unproperly closed or sometimes just fail. If you plan to go snorkeling without a diving case, and even if you remain in shallow waters, make sure your camera is rated for at least 33ft / 10m depth and be very careful to close the latches with care.
  • Diving case Even if your camera is rated for more than 33ft / 10m, we highly recommend using the appropriate diving case to avoid any seal failures that could lead to permanent damage of your device. Furthermore, for some cameras like the Insta360 X5 or Insta360 X4, the resulting footage will be better when using the diving case and appropriate diving mode as the settings are specially calibrated for underwater video.

Action cameras featured in this article

Best overallDJI Osmo Action 5 Pro☆☆☆☆☆★★★★★DJI Osmo Action 5 ProJump to chapterBest 360 cameraInsta360 X5☆☆☆☆☆★★★★★Insta360 X5Jump to chapterBest valueGoPro Hero 10 Black☆☆☆☆☆★★★★★GoPro Hero 10 BlackJump to chapterCheapest optionAkaso EK7000 Pro☆☆☆☆☆★★★★★Akaso EK7000 ProJump to chapter

Best action camera for snorkeling

DJI Osmo Action 5 Pro☆☆☆☆☆★★★★★DJI Osmo Action 5 Pro
Best waterproofing, great low light performance and innovative features for underwater footage
The DJI Osmo Action 5 Pro is well equipped for capturing great snorkeling footage. Indeed, the camera's low light performance is one of the best on the market, but it also offers an innovative color temperature sensor and automatic adjusting of the settings to get the best possible colors in your underwater footage. It is also waterproof up to 66ft / 20m without a diving case, making it the most waterproof action camera available.
Read full DJI Osmo Action 5 Pro article
Specifications
  • Waterproof: 66ft / 20m
  • Waterproof with diving case: 197ft / 60m
  • Battery life: 240min at 1080p
  • Pros
  • SuperNight mode
  • Waterproof 66ft / 20m without case
  • Freeze-proof
  • Built-in storage
  • Cons
  • Still only 4K video

Reasons to buy the DJI Osmo Action 5 Pro

  • Low light performance The Action 5 Pro delivers excellent footage in low light situations.
  • Color temperature sensor and pressure gauge Underwater footage often lacks color and detail, but the Action 5 Pro is equipped with a color temperature sensor and a pressure gauge which allow it to automatically adjust it's settings for optimal colors.
  • 66ft / 20m waterproof and diving case The high waterproof rating of the DJI Osmo Action 5 Pro is reassuring when using it without a diving case. However, we still recommend using the appropriate diving case to avoid any issues.

Reasons to avoid the DJI Osmo Action 5 Pro

  • Only 4k video resolution The Action 5 Pro's video is capped at 4K which can be a drawback for some. It will still be fine for most people recording fun times and sharing them online, but if resolution is crucial for you, you might want to consider the Insta360 Ace Pro 2 with it's 8K video or the UNKNOWN featuring 5.3K video.

More premium action cameras

There cameras are all top of the range and equipped for snorkeling.

GoPro's flagshipGoPro Hero 13 Black☆☆☆☆☆★★★★★GoPro Hero 13 BlackGoPro's latest camera featuring 5.3K video, lens mods, super slomo8K videoInsta360 Ace Pro 2☆☆☆☆☆★★★★★Insta360 Ace Pro 2Insta360's latest flagship action camera: 8K video and a flipscreenDJI's 2023 action cameraDJI Osmo Action 4☆☆☆☆☆★★★★★DJI Osmo Action 4DJI's 2023 premium action camera: 4K120fps video

The best 360 degrees camera for snorkeling

Insta360 X5☆☆☆☆☆★★★★★Insta360 X5
The best pick for capturing your snorkeling outings in 360 degrees
The X5 is Insta360's latest 360 degree action camera and delivers incredible 8K spherical video. 360 cameras capture your entire surroundings at once, which allows fun and amazing editing possibilities like awesome third person footage, or seperate videos for each member of your group, or simply focusing on something you might have missed while capturing the footage. The X5 has good low light performance and can be equipped with an invisible diving case for optimal underwater footage, making it a great pick for snorkeling.
Read full Insta360 X5 article
Specifications
  • Waterproof: 49ft / 15m
  • Waterproof with diving case: 164ft / 50m
  • Battery life: 208min 5.7K24fps 360°, 135min 5.7K30fps 360°, 93min 8K30fps 360°
  • Pros
  • Replaceable lenses
  • Improved night mode
  • New magnetic mount system
  • Cons
  • Not compatible with all X4 accessories
Image by Insta360The diving case and the selfie stick are invisible in the final footage for incredible third person videos.
The diving case and the selfie stick are invisible in the final footage for incredible third person videos.

Reasons to buy the Insta360 X5

  • 360 degree footage Filming in 360 degrees allows for awesome editing possibilities and offers a lot of flexibility. Just hold the selfie stick and enjoy your snorkleing, you can fine tune the focus later.
  • Invisible selfie stick The invisible selfie stick is an amazing tool for capturing underwater wildlife as you can get the camera closer to fish or shellfish without scaring them. There is even a 10ft / 3m long selfie stick available.
  • Great diving case The diving case very well built, rated up to 164ft / 50m and is equipped with anti-fogging pads to ensure no fog builds up inside while you snorkel.
  • Great battery life The X5 beats the competition by quite a bit when it comes to run time with over 2 hours of continuous recording at 5.7K30fps.

Reasons to avoid the Insta360 X5

  • Diving case is just about mandatory Although rated waterproof up to 33ft / 10m without a diving case, the Insta360 X5 is not designed for underwater footage without the diving case and without it, there will be a visible seam on the resulting footage. For a perfect, seamless result, you need to use the diving case.
  • Expensive overall The camera by itself is not the most pricey, but when paired with the diving case, the price tag is quite high. If that is above your budget, you might want to consider a traditional action camera like the GoPro Hero 13 Black or Insta360 Ace Pro 2.

More 360 action cameras for snorkeling

Here is a selection of 360 degree cameras you could consider for snorkeling.

Insta360's previous 360 cameraInsta360 X4☆☆☆☆☆★★★★★Insta360 X4Insta360's 2024 360 camera model: 8K30fps video and great battery lifeInsta360's 2022 modelInsta360 X3☆☆☆☆☆★★★★★Insta360 X3Insta360's 2022 360 camera: 5.7K video and a large touchscreenNo diving caseDJI Osmo 360☆☆☆☆☆★★★★★DJI Osmo 360DJI's first 360 cameraNo diving caseKandao Qoocam 3 Ultra☆☆☆☆☆★★★★★Kandao Qoocam 3 UltraKandao's latest 360 camera: 8K video and integrated GPS

Best value for money

GoPro Hero 10 Black☆☆☆☆☆★★★★★GoPro Hero 10 Black
A premium camera at a low pricepoint
The GoPro Hero 10 Black is already several generations old but still offers great performance and a premium experience at an affordable pricepoint. Rated up to 33ft / 10m depth, it is a good pick for a budget friendly snorkeling camera, especially as third party diving cases can be found for very cheap.
Read full GoPro Hero 10 Black article
Specifications
  • Waterproof: 33ft / 10m
  • Waterproof with diving case: 197ft / 60m
  • Battery life: 150min at 1080p
  • Pros
  • A premium product at a budget price
  • Integrated GPS
  • Good battery life
  • Cons
  • Ageing sensor technology
  • Older generation stabilization

Reasons to buy the Hero 10

  • Premium camera, budget price The Hero 10 was GoPro's flagship model a few years ago, so it has all the features of a premium camera but now at an affordable price. There are other options at a similar or slightly lower price range, but with far less to offer.
  • Cheap third party accessories GoPro has a large range of branded accessories but there are also many third party options for very cheap, including diving cases, making the Hero 10 a compelling choice for consumers looking for value.

More budget friendly cameras for snorkeling

Insta360's entry level cameraInsta360 Ace☆☆☆☆☆★★★★★Insta360 AceInsta360's budget action camera: 6K video and a flipscreenDJI's 2022 action cameraDJI Osmo Action 3☆☆☆☆☆★★★★★DJI Osmo Action 3DJI's 2022 premium action camera: 4K120fps videoComes with a diving caseAkaso Brave 7 LE☆☆☆☆☆★★★★★Akaso Brave 7 LEAkaso's 2020 mid range budget action camera

Cheapest option for snorkeling

Akaso EK7000 Pro☆☆☆☆☆★★★★★Akaso EK7000 Pro
For beginners, kids or a one-off snorkeling outing
The Akaso EK7000 Pro is about as cheap as action cameras can get. It doesn't offer good performance, but still features 4K video and comes with loads of accessories, including a diving case which makes it the most budget friendly option for beginners, kids, or a one-off snorkeling outing.
Read full Akaso EK7000 Pro article
Specifications
  • Waterproof: -
  • Waterproof with diving case: 131ft / 40m
  • Battery life: 140min for 4K30fps
  • Pros
  • Great value for money
  • Lots of accessories included
  • Cons
  • Poor low light footage
  • Short battery life
  • Not waterproof without case

Reasons to avoid the EK7000 Pro

  • Very modest performance Don't expect much at this pricepoint, the footage will probably be underwelming. Hope for blue skies and clear waters and stay at the surface for best results.