Tools Of The Trade
Jun 22, 2021
Are you planning to get wet on your next vacation? Are you wondering which camera you should take along to capture some epic snorkeling or diving shots? A GoPro is your best bet.
In this guide, find out why a GoPro is a great choice and what you need to use your GoPro as a snorkeling or diving camera.
What Makes a Camera Good for Diving Snorkeling?
Average cameras and water are definitely not friends. So first, a camera for diving and snorkeling should be waterproof. But also-and this is super important-it should be waterproof to at least as deep as youll be diving. So be sure to confirm your cameras waterproof depth rating before jumping in the water.
Like a lot of vacationers, youre probably looking for a diving camera for one of the following reasons:
Take some awesome pictures and videos for the Gram
Capture content for your vlog
Supplement a professional diving setup you already have
Film the moment you check swimming with sharks off your bucket list
In that case, the best snorkeling and diving camera is easy to use, lightweight and lets you have loads of fun while taking epic underwater selfies.
GoPro cameras definitely fit that bill.
Theyre waterproof right out of the box, easy to use and have outstanding underwater image quality. Plus, there are tons of equally awesome, waterproof mounts available, so you can create a GoPro diving setup that rivals some professional ones.
How Deep Can You Dive with a GoPro?
GoPro cameras are water proof straight outta the box-how deep you can go depends on the GoPro camera model:
Like HERO9 Black and HERO8 Black, HERO cameras are waterproof to 33ft (10m).
GoPro MAX is waterproof to 16ft (5m).
To go deeper, youll need an extra protective housing: Protective Housing for HERO9 Black and Super Suit for HERO8, HERO7, HERO6 and HERO5 Black. These extra housings guarantee water proofing to 196ft (60m).
Do You Really Need an Underwater Dive Housing for Your GoPro?
No! Youll only need extra housing if youre planning on scuba diving during your next vacation where youll be reaching or exceeding the maximum depth of a bare GoPro camera (33ft/10m).
If youre just planning on snorkeling around and playing in the pool, youre fine with the GoPro straight out of the box. For a little extra protection, add a GoPro Floaty, so even if your GoPro slips from your grip, itll float to the surface and be easy to spot.
What Is the Best GoPro Mount for Scuba Diving and Snorkeling?
Here are three of the most popular mounts for snorkeling and diving with your GoPro. Click on the product link to learn more.
1. The Handler (pictured above)
Keep a solid grip on your camera even in wet, slippery environments. And if dropped, it floats to the surface, and the bright orange end sticks above the water, so its easy to spot.
2. Hand Wrist Strap
This is one of the most versatile GoPro mounts. The specially designed straps keep your GoPro securely attached to you, so youll always have your camera at arms length without having to worry about losing your grip. And the 360 rotation and tilt of the mounting point means youll still have full control to capture snorkeling selfies or POV diving footage.
El Grande
When its time for a selfie with your diving buddies or some new fish friends that are following you everywhere, El Grande (pictured above) has got you covered. Its waterproof and has a secure oversized grip thats big enough to hold with two hands. Plus, it extends from 15in (38cm) to 38in (97cm) for maximum shooting versatility.
What About Good Lighting for Shooting Underwater?
With custom image processing chips and advanced metadata capabilities, GoPro cameras are better than ever at underwater photography-even at lower depths with less available light. But getting the right lighting can still be tricky at times.
For shallow water diving and snorkeling, you just cant beat clear water and a sunny day. Youll get your best shots in those conditions. Just try not to shoot with the camera pointed towards the sun. When possible, always keep the sun behind the camera, even underwater.
Anything Else Thatll Help Me Get Epic Diving Snorkeling Shots with My GoPro?
Add some red. You start to lose red tones underwater causing shots to have a blueish hue. Fortunately, the latest GoPro cameras combine a processing chip and video metadata to automatically improve auto white balance, color rendering and color grading. That means underwater scenes are more accurately rendered without having to add extra filters.
But if youre planning to dive deeper than about 33ft (10m), you may still need to use a dive filter. In that case, the best option is the PolarPro DiveMaster Filter Kit. Best of all, you can just snap the filters right onto your HERO9 Black Protective Housing Waterproof Case-no extra accessories are needed.
Adjust settings while dry. We recommend fine-tuning your presets and locking the screen before you jump in. While underwater, you can toggle between camera presets youve created by holding the shutter and mode button at the same time. This brings up the preset menu on the front display. Then, use the mode button to scroll through and select the preset you want.
PRO TIP: Download and use GoPro Quik on your phone to create a shareable edit as soon as you surface. Just add your photos and videos to a Mural event and watch as it automatically generates a video for you.
Quik also allows you to change your camera settings using the app. So if youre using an underwater case, you dont have to fuss with taking your GoPro out of the housing. Download Quik on the App Store and Google Play.
Lick the lens. Yup, you read that right. Licking the lens prevents water droplets from forming on the lens when shooting around water.
Learn more about this and other tips for underwater GoPro photography here: Ultimate Guide to Unde
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Tools Of The Trade 
