GoPro: simple and fun

A GoPro Hero 12 or 13 in a dive housing shoots 4K/5K video, decent stills, and weighs almost nothing. It's perfect for vlog-style memories, sharing on social media, and capturing wide scenes of reefs, sharks and divers. Total cost: under USD 600 with a Backscatter Flip filter.

Where GoPros struggle

Small sensor — colors look flat below 5 m without filters or a video light, and macro shots are nearly impossible. Low-light performance is poor. You can't change lenses for a closer crop.

Compact underwater cameras

Cameras like the Olympus TG-7 in a housing add real macro capability and better low-light shots while staying user-friendly. Total cost: USD 1,000–1,500. A good middle ground for divers who want both wide and macro without going full mirrorless.

Mirrorless and DSLR rigs

A Sony A7C or OM-1 in a Nauticam/Ikelite housing with strobes and lenses delivers professional results — but you're looking at USD 5,000–15,000 and a real learning curve. Worth it if you'll dedicate trips to photography; overkill if you just want vacation memories.

How to decide

Casual diver, want easy memories: GoPro. Enthusiast wanting both video and macro on a budget: TG-7. Serious about underwater photography as a hobby: mirrorless setup, plan to learn it for a year.