You might have seen underwater footage like this before, but would you believe it if we said it was shot by someone who can’t dive at all—sitting on a yacht?
Professional DSLRs,GoPro, underwater robots—so many underwater photography devices to choose from.
First up, professional DSLRs are usually the first equipment people think of for photography. For underwater photography, apart from the camera itself, you also need accessories like waterproof housings. Keep in mind, not every camera model has a compatible waterproof housing. There are plenty of options for casual shooting across various price ranges, but for more advanced, high-quality results, you’re looking at professional-grade gear that can easily cost hundreds of thousands—not something most people can casually afford. As the saying goes, “Photography ruins generations, and DSLRs ruin lives,” and when you add waterproof equipment into the mix, the costs become even more significant.
Sony RX 100 IIIis currently one of the most beloved cameras among underwater photographers. It combines the compact size, light weight, and affordability of a point-and-shoot camera while delivering high-quality image performance. For underwater photography enthusiasts on a tighter budget or those who dislike bulky and heavy cameras,Sony RX 100 IIIis a solid choice. As for waterproof housings,IkeliteorFantaseaare both great options.
Next, let’s talk about action cameras likeGoPro. They are compact in size and highly waterproof—for example,GoPro Hero4 Blackcan reach a waterproof depth of40meters, making them suitable for those who enjoy deep diving photography.
Now here’s the question: whether you're using professional cameras orGoPro, you still need to at least know how to swim and be comfortable getting in the water, as these devices require you to carry and operate them personally. So what about those who can’t swim, the so-called landlubbers, or anyone who’s afraid of getting in the water—does that mean they have to give up on underwater photography altogether?
Not necessarily. As we saw at the beginning of this article, underwater robots like the one mentioned are the perfect solution for these users.
Underwater robots likePowerRayoffer the biggest advantage of allowing users to shoot from the shore or a yacht via a smartphone or remote control. Even non-swimmers can capture stunning underwater scenery,
significantly lowering the barrier to underwater photography. In addition, real-time image transmission is another highlight. Normally, you’d have to wait until you return to shore to view your photos or videos; but with underwater robots likePowerRaythat offer real-time image and video transmission, operators can preview their shots while recording. Moreover,PowerRayIt is also paired withVRgoggles, which offer non-divers the chance to experience the underwater world from a first-person perspective.
(PowerRayLittle Stingrayappreal-time transmission interface screenshot)
In short, professional DSLRs,GoPro,PowerRayeach have their own strengths in the field of underwater photography. If you’re after professional-grade shooting and don’t mind the cost, then a professional DSLR with a waterproof housing will definitely meet your needs; if you love diving and just want to carry a lightweight, handy device for casual shooting, thenGoProis the best choice; if you’re fascinated by the underwater world but can’t swim, or you simply want to capture some stunning underwater footage while cruising on a yacht, thenPowerRaysuch underwater robots will bring you endless fun.
Underwater photography will soon become as common as aerial photography.
The emergence of underwater robots that focus on photography is the result of photographers’ continuous imagination and innovation in content and form. If the advent of underwater action cameras, represented byGopro, changed the need to carry heavy DSLRs underwater and made underwater photography simpler and more convenient, then the arrival of underwater robots targets non-diving photography enthusiasts, making underwater photography as accessible and widespread as aerial photography.
Although in recent years more than just PowerVision’sPowerRaymodel has emerged domestically with a focus on photography, only PowerVision’sPowerRayand another robotic fish calledBikihave had their actual underwater footage released. Compared toPowerRay,Bikihas different use cases, mainly suitable for windless and wave-free indoor pools or parent-child swimming centers. If you want to shoot underwater fish or large creatures like whale sharks in the ocean or lakes,PowerRayis a better option.
So far, compared to the sky we can see overhead, humans know very little about the vast underwater world. Coupled with the oxygen-deprived, high-pressure underwater environment, learning to dive still poses certain challenges—this is one of the main reasons why underwater photography hasn’t yet become widespread. But after seeing the videos captured by underwater robots, we have reason to believe that as equipment continues to improve, more and more newcomers will join the underwater photography scene, and underwater photography will eventually become as commonplace as aerial photography.