These types of snorkel cameras are enticing because they are so simple. The camera is made waterproof from the very beginning. That means you don't have a separate camera that you have to stick into an underwater housing, each with their own price tags.
One thing to keep in mind is that if one of the little waterproof seals fails on these cameras, generally the thing is ruined. And you cannot see it happening. With my camera that has a clear separate housing, it is very obvious if there is water leaking in. First, my lens and viewfinder screen will fog up because of the moisture. Next, I can start to see water inside, and since there is a space in the case around the camera, it may not immediately ruin the camera. Since I am snorkeling, and not diving, I would immediately lift the camera out of the water if this happened. But with a camera that has a built in case, you don't have this option. As with all underwater cameras, you have to take very good care of your seals.
But still there are some popular versions of these cameras that are worth considering.
There are a variety of these types of cameras available in different price ranges, both in film and digital.
One classic film camera camera that I have owned in the past that is of this type is the Canon A1 underwater camera. It is very durable and takes pretty good pictures, but is a bit bulky by today's digital standards. It is no longer made but you can pick one up on eBay. It is unique because its underwater housing is built into the camera.
What a bargain for a waterproof 6mp snorkel camera. In fact Target has many underwater cameras at great prices online.
So which one should you get? Well, if you are buying it for snorkeling, then the clear choice is the Vivitar version. Not many snorkelers dive down more than 30ft. In fact I purchased one of these Vivitar 6200W cameras for Nicole to use on our next trip and as a backup just in case something happens to mine. We will post pictures and our review of the camera in a couple of months.
You can read some favorable reviews on the ECOshot version here.
And there are over twenty reviews of the ReefMaster Mini version of this camera here. Click the review tab.
All three versions of the camera boast a 6 .0 Mega-Pixel CCD, a 2" display, will focus down to 2', and is very shockproof. You can also add on some neat extra wide angle lenses, and some flash units. For the price of the Vivitar version in particular, it is a wonderful step up from those inexpensive underwater cameras.
There are a couple more well noted "waterproof" cameras that have become popular and can be used by snorkelers. But I have read mixed reviews about the reliability of both of these.
The first is the Pentax Optio W
line of cameras. This line of cameras started with the Optio W10, then more followed along with the W20, W30, w40 and the new W50. The W50 has a depth rating down to 13 feet, which may be fine for most snorkelers (the earlier models were rated for less depth). It is a smart looking and durable feeling little camera. But I still kind of cringe at the idea of sticking it in salt water regularly.
The other camera that is very popular is the Olympus Stylus SW series of cameras. The Stylus 720 SW is waterproof down to 10 feet. The Stylus 770SW is waterproof down to 33ft. And the newer Stylus 790 SW is waterproof down to 10ft again (go figure). The 790 has an underwater housing available separately that allows it to go deeper. And Olympus just keeps coming out with more of them. They just added the Stylus 850 SW, the 1030 SW, and most recently the Stylus 1050 SW. The Stylus 1030 SW deserves a good look at it as a possible snorkel camera. It is water proof down to 33ft and has a wider angle zoom lens that might be nice underwater.
Neither of these cameras are true dedicated underwater or snorkeling cameras. I believe they are only rated at those depths for up to 1 hour. And they are not inexpensive cameras.
But people are using these for snorkeling with some success. Read these personal experiences:
Olympus Stylus SW Reviews on www.dpreview.com
Pentax Optio W30 Reviews on www.dpreview.com
I think these cameras really speak to people who don't snorkel a lot and want a camera that will be very useful out of the water. They are small, both take good pictures, and look smart. But for someone who snorkels a lot, my guess is their longevity will not be the same as a camera with a dedicated underwater housing with replaceable o-rings.
Another digital camera with a built-in housing that has interested me in the past is the Sony DSC-U60. This camera is not made any more and is only a 2.0 mega pixel camera. That means the images you get from it will only be good for small prints, but would be fine for the web. It just has an interesting shape and the reviews I have read have people loving it. You can pick them up on eBay used. It would not be my first choice, but if you managed to get one cheap it would be fun to play with. Do you know of a waterproof camera (built-in housing) that you would like to recommend? Share your experience, click below.
One of the more interesting options is a camera made by Sealife and marketed as three different cameras, each with a different depth rating.
And the same exact camera is marketed by Vivitar to 30ft as the Vivicam 6200W - $150-$180. Although, Vivitar was recently purchased by Sakar, and the camera is no longer on their website. So it may not be available at stores for much longer. The best price I have seen recently was at 
