Our Top Pick of Each Type
Updated – February 2025
This is the quick and easy best snorkeling cameras 2025 buying guide. You can also see our reviews and thoughts on other similar cameras through links below each camera on this page.
We chose these cameras based on what is currently available in the marketplace, our experience using some of them on many snorkeling trips, and opinions and sample pictures from the large snorkeling community who follows this website. You really can’t go wrong with any of these options for the best snorkeling cameras.

Note: Our suggestions come from hands-on experience. We hope you find them helpful. You can help us if you purchase from the links below. We may make a small commission, as an Amazon Associate or from other companies, at no extra cost to you.
Best Waterproof Snorkel Camera for Most Folks

OM System (Olympus) Stylus Tough TG-7
One of the best snorkeling cameras is the OM System TG-7 (on Amazon) (also available direct from OM System here). Olympus sold their camera line, and the new company is called OM System.
The TG-7 is waterproof without needing a separate housing. Although getting the waterproof housing for it may be a good idea, depending on your budget.
It seems the best fit for the needs of the majority of snorkelers. It’s affordable, compact and takes great pictures, and is the king of easy macro shots. Really the only downside to the TG-7 is that it is less durable (more likely to flood), than a more expensive compact camera with a separate housing, and the image quality is slightly lower.
The OM System TG-7 continues this immensely popular camera series following the TG-5 and TG-6, with some very minor changes to improve what was already one of the best snorkeling cameras in a number of ways. The TG-7 now has a higher resolution screen, with better colors. And the hand grip is slightly better. There are also a few minor firmware/setting updates that are not relevant to a snorkeler. So in all other ways it is identical to the TG-6, with a 12mp sensor, and 4K video.
It has excellent underwater white balance setting options for different depths. And if you like shooting in macro, this camera is the king, allowing very close focusing.
It retains the fast F2.0 lens, 25-100mm, a great range for snorkeling. It also has fast focusing speeds. Both make it easier to stop fish motion and get sharper pictures. And it still has dual image stabilization, a compass, and a manometer (water depth).

You can solve the risk of the TG-7 flooding with the OM System PT-059 (on Amazon) housing (available direct from OM System here). Besides making the TG-7 virtually bombproof, it makes this small camera easier to hold and control with bigger buttons. Also, the housing gives you access to more underwater accessories, like a wide angle lens. It includes a lens cap (great feature) and a screen sun shade.
The camera also has a number of cool accessories available for it when not in use with a housing.
See the full list of similar waterproof cameras here.
Best Action Video Camera for Snorkeling
DJI Osmo Action 5 Pro

The DJI Osmo Action 5 Pro (on Amazon) camera is now my favorite action camera for snorkeling, surpassing GoPro. We tested the version before, and this has lots of great new features. It is not perfect, and has a few quirks. But it has several features that make it a the best snorkeling action camera.
It has a larger sensor than GoPro which gives it better low light performance, and more dynamic range.
It has better screens, and a simpler and easier to use menu system. It has built-in memory.
It also has a dedicated white balance sensor which give the best colors at different depths of any camera set to automatic that I have used. Although at times it does something funny with the color that you can read about and see on our DJI Osmo Action Cameras review page here.
By the way, our free monthly snorkeling newsletter has lots of snorkeling camera and photography tips in it.
Best Waterproof Housings for Any Smartphone
Affordable But Really Good iPhone Housing

You already own a great camera on your iPhone. With a ProShot case you can safely take your iPhone snorkeling, at a bargain price. They are offering our readers 20% off your first purchase at the link above with the code TropicalSnorkel20. ProShot is a true waterproof housing that is suitable for snorkeling. They include a software app to make the most use of your iPhone underwater.
Learn more about underwater case options for your iPhone.
Full Touch Screen Smartphone Housing – For Android and iPhone

The DIVEVOLK housing is very unique, and works with almost any smartphone, from iPhones, to Google Pixel to Samsung Galaxy.
It has a unique membrane, that allows for full touch screen control of your phone, which means you don’t need a special app to use the housing, or a battery sucking Bluetooth connection to the housing. And you can use other apps underwater. And since it has no buttons, it is a very waterproof housing.
DIVEVOLK gives our readers 6% off their purchase at checkout using the link above.
See our full review of the DIVEVOLK housing here.
If you felt like the technical camera features mentioned above were a bit of a mystery to you, you can learn what they all mean on this page.