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In part 7 of my “Ultimate Guide to buying scuba gear for Beginners” series, I will give you tips, tricks, and recommendations on buying a scuba regulator when you’re new to diving.
Use the table of contents to read to the sections you are interested in most or jump to another part of the series.
You can jump to the other parts of this series here:These are my personal recommendations for the best underwater cameras for beginners in 2024. You will find neither super professional ones on here nor cheap $20 Chinese copies.
I have used all of them before and you can find samples of the images across the Social Diving site.
The best cheap action camera for underwater videos.
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The AKASO EK7000 is exactly what it says: A budget-friendly beginner camera for underwater videos that will serve you well.
It’s great for beginners who want to take underwater photos and videos for a very affordable price.
For less than 100$ / 100€ you get a solid action camera including underwater housing to start your journey as an underwater photographer.
It provides very high-quality images and videos and for this little money, I really don’t have anything bad to say about it.
Of course, it doesn’t match the quality of a GoPro or even a compact camera…but nobody expects it to.
Without a doubt the absolute best action camera on the market!
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The GoPro action camera line is synonymous with sports videos and the lightweight, compact design is perfect for divers.
The latest version, the Hero 10, takes absolutely superb videos that are on par with many of the mid-range to higher-end mirrorless cameras out there at a mere fraction of the price.
I’d even go as far as to say if video is the only focus, you could get by easily with just a GoPro, a housing, and some filters.
The GoPro Hero10 is the best action camera on the market and the perfect entry into the world of underwater videography.
| Type | Action Camera |
| Weight | 0.3kg (1 lb) |
| Megapixels | 23MP |
| Resolution | 5k (video) |
| Good for | Videos |
| Zoom | 1x |
| Media Type | Micro SD |
| Other Features |
The Olympus Tough TG-6 is a great underwater camera for beginners and among the best compact cameras in general.
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The Olympus Tough TG-6 is one of my personal recommendations for beginners and everyone who is just starting out with underwater photography.
It takes great photos, is super affordable, and it’s so popular you will find plenty of resources and tutorials on it. Moreover, it can be extended further with different lights and lenses and is very cheap.
This means you will not outgrow it even after years.
You will not find a better camera in the sub €500-€600 price range and I know dozens of professional divers who swear by it.
Like any Olympus system, it’s very lightweight and the entire bundle including the camera, housing, and lights can easily fit into a carry-on bag or a dive bag of choice.
If you have taken the Open Water Diver course at Social Diving, you have seen videos and photos taken with it throughout our theory lessons. The quality is outstanding and there are so many extension options.
If you are a beginner or intermediate scuba diver looking for a great underwater camera, check out the Olympus Tough-TG6.
| Type | Compact Camera |
| Weight | 1.2 kg (2.8 lb) |
| Megapixels | 12MP |
| Resolution | 12MP (photo), 1080p (video) |
| Good for | Macro photography |
| Zoom | 4x |
| Media Type | Micro SD |
| Other Features | waterproof down to 15m/50ft (50m/160ft with housing) |
These are my top picks for buying an underwater camera for beginners online.
