It was during the process of researching a replacement for my dive camera that I discovered how far the technology behind underwater cameras has advanced in such a short amount of time. In fact they’ve sort of crossed the line to where you can now get a great waterproof cameras that’s compact and rugged enough to serve as an all-purpose sports & recreation camera.

This is something I’ve been wanting for years – a digital camera I can take anywhere, in any environment without worrying about damaging it. I’ve always been annoyed at having to be ever-mindful of the camera when at the beach, on the lake, on even at a water-park, not to mention while trail riding or engaged in some other outdoor activity.

It just makes sense that digital cameras be able to take a certain amount of abuse without failing. After all we’re typically using them outdoors on some excursion, vacation or holiday because that’s the reason behind wanting to capture photos anyway. Unfortunately, things like too much salt air, getting dropped in water, snow, sand or mud, will pretty much assure they never operate as advertised again.

Or maybe we’re at a sporting event or engaged in some other outdoor activity, which are also likely photo opportunities. Wouldn’t it be great if our camera could survive getting knocked out of our hands, getting sat on, or best of all continue working after suffering in the hands of small children? Sad but true is the fact that knowing the camera won’t survive, many of us leave it behind and lose the pictures forever.

As alluded to earlier, there are now a handful of rugged, compact, dive cameras that are as affordable as some land-based models. There are also some that pretend to be up to the task but come up short in either the waterproof or shockproof department, so it pays to do some research to compare and get the features you need.

Basically, if you’re like me, you want something as close to indestructible as possible. The camera needs to be waterproof to at least 10 or 12 feet like to the bottom of a swimming pool. That will ensure it’s also impervious to mud, sand, dirt, dust, salt air, rain, splashes, and about anything else one can throw at it. It also must be able to survive a drop of several feet, like when slipping out of your hand. Those two features will make it likely to survive most types of abuse, including kids.

There are two manufacturers leading the way with these waterproof cameras that go beyond just diving. They are SeaLife, long known for their dive cameras, and the Olympus Stylus SW series. The 6 megapixel SeaLife Mini and ECOshot are compact, waterproof to 130 feet & 75 feet respectively, and are secure inside a tough, rubber-sided, polycarbonate case.

The Olympus Stylus 770SW, 790SW, 850SW, and 1030SW have an image resolution ranging from 7 to 10 megapixels and are waterproof to either 10 feet or 33 feet. An optional external housing allows them to reach 130 feet but as is, the sub-compact Stylus SW models are perfect for snorkeling or any other watery endeavors. The SW stands for shockproof, waterproof, and the Stylus is certainly tough. It’s sensitive insides are suspended within a metal case that can survive 220 pounds of pressure, plus its freeze-proof as well.

Most likely the decision will hinge on image capture resolution and whether you require water integrity to any significant depth. Of course there are several dive cameras that are waterproof to well over a hundred feet, and the camera itself can be removed from the housing for use on land. However that leaves the camera unprotected and sort of misses the whole point of this exercise. Also, these tend to be priced higher than what we want.

Both SeaLife and Olympus produce great underwater cameras at affordable prices, and it really comes down to preferred features. Once you decide on depth rating, overall size, and cost, you’re pretty much there.