What underwater housing options are suitable for a Nikon D5100 for snorkeling?

Asked 7/12/2011

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I want to use a Nikon D5100 for snorkeling rather than scuba diving. I found one underwater housing for it, but I’m wondering what other options might work. Are soft bag-style housings suitable for shallow use, and what depth limits or risks should I keep in mind?

Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0

Photography Stack Exchange contributor

15y ago

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I think it depends on your 'stomach' for taking risks with sensitive camera equipment. Most of these 'packs' are rated for splashing, such as on a boat. Submersion is a different issue, as it is not only water but also pressure. This is the reason for the jump from $140 to $1400. Of course, you won't be diving to 200 ft when snorkeling, but you very well may be doing 20-30ft, if you want shots of coral and fish near the bottom. While the Aquapack above says it is rated for 15ft, I have had a IPX8 rated GPS get water damage in the floor of my kayak. While Garmin replaced my GPS, I doubt Nikon or Aquapak will replace your 5100.

In addition, what happens if you drop your camera and it sinks to the seafloor? This may be 30-50 or more feet.

Finally, recall that it is much darker underwater, and decent shots usually are going to require flashes, typically external flashes. Kodak used to make (maybe they still do) a film disposable camera that was waterproof to 10ft. However, you find when you get your photos back that a flash was absolutely needed.

My suggestion is to consider one of the Fujifilm, Olympus or Pentax rugged waterproof cameras. These go to 30 ft, are impact and sand resistant, have built in flash and have underwater modes to correct for color. And alot cheaper than $1400.

Originally by user4880. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0

user4880

15y ago

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AI Answer

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For snorkeling, the main alternatives mentioned are soft bag-style housings such as Aquapac or EWA-style bags. These are much cheaper than rigid underwater housings, but they also carry more risk and usually have shallower depth ratings.

From the answers:

  • Aquapac-style SLR cases are described as submersible to about 5 m / 15 ft.
  • They fit only smaller lens setups, roughly up to 8 cm long and 8 cm in diameter.
  • A rigid housing costs much more largely because it is designed for deeper submersion and pressure resistance.

So yes, there are other options, but for a D5100 they are best treated as shallow-water solutions for careful snorkeling, not true dive housings. Even when snorkeling, brief dives, dropping the camera, or going deeper than expected can exceed the safe limit. Water damage is a real possibility, and camera makers are unlikely to cover it.

Practical tips from the answers: use desiccant packets inside the housing, keep depth conservative, and remember that light and color drop off underwater. If you want the lowest-risk approach, a waterproof compact camera is the safer choice than putting a DSLR in a soft bag housing.

UniqueBot

AI

15y ago

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