2014 Gear Guide: Best Underwater Cameras and Accessories
Every camera and its accessories feature various design features, but all are made with the same ultimate goal — to capture awesome underwater photos. From accessories and lights to lenses and gadgets to complete camera systems, we've got a gear guide underwater photographers will love.
OOPS!!! Ever dropped your unhoused camera in the water? Or better yet, the dishwasher? One YouTuber did … find out what happened HERE.
Need more intel?
• Learn about the 3 Basic Types of Cameras HERE.
• Want to learn more about underwater housings? Read 5 Things to Know About Underwater Housings HERE.
• Want to know how to care for your underwater housing? Find How to Care for a Camera Housing HERE.

Sport Diver Staff PhotographerSeaLife DC1400 Reef Edition
The diver-friendly DC1400 camera has six color modes, and shoots both stills and HD video.Fisheye wide-angle lens lets you capture large scenes or crystal-clear close-ups.
SeaLife's versatile DC1400 features large "piano key" controls for easy underwater use. This package includes an ultrawide fisheye lens (also available separately) that expands field of view by 8 percent, allowing you to capture the entire wreck — or go down to just 1 inch for supermacro close-ups.
MSRP: $729.95; $299.95 for separate fisheye wide-angle lens

Sport Diver Staff PhotographerSeaLife DC1400 Sea Dragon Pro Duo
A Sea Dragon 2,000-lumen LED light burns for a full hour at 100 percent power with constant brightness.A Sea Dragon Flash has variable power adjustment and large, easy-to-use controls.
The Pro Duo flash has a range of 8 feet and a quick release for aiming in hard-to-reach spots. The Light has a 100-degree beam and features three power settings accessed with a single button. The Flex-Connect Dual Tray is available separately and mounts two flashes or lights.
MSRP: $1,129.95 Sea Dragon Pro Duo with Flex-Connect Dual Tray ($49.95 tray sold separately)

Sport Diver Staff PhotographerSeaLife DC1400 Sea Dragon Pro
This system offers sharp, colorful underwater stills.Flash features auto and variable power settings for precision control.
The Sea Dragon Pro package has a flash with an effective range up to 8 feet and a quick-release button. The package includes a snap-on diffuser, standard tray, grip and compact case.
MSRP: $829.95

Sport Diver Staff PhotographerSeaLife DC1400
Diver-friendly design shoots 14-megapixel stills and HD video.Six underwater modes accessed via five large piano-key buttons.
Designed for easy underwater operation, the DC1400 is the heart of SeaLife's underwater systems. Features include easy-access controls, Optical Image Stabilization, built-in digital color correction filters, 5x optical plus 5x digital zoom — all in a rubber-armored, shock-resistant housing waterproof to 200 feet.
MSRP: $529.95

Sport Diver Staff PhotographerIkelite Housing For Canon Powershot S120
ULTRAcompact housing provides options for external wide-angle and macro lenses.Superior buoyancy control to 200 feet — important for shooting steady HD video.
Ikelite's perfectly balanced, corrosion-resistant polycarbonate housing takes the capable, compact Powershot S120 to the next level, with access to all important camera functions via rugged controls that are easily operated with or without gloves.
MSRP: $325

Sport Diver Staff PhotographerIkelite Housing For Canon EOS 70D With DS 161 Strobes
The only true TTL-compatible housing for Canon’s celebrated EOS 70D.Built-in circuitry connects the camera and strobes, ensuring proper exposure.
Ikelite's corrosion-proof clear polycarbonate housing features proprietary circuitry linking camera and strobes for correct exposure. The strobes' light Li-ion batteries provide 450 flashes per change and recycle instantly.
MSRP: $1,600 housing; $1,100 each strobe

Sport Diver Staff PhotographerIkelite TTL Housing For Canon G16 With DS161 Strobe
Built-in through-the-lens strobe exposure provides precise control for perfect photosIkelite's camera-strobe data link means accurate exposure and longer battery life.
MSRP: $675 housing; $1,100

Sport Diver Staff PhotographerSeaLife DC1400 Sea Dragon Maxx Duo
A long list of accessories provides everything you need for great underwater stills or video.Sealife's goodies include Sea Dragon Flash and Sea Dragon 2000 Photo/Video/ Dive Light.
You get it all with the Maxx Duo: DC1400 camera, variable-power Sea Dragon Flash, 2,000-lumen photo/video/dive light, fisheye wide-angle lens, Flex-Connect Dual Tray, flex arms (100 degrees of motion) and more — including a hard case for travel. Parts are also available separately.
MSRP: $1,829.95; $49.95 for flex arms

Sport Diver Staff PhotographerIkelite Fiber-Optic Housing For Canon G16
Ports on the housing allow easy attachment of fiber optically triggered strobes.Ikelite's lightweight, compact housing delivers professional-quality images.
Capturing professional-quality underwater images with Canon’s G16 requires proper lighting. Ikelite’s housing makes that a snap, with quick and easy fiber-optic attachment of single or dual strobes.
MSRP: $550

Sport Diver Staff PhotographerBackscatter FLIP 3.1 Combo Package for GoPro
Select the right filter for any depth with a flip of your fingers.Backscatter's fumble-free design keeps your filters handy.
You get an easy-install aluminum frame that mounts on GoPro’s Hero3 or Hero3+, plus filters designed for 3 levels of diving depth: for shallow, dive (20 to 50 feet) and deep (50-plus feet) color correction. You can change filters underwater, and the mount doesn’t obstruct your view.
MSRP: $149

Sport Diver Staff PhotographerIkelite Manta TTL Fiber Optic Strobe
Strobe features ergonomic control and ultrafast recycle times.Ikelite's Pre Flash Recognition Technology allows the strobe to automatically adjust to the camera’s settings.
The compact, powerful Manta provides TTL, EV compensation and manual-exposure control with a single large dial that’s easy to see and adjust — even while wearing gloves.
MSRP: $600

Sport Diver Staff PhotographerIkelite Vega Video + Photo Light
2000 lumen light can be used for video, focusing or macro photography.Ikelite's six LED indicators make power-settings and battery-level info easy to see.
A versatile underwater lighting multitool, Vega is depth-rated to 300 feet and utilizes Ikelite’s Arctic Radiator Technology, which keeps the seven LEDs running cool and burning bright.
MSRP: $550

Sport Diver Staff PhotographerIkelite Steady Tray For GoPro
Optional Quick Release Handles or Lighting Accessories can be added via two mounting points.Ikelite's tray allows for optional attachment of pistol grip.
Ikelite’s lightweight tray creates a stable underwater platform for your GoPro, as well as multiple attachment points that provide options for lights, grips and other accessories.
MSRP: $45

Sport Diver Staff PhotographerSeaLife Aquapod Extendable Monopod
Extends from 18 to 53 inches for close-ups or selfies topside or below.Mounts to SeaLife, GoPro and any camera with a standard tripod mount.
Want that awesome shark super close, and all 10 of your fingers? The AquaPod goes where your mother would rather you didn’t. Made of stainless steel and anodized aluminum to resist corrosion.
MSRP: $69.95

Sport Diver Staff PhotographerUltralight Control Systems GoPro Pistol Grip
Provides a steady, secure one-handed grip for your GoPro.Small enough to tuck into your BC pocket when not in use.
Ultralight’s Pistol Grip is compact, handy and simple — just attach your GoPro on one side, and your video light on the other. Made of aluminum, the Pistol Grip is rubber padded for nonslip comfort, and it quickly folds up to slip into a BC pocket.
MSRP: $90 (camera and light not included)

Sport Diver Staff PhotographerNocturnal Lights M700I Photo/Video Light with Arm and Tray
700 lumens and up to 2 hours of burn time.Nocturnal Lights's package features a flexible design for a wide variety of applications.
This handy package pairs the dual-power 5-inch light with a 12-inch arm and tray that provides a compact but secure base for virtually any small underwater camera or video housing.
MSRP: $279.99; $179.99 light only

Sport Diver Staff PhotographerSeaLife Sea Dragon Flash
Variable power settings for precise lighting.Sealife's universal design works with SeaLife or any other camera.
Use Sea Dragon’s Auto Mode or manually fine-tune brightness for optimal exposure and rich, vibrant images. Includes single tray, grip, diffuser, optical cable, universal cable adapter and compact case. Customize with SeaLife’s Flex-Connect accessories.
MSRP: $399.95

Sport Diver Staff PhotographerSeaLife Sea Dragon 1200 Photo/Video/Dive Light
1,200 lumens with a 75-minute burn time at full power.Sealife's Grip and Micro-Tray work with many cameras.
One-button control, three brightness settings and auto flash detection. Light and included Micro-Tray — also available separately — compatible with any SeaLife or other system.
MSRP: $399.95 for light, grip and Micro-Tray; $39.95 for Flex-Connect Micro-Tray only (GoPro not included)

Sport Diver Staff PhotographerSeaLife Sea Dragon 2000 Photo/Video/Dive Light
100-degree LED beam with 2,000 lumens, 1-hour burn time at full power.Sealife's Sea Dragon includes standard tray, grip and compact case.
The Sea Dragon 2000 light features include three power settings, one-button control and Auto Flash Detection. Includes a tray and grip that you can expand with SeaLife’s Flex-Connect accessories.
MSRP: $499.95

Sport Diver Staff PhotographerBackscatter Airlock Vacuum System with Manual Valve
Double-sealed safety plug for security, manual pump for simplicity.Backscatter's adapters allow a single AirLock to work with a wide range of housings.
Cheap insurance against floods, the AirLock lets you pull a vacuum on your sealed housing to check for leaks — and helps keep housing doors and ports tight and secure.
MSRP: $399

Sport Diver Staff PhotographerPolarPro Switchblade and Switchblade+
Switch underwater between red filter and/or macro lens.PolarPro uses glass filter and lens for premium optics.
The Switchblade installs easily on GoPro’s Hero3 or Hero3+ and lets you swap the color-correcting filter and 2.2x macro lens while underwater. Filter and lens swing out of the way, so you can choose filter only, macro only, filter and macro, or neither.
MSRP: $59.99