ALOHA!
I have used a cheap waterproof phone case to take underwater pictures (and video!) when snorkeling in Hawaii, the Florida Keys, the Maldives, and Japan!
This is more like a soft case pouch that you slide your phone into, and then you close it off to keep the water out. It’s not an exact fit to your phone like better quality $$$ phone cases specific to your phone type would be.
It has been called a waterproof phone case, waterproof phone pouch, and a cell phone dry bag.
If you’re not picky and incredibly technical about your picture quality, and you can make some compromises (like the way you take a picture), then you will likely be quite happy with this CHEAP option of making your phone into an underwater camera!
Hawaii marine life for you!
If you’re going snorkeling in Hawaii, you may also be interested in this marine life in Hawaii:
- Hookipa Beach turtles in Maui
- Punaluu black sand beach turtles on the Big Island
- Waikiki turtles in Honolulu
- Laniakea Beach turtles on the North Shore of Oahu
- Hookipa Beach Hawaiian monk seals in Maui
Know before you go! Know what it is when you see it!
- humuhumunukunukuapua’a (Hawaii state fish… it’s not as hard to pronounce as you might think!)
- Hawaiian white-spotted toby (cute little Hawaiian pufferfish!)
Pictures below were taken with phone while in a cheapo waterproof phone case.
You are making your phone into an underwater camera for snorkeling!
Actual picture quality will be better for you since these pictures below have been formatted for the web! (aka they are reduced quality for web.)
In any case, notice the clarity!
There are affiliate links on this page. As an Amazon Associate, I may earn a commission from this at no extra cost to you.
This is the waterproof phone pouch aka cell phone dry bag that I bought: JOTO waterproof phone case
There are a few important things to know about getting a cheap waterproof phone pouch
1. It IS a CHEAP waterproof phone case!
So, keep your expectations in check!
Of course, getting a real $$$ underwater camera will offer you better quality, and a much better convenience for taking pictures.
2. It might take you a few times to perfect your underwater picture taking skills with a waterproof phone case.
The touch screen doesn’t really work underwater.
Instead, you will find a button to click in order to snap the picture.
For me, it was the volume button located on the side of the phone.
You’ll need to work out the best way to take the picture while also being able to click that button on the side.
After a few tries, this really won’t be much of a problem, but you may not get it on your first try.
3. To take underwater video, you’ll want to start the video while you are above water.
Since touch screen doesn’t work underwater, it will be best to start the video above water and then take your phone underwater.
4. Just keep clicking!
The little fishies are always swimming. 🐠
They are not going to stay still so you can get a perfect picture of them.
So if you see something you like, just hold your phone in the general direction, start clicking, and hope for the best! 😆
Well that’s what I did anyway! 😜
5. When you take video, try to stay still and let the fish swim by you!
I was a complete amateur underwater video taker and I basically kept trying to follow the fish around.
This makes for an incredibly shaky video. (On top of that I had an old phone that didn’t stabilize video well!)
6. You may be stressing about losing your phone in the vast ocean.
Well, the thing about taking your phone out into the ocean is that you can accidentally drop it!
So if you accidentally let go of your cheapo phone case, your phone could be gone too!
This may lead to an unnecessary stressful snorkeling experience.
7. Because it’s a soft case, you’ll want to be careful about how you pack it.
Being a soft case means that it’s easy for the phone pouch to get bent up.
So ideally you won’t want to just shove it in your beach bag.
Placing it in a book, magazine, or notebook can help to keep it straight.
8. Test it out at home before you use for real!
It will be a good idea to test the waterproof phone pouch at home like in your sink or bathtub, just in case!
ALL THAT SAID…
If you can work with all these things, then…
Find your cheap waterproof phone case for snorkeling!
There are many cheap waterproof phone cases on Amazon.
Once again, this is the one I bought: JOTO waterproof phone case
👆 This is the JOTO waterproof phone case. You can buy the camera float separately. More on why you might want that below.
I actually bought it twice because I thought I had lost my first one, and I replaced it with the same phone pouch since I was happy with how it worked!
If you have a bigger phone, be sure to check that your phone size will fit.
Depending on what color phone pouch you choose, there’s a $1-2 difference.
Turn your phone into a makeshift floating underwater camera
If you are afraid of letting go of your phone in the water, then also consider getting a float attachment.
I also had a camera float attached to the phone pouch. I tested it, and it DID float in the water even with my phone attached to it.
See the camera float: Nordic Flash waterproof camera float
The camera float also made it easier to keep in my backpack too. This Osprey daypack has a hydration sleeve, and I could lay the phone case flat in that part. The camera float made it so it would stay up top and straight, instead of all bent up in the bottom of the backpack.
And that’s a bit about using a cheap waterproof phone pouch to take underwater pictures while snorkeling!
And then you can take a look at getting a real underwater camera:
More for your snorkeling trip:
Headed to Hawaii?!
See more packing tips!
Snorkeling spots in Hawaii:
HAPPY TAKING UNDERWATER PICTURES WITH YOUR PHONE CAMERA!
👇 Explore the Hawaiian islands map on google maps!
