Extreme photography and underwater photos are great … as long as your digital camera is useable underwater. If you aren’t sure whether your camera is rated as waterproof, read the user manual or visit the manufacturer’s Web site. Ignoring the user manual and testing the digital camera in a full bathtub to determine whether it is waterproof is not recommended.

If you’d like to take these types of photos, you’ll either need an underwater digital camera, as specified by the manufacturer, or you’ll need to purchase an underwater housing for your digital camera.

Liquid Image

Liquid Image introduced their scuba videomask cameras in 2009 and changed underwater photography in a large way. The Videomasks have a digital camera incorporated into a sturdy diving goggle, making lightweight hands free underwater videography possible for the first time. A wide range of newer cameras like the HD32x series can shoot up to 720p video at depths up to 130 feet with newer scuba mask cameras due for even higher resolution and lower depths. For 2010, Liquid Image is introducing wide angle versions and specialized swim goggles for swimmers and ski goggle cameras for snow bound athletes.

Canon

Canon offers many underwater housing units designed for its specific models and brands of digital cameras. In addition to being able to purchase the underwater housing units at the Canon Web site, you’ll also find advice for using your model safely underwater.

Ewa-Marine

Ewa-Marine is a German company that offers underwater housings for digital cameras from many different manufacturers. You can use the company’s Web site to determine whether a waterproof housing exists for your model of digital camera.

Fantasea

For beginner photographers, the Fantasea Web site specializes in underwater housings for Nikon compact digital cameras. More experienced photographers will find several other products aimed at underwater photography, such as lights, lenses, and filters.

Ikelite

Ikelite carries underwater housings for cameras from several different manufacturers, including Canon, Fujifilm, Nikon, Olympus, and Sony. You also can see underwater photos that customers have uploaded to the Web site, giving you some ideas for your photos.

Olympus

Olympus makes underwater housings for several of its digital cameras, and the company makes a few point-and-shoot digital cameras that can be used in harsh weather and in shallow water without waterproof housings. Finally, the Olympus Web site has some great tips for shooting underwater photos.

Sea & Sea

Beginning and advanced digital photographers will find products for a variety of situations at the Sea & Sea Web site. Sea & Sea also has published an Underwater Photo Guide for Compact Digital Cameras (pictured above). It’s a helpful guide with advice, instructions, and sample photos for those new to underwater photography.

SeaLife
Through the SeaLife Web site, you’ll find digital cameras made specifically for underwater usage. SeaLife also offers lenses and flash units for its cameras, as well as a gallery of underwater photographs taken with its cameras.