Essential Underwater Accessories for Action Cameras

The latest action cameras, such as the GoPro Hero 13 and DJI Osmo models, boast a wide array of impressive features. However, it is important to note that these cameras were not originally purpose-built for scuba diving. Although most action cameras offer waterproof capabilities, they are unable to endure the high pressure encountered at greater depths without the support of additional accessories.

To capture exceptional underwater videos and photographs, it is crucial to equip your action camera with the right accessories. The following overview highlights the most important accessories to consider, ensuring your camera is well-prepared for underwater adventures and enabling you to capture stunning videos and photos underwater.

Housings

While it may seem self-evident, an underwater dive case is essential for your action camera, as the cameras themselves are typically only rated to a depth of around 10 metres. For popular models such as the GoPro Hero 13, DJI Osmo 5/6, and Insta360 Ace Pro, the manufacturer's own protective dive case serves as a reliable starting point. These cases generally feature a depth rating of approximately 50 to 60 metres, offering ample protection for most recreational diving activities.

However, these manufacturer-issued cases are far from the only options available. There is a well-established market for advanced third-party housings, particularly for GoPro cameras. Some of these housings, such as the Weefine WFH-GP1, are constructed from aluminium and can withstand pressures at depths of up to 100 metres, making them suitable for more demanding dives. In recent times, several manufacturers have expanded their support to include Insta360 and DJI Osmo cameras, providing divers with a wider range of durable and high-performance housing choices.

The Weefine GP1 housing can accommodate both GoPro Hero Black and DJI Osmo Action cameras. The different models of cameras are firstly inserted into special inner sleeves before going inside the housing. The WFH-GP1 housing also has a space for an extra battery. An 18650 li-ion battery can be inserted into a slot at the bottom of the housing, and a cable is plugged into the camera charge port. A powerful 18650 3400mAh battery can more than double the filming time with the camera. All this makes the housing a bit bigger but that is not always a bad thing. Holding the GP1 housing in your hand feels more like you would be holding a regular compact camera.

At the time of writing AOI is bringing out an interesting multi-camera housing called the UH-ACT. This polycarbonate housing is built so that it can accommodate the GoPro Hero 13, the Insta360 Ace Pro 2 and the DJI Osmo Action 5 and 6. The different camera inserts are available separately and, in the future, according to the manufacturer, when new camera models arrive the compatibility list will be updated to include inserts for the later models also.

Filters

GoPro has been steadily improving the colour and white balance settings on their cameras. However, even with these advancements, they cannot fully overcome the laws of physics. To achieve more vibrant and balanced underwater footage, physical filters are still essential. In clear water on a sunny day, the latest GoPro 13 performs well down to depths of 6-8 meters without a filter. Beyond this depth, adding a filter can significantly enhance and balance the colour of the footage. 

Deepshots sells the Backscatter Flip system for GoPro cameras. We think this is the best on the market currently. The key feature is the possibility of bringing two separate filters into a dive and then flip/fold them away when not needed. The current Flip13 two filter kit includes a "dive" filter for shallower waters and a "deep" filter designed to work down to around 24m. Lots of other types of accessories are also available for this modular system.

For Insta360 and DJI Osmo pickings are still a bit slim. There are some stuff online but none of the well-known manufacturers have made a decent filter kit for these housings yet.  However, there is a noteworthy exception with the Weefine WFH-GP1 housing, which is compatible with the DJI Osmo Action cameras. This housing features a standard 67mm thread, enabling users to attach regular circular underwater filters, such as those produced by Divevolk.

Trays

Most divers I encounter use their action cameras with a stubby handle or a selfie stick of some sort. But even with the improved image stabilisation of these cameras the footage can end up looking shaky, especially when filmed with a long stick. Your best bet is to get a sturdy two-handle tray that adds mass and stability to your footage. There are plenty of different ones available and most of the standard underwater camera trays can also be used. Here at Deepshots we also offer a few tray/handle systems specially designed for GoPro and other action cameras. Here are a few good examples: AOI MDS-01 modular GoPro Rig or the Bigblue Extendable GoPro Tray. The Tray/handle system also functions as a base to add lights. (more about lights later)

Lenses

Why would you need an extra lens for an action camera you may ask? Isn’t it really wide angle already? The answer is both yes and no. For example, the Hero 13 Black, when used out of the box on land, can capture footage at a wide angle of 140 to 150 degrees (diagonal, in 4:3 mode, depending on the camera settings). However, once it's placed inside a housing with a flat port and used underwater, this wide-angle significantly narrows to about 90 to 100 degrees due to the magnification effect of water. Additionally, wide-angle lenses of these cameras behind flat ports will experience aberration issues underwater, resulting in a loss of sharpness at the edge areas of the frame. The users of DJI Osmo and Insta360 Ace Pro cameras will face the same issue. If you are looking to record crisp super wide-angle footage underwater with your action camera, an external lens is needed. A lens like the AOI UWL-03. This lens fits the standard GoPro/Insta360/DJI dive cases and works almost as spectacles for the camera and allows up to 140-degree wide-angle views. As a bonus, the corners stay sharp and the minimum focus distance is shortened. A bayonet mount between the case and the lens is needed and AOI already has these available for the all the latest GoPro camera housings and for the DJI Osmo Action 4 and 5 housing and the Insta360 Ace Pro 2. A new mount will also be available soon for the DJI Osmo Action 6 camera.  

For the Weefine GP1 housing a lens called the WFL14 is now also available. It works in a similar manner to the AOI one.

While action cameras such as the GoPro Hero 13 and similar models were not originally intended for macro photography underwater, it is possible to adapt them for close-up work by using dioptre lenses. These cameras are equipped with a fixed-focus lens, which means they cannot adjust focus in the way a standard camera does. As a result, they are well-suited for capturing subjects at a distance but struggle to maintain sharpness for objects closer than approximately 30 centimetres.

To focus close, an underwater macro lens (a glorified magnifying glass) can be added to the front of the housing. There are a few on the market like the Backscatter Macromate and the AOI UCL-03. Just remember that as the camera does not focus, it is quite hard to estimate the right distance. For example, Backscatter includes a little ruler with a lens that helps to find the right distance. It is not easy though.

Lights

When you see underwater photographers with big lighting rigs in water, they are not doing it just to look professional. Even in crystal clear tropical waters, once you go beyond 10m, most bright colours are gone. Venture deeper and the footage is all blues and greens. There is nothing a filter or editing software can do beyond the 20-meter mark. The only option is to bring light with you. Lots and lots of white light.

It is not possible to sync a strobe with action cameras, so the only remaining option is a video light. A video light is a bit like your dive torch but bigger and better and most importantly has a wide beam. A dive torch is usually a spotlight with a beam angle of around 8-15 degrees. GoPro camera's angle of view is 90-100 degrees (in water, without extra lenses). Now most of us can probably guess what the footage will look like when you combine these two. Yes… a bright over-exposed spot in the middle and dark everything else.  A decent up-to-date video light will not only illuminate the scene better but also often come with higher-quality LED light sources that reproduce bright colours even underwater.

There are heaps of video lights on the market, but it's important to understand a few key points when selecting one or two. Firstly, water is dense, and diffused light does not travel well through it; as a result, the light's output (often measured in lumens) will only effectively illuminate nearby subjects, typically within a max range of 1.5 to 2 meters. 

Secondly, regardless of the power of the video light—no matter how much it resembles a car's headlights on land—it is likely to appear dim and underwhelming underwater. Don't bother with underpowered lights.

Finally, be cautious about the manufacturer's lumen ratings. For instance, if an 8000-lumen video light with a 2-hour battery life is priced at £120, something is likely amiss—it simply isn’t feasible. Choose a reputable brand and expect to pay around £70-80 for every 1000 lumens. Here at Deepshots we sell underwater video lights from respected manufacturers. There is a great range available HERE