Can You Use Your Phone While Scuba Diving?
A good underwater camera is quite costly and not every diver will afford one. Recreational divers don’t often carry advanced underwater cameras. You will find many with smaller ones or a GoPro. If you are just starting out and don’t have any of these you may wonder can you use your phone while scuba diving.
Yes, you can use your phone while scuba diving but you must first get a hard waterproof casing to protect your phone from the increasing water pressure. These casings are specifically designed to keep your phone dry and prevent crushing. Avoid waterproof pouches when scuba diving as they are not designed to withstand high pressure.
Waterproof pouches may seem like an affordable option but trust me your phone will get crushed the deeper you dive.
For snorkeling, these pouches can save the day since you are at the water’s surface and don’t subject your phone to very high pressure.
You can also use these pouches to keep your phone dry when out enjoying a boat ride or to simply protect your phone from any water splashes or light showers.
In the next few paragraphs, we’ll look into whether you should bring your phone with you while scuba diving, what to look for when buying a hard waterproof casing and so much more.
Just keep reading to learn more!
Depth…#photooftheday #photography #PHOTOS #underwaterphotography #underwater #Diving pic.twitter.com/adQrYXYPOD
— Marco (@_Marco_321) August 27, 2021
Should You Bring Your Phone While Scuba Diving?
If you are considering bringing your phone with you while scuba diving, you most likely don’t have an underwater camera or simply just hate carrying the bulky cameras each time you go diving.
As mentioned earlier, you can bring your phone with you but you MUST first get a hard waterproof housing/casing to protect the phone.
But should you? The answer is NO.
Technology has brought about many unique features in devices including water resistance. This means if your phone falls into a basin of water you can quickly remove it and it’s still functional.
However, phone manufacturing technology hasn’t yet caught up to making waterproof phones.
A waterproof device can withstand high pressure and keep water away for up to 1 hour. Water resistance on the other hand means your phone can keep water out for up to 20 minutes.
Water resistance doesn’t account for increasing external water pressure. Meaning if you go scuba diving with a water-resistant phone without protective waterproof housing, water will get in and most probably get damaged.
The resistance wears out after a certain depth allowing water inside the phone. The buttons and screen are subjected to high pressure that will crush them destroying your phone.
When weighing if you should bring your phone while scuba diving, you’ll want to really consider if you want to ruin your expensive phone for a few pictures.
If you must bring your phone while scuba diving, invest in a good hard waterproof casing.
READ MORE: Best Waterproof iPhone Cases for Scuba Diving
Can You Bring Your Phone Into The Ocean?
People bring their phones with them for various reasons. To take beautiful pictures of the ocean, of their buddies, or in case of an emergency.
From my experience, there is hardly any service out in the ocean meaning your phone will only serve as a camera or a clock to check the time.
If you drop your phone a couple of times in a day, bringing your phone to the ocean is probably a bad idea. The chances of you losing it are very high.
As mentioned earlier, if you must bring your phone with you into the ocean whether you’ll be using it as a camera or just keep it with you, invest in a hard waterproof casing.
If you plan on spending time at the surface of the ocean or going snorkeling, a waterproof pouch will do the job.
Many of us spend so much time on our phones every day and barely connect with our surroundings. I like leaving my phone whenever I go diving and taking this time to connect with the environment and my dive buddies.
For pictures and beautiful memories, I carry a GoPro or a small underwater camera. These are quite affordable but the picture quality will definitely differ from a professional underwater camera.
I take the road to your eyes to dive into the sea.#sea #dive #diving #ocean #underwaterphotography #padi #paditv #padidiver #sealife #nature #blueplanet #gopro #goprohero8 #gopro8black #gopro8 #diver #photography #goprophotography #goprophoto #pullman #pullmanlife #adventure pic.twitter.com/mwcWXhWsdh
— SHPhotography (@samhallphoto) April 8, 2021
Can I Scuba Dive With My iPhone?
Yes, you can scuba dive with an iPhone provided it has a protective waterproof housing installed.
I can’t insist enough on the importance of a hard waterproof housing/casing! The iPhone technology advances so fast that it scares me sometimes. Before you even get acquainted with the last one another one is already out.
iPhones are water resistant but are not waterproof. Therefore, it’s important to protect your phone if you plan on diving with it.
With waterproof housing, you can scuba dive with an iPhone within 40 meters. At this depth, the casing keeps your phone protected and dry.
However, going deeper increases the water pressure and you risk destroying your phone below the recommended depth.
One of the most popular hard waterproof housing for iPhones is the SeaLife SportDiver housing. The technology used allows drivers to connect the app on the casing to their phone allowing the diver to take videos and photos while diving.
It’s also easy to hold and use while scuba diving. No need to worry about your phone and casing slipping into the ocean. The sturdy rubber and spring grip ensure the safety of your phone.
In addition, the casing features a tripod mount for your light so you can capture the best images and videos.
Another amazing feature to love is the leak alarm. This alerts you in case the waterproof casing is compromised allowing water to your phone.
The leak alarm is made up of an internal moisture alarm and pressure alarm. In the event the casing is compromised, the diver will receive a warning in form of LED signals, audio beeping, and on-screen warning.
The list of pros is endless making this casing a top pick for many iPhone owners. If you want to capture moments while diving but don’t have an underwater camera, I can’t recommend this casing enough!
READ MORE: Do You Need a Scuba Diving Flashlight
Can I Use My iPhone As An Underwater Camera?
iPhone cameras are among the top and most well-developed in the phone industry. The picture quality is good and also features many inbuilt settings to adjust images to your liking.
You may wonder can you use your iPhone as a water camera. Yes, you can use your iPhone as an underwater camera, just remember to have your waterproof casing on the phone.
As mentioned above, many hard waterproof casings will have an app that helps connect your phone to the housing allowing you to take pictures and videos while diving.
Basically, it’s your phone taking pictures with the help of the housing. Since the phone can’t withstand high pressures and water, the housing facilitates its use.
Good waterproof casing indicates the diving limits at which your phone remains protected. Going above the limit will compromise your phone and the casing’s ability to protect the phone.
It’s important to note that, depending on your diving location the picture quality will differ. Even when diving in clear water the pictures will be different from what you normally take while on land. Remember there is water all around you and currents affecting your stability and picture quality.
In addition, always keep in mind that photos or videos taken using a phone will always differ from those taken with an underwater camera.
Underwater cameras have better sensors compared to those on the phone. If you want professional-looking images, an underwater camera is a better choice.
We don’t just shoot models!!!#jellyfish #underwater #scuba #diving #fish #ocean #tylerking #photography #imagesbytylerking #potd #like #comment #follow #sealife #nature #animals pic.twitter.com/Z1egppPFEq
— Tyler King Photography (@imagesbytk) March 28, 2022
Can Sand Crack Your Phone?
On a hot summer day, beach sand will scratch your phone and large sand crystals can crack your screen.
While diving you may wonder if the sand at the seabed can crack your phone. The answer is no, unlike the sand on the beach, sand underwater tends to be soft.
Moreover, the surrounding water lowers the impact of your phone hitting the sand. While cracking probabilities are low, your phone is likely to get scratches.
Keep in mind that there are other objects on the sea bed such as rocks, and wrecks that will crack your phone if it falls while diving.
Why You Should Pick a Hard Waterproof Housing over Pouches
Hard waterproof housings are built better with better handles and grip allowing you to go diving without losing your phone.
In addition, hard waterproof housings cover your phone entirely making it waterproof. There are no spaces or gaps that may cause shaking of the phone inside the housing affecting image quality.
On the other hand, waterproof pouches are made from plastic and don’t have a good gripping point. Using a waterproof pouch underwater it’s easy to lose your phone. The pouch becomes slippery underwater making the grip impossible.
Waterproof pouches can’t stand the increasing water pressure as you dive deeper. This will leave your phone susceptible to pressure and easily get crushed.
Hard waterproof housings, have an app that helps you connect the phone to the housing. Waterproof pouches are just that pouch to place your phone. You have to try hard and use the touch screen on your phone over the pouch. With modern technology, most touchscreens require a soft touch from the finger for them to work.
When considering using your phone for underwater photography always pick a hard waterproof housing, not a waterproof pouch.
Use waterproof pouches to keep your phone protected from water splashes on the boat or when taking photos on the water’s surface.
Parting Words
We’ve looked into whether you can use your phone while scuba diving and seen that it is possible provided you are using a hard waterproof casing/housing for the phone.
We also looked at the importance of picking a hard casing over the soft waterproof pouches. The goal is to protect your phone from water and water pressure which can only be achieved using a hard waterproof housing.
Remember to maintain the recommended diving depths and keep your dives short.
In conclusion, you can use your phone while scuba diving but should you do it? This decision lies with the owner. Depending on how often you dive, and the cost of the phone vs. an underwater camera, divers can make informed choices fit for their needs.
