Whether you’re going diving on holiday or want to document the tadpoles in your local pond, a waterproof camera will allow you to take underwater snaps or video without worrying about your equipment getting wet - something that rarely goes well with electronics - or having to organise a waterproof housing for an existing mirrorless system.
While it’s possible to get an underwater case for a smartphone camera, the results aren’t often worth it unless you can guarantee lots of light - something that can drop off fairly quickly under the waves. Dedicated underwater cameras come with settings based on your depth, built-in lighting, or extra sensitivity to penetrate the gloom. They also tend to be small, so you can sling them in your luggage without worrying about them taking up too much space.
