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During my recent diving adventure, I had the opportunity to test several single-use underwater cameras. I tested the SeaLife Shark Diver, the Fujifilm Quick Snap and the Kodak MAX Water & Sport cameras.

The SeaLife Shark Diver was unique among the field of cameras in several ways. It was the only camera that was tested and certified by the manufacturer to work at scuba depths (up to 80 feet). While the camera mechanism was essentially that of an ordinary disposable, it came in a re-usable gasketed case with a special diving sight that provided an easy way to frame shots without a dive mask encumbering the process. The Shark Diver was also the only camera that I tested that came with a flash.

While the Fujifilm camera had a slightly longer case than the Kodak, the cameras were very similar. Both had blue tinted plastic cases surrounding a traditional single-use camera and both came with large rubber bands that fed through a slot in the side to secure to a wrist or to clip to a buoyancy compensator. Both came with 800-speed film. Neither camera was certified to work at scuba depths and pressures. The Fuji's pastel body color, wide and brightly colored winding knob and over-sized shutter-release lever made it easily distinguishable in my gear bag.

Great Idea, If Only It Worked...
The SeaLife camera looked like the perfect dive camera for a beginner like myself. Unfortunately, I encountered some serious problems.

The first thing that I noticed was that the flash didn't work. I guess the battery was dead. The next problem was something that I discovered hours after diving with it when I was going over my gear for my second day of diving. The gasket leaked and salt water had gotten into the case. The result was that only a couple of pictures from that roll of film survived. Had I been entirely dependent on the Shark for photographs of my trip, I would have been sorely disappointed. The shipping box did mention that for best performance a user should apply silicone grease to the gasket before diving, but that wasn't in large print, nor was there any warning that it was really necessary. I suspect that the camera that I received was actually pretty old (thus the dead battery) and that with a little maintenance this camera system could be useful, but I will never trust it as my only camera on a dive.

Battle of the Disposables
Neither the Kodak nor the Fuji camera leaked. Every shot came out, although some photos were disappointing. The lack of an oversized dive-sight made it hard to frame shots properly so the subject was occasionally skewed or off-center in the final image. The Fuji's oversized knob and lever made it far easier to wind and to take pictures. The Kodak's tiny shutter-button was occasionally hard to find without a struggle. Both cameras were slightly positively buoyant, which required that they be held tightly or tethered at all times under water. The Kodak's shape allowed it to fit more easily in my BCD pocket, but for the most part both cameras remained tied to my wrist for convenience.

Color, Color
Water filters sunlight so that everything appears more blue as one sinks deeper. The blue tint wasn't apparent to my eyes at the depths that I explored, but there was a significant effect on the light-sensitive film. Colors that I perceived as brilliant yellows and reds showed up in my prints as various shades of blue. A flash restores color and depth to an under water photograph and the lack of a flash on my disposables meant that a lot had to be left to my memory and imagination.

Everything Turns Blue
These images don't correspond to what I saw. The water was clear and the colors appeared bright and sharp.

...And the Winner
The Kodak and Fuji both performed well, but the Fuji won me over for two reasons. The over-sized winding-wheel and shutter-lever were easiest to find and to manipulate under water, but that wasn't the most important factor. Since color wasn't very useful in defining the subjects of my photos, fine-details became more important and the grain of the Fuji's film made for slightly sharper images. I'll be buying Fuji cameras for my next trip.

The Fuji and Kodak cameras retail for about $10 dollars. The SeaLife Shark Diver sells for between $20-30 dollars and comes with one single-use camera.

You should put up more pictures. I want to see your trip.