Compact cameras are the solution for divers who don’t want to pay extra baggage fees for an SLR rig. Compact housings are smaller, and lack the interchangeable-port system, requiring less prep and maintenance time.

DSLR cameras are the cream of the crop when it comes to professional underwater photography. With ever-increasing megapixel counts, the option to switch between specialty macro and wide-angle lenses, and super-quick autofocus, SLRs remain the must-have tool for the advanced amateur and professional underwater shooter. SLR housings, weighing upwards of 5 pounds, often requiring positively buoyant arms or flotation devices to make them more manageable underwater.

Mirrorless interchangeable lens cameras are blurring the lines between compacts and SLRs. Don’t be fooled by their surprisingly slim figure — although this new breed of mirrorless cameras might be just as small as other compacts, they also offer a megapixel count and image-sensor size similar to professional SLRs. Many mirrorless housings also feature a selection of ports to complement the interchangeable lenses offered for these hybrid compact-SLR systems.

-Want to learn more about underwater housings? Read 5 Things to Know About Underwater Housings HERE.
-Want to know how to care for your underwater housing? Read How to Care for a Camera Housing.
-Ready to start shopping? Here's our gallery of the Best Underwater Cameras and Accessories.