The 11 best underwater drones in 2021

The Dory is an affordable model from Chasing that can dive down to 15m while streaming 720p video or recording 1080p video at 30 FPS and taking 2 MP photos. It is compact (9.7 x 7.4 x 3.6″) and is delivered in a bundle with an adapted travel backpack.

The Poseidon is equipped with a 120° wide full HD camera able to take 1080p pictures and 1080p 30 fps videos while live streaming to smart devices. Its triple-thruster design allows it to move in six directions and its cable comes in two length options: 100 m and 150 m.

The PowerRay 4K underwater drone with a camera is ideal for fishing. Indeed, a range of fishing add-ons is available. These include a bait drop and the PowerSeeker Fish Finder, which can detect fish to a depth of 80 meters. A customized version of the Zeiss VR ONE Plus VR headset is also available optionally.

Two versions of the PowerRay are available, the PowerRay Explorer (includes the drone, a transmitter, and a base station) and the PowerRay Wizard (includes the drone, a transmitter, a base station, a bait drop, Zeiss FPV goggles, Fishfinder, and a carrying case).

The Gladius Mini is a smart submersible drone equipped with a 4K camera. The Gladius underwater drone includes changeable ballasts that allow the ROV to be operable in seawater and freshwater. Its five thrusters also allow for the drone to travel up to 2 m/s.

Another version of the Gladius Mini is also available: the Gladius Mini S (includes a 4 Hours Runtime and the ability to use sophisticated attachments such as a grabber claw, sports cameras, and more).

The YouCan BW-Space is equipped with a camera with a 130° wide-angle lens able to capture 4K videos and 12 MP photos. Its 4-thruster system allows it to move vertically while increasing its stability underwater.

It is able to dive to 100 m and its battery can last up to 5 hours. YouCan BW-Space comes in an upgraded version called the Youcan BW-Space Pro, featuring better camera options such as an image stabilizer, depth maintenance shooting, or digital defogging.

The QYSEA FIFISH V6 is designed specifically for underwater photography and filmmaking. It allows users to capture outstanding 12 megapixel underwater images thanks to its 4K UHD camera and provides a specific 4000-lumen sunlight technology, a true color algorithm (FIFISH app), and a specifically designed lens for low visibility underwater environment. It is made to withstand a 100 m dive, and its battery can last up to 270 minutes.

The FIFISH V6 is part of the QYSEA FIFISH series with the FIFISH V6s and FIFISH P3.

The Nemo offers some exceptional features for a mid-range priced drone. Its camera captures 4K UHD videos and 16 MP images. The Nemo can travel underwater with ease thanks to its QAS balance system and 4-thruster design. Users may control the Nemo via optional FPV goggles (VR headset).

The TrenchRover from ThorRobotics is equipped with 2-4k cameras and can record 4K UHD video while offering 1080p real-time viewing diving down to 30m. It can be equipped with a mechanical claw to manipulate and grip objects underwater making it an interesting option for marine life studying and treasure hunting.

The Titan is a professional 4K underwater camera drone with two 1500-lumen headlamps. This underwater ROV is also equipped with six thrusters to efficiently navigate through difficult marine conditions. A range of accessories is available, including FPV goggles, a robotic arm, a sonar system, and a waterproof microphone.

Designed for professional users and industrial applications, the Chasing M2 PRO is perfect for long dives up to 150m deep. It can be fully equipped with a robotic clamp, dive light, and laser optical measurement (available on the classical M2 version) but it is also compatible with a control console (high brightness display), docking station, USBL underwater positioning system, multi-beam sonar, auxiliary camera, and other enhanced accessories exclusive to the PRO version.

It can be really useful to have eyes under the surface of the water when you go fishing. Knowing the exact location of fish masses and the size, number or characteristics of a specific type of fish can drastically improve your fishing results.

The CHASING F1 was created to answer this specific issue. This digital full HD wireless fish finder drone with remote control is equipped with a four-thrusters vector layout propulsion system, a 1080P Full HD Camera (with IR capabilities at night), a built-in 28 Meters long automatic reel, and many other fishing accessories.

This innovative underwater camera drone automatically follows the diver while capturing exceptional submarine footage. This level of autonomy is quite uncommon in the underwater drone niche. Notilo Plus even refers to their drone as a “personal underwater cameraman” for both professionals and consumers.

When Deep Trekker designed this ROV, they had an underwater inspection solution in mind.

Its 270 degree rotating 4K camera allows the user to take photos up to 8 megapixels. This ROV was constructed with cast aluminum, anodized, and epoxy coated to prevent corrosion.

This Norwegian ROV’s high price point is explained by a sleuth of features. The PIONEER comes with FPV goggles and is operable via Wi-Fi. Its auto-depth and auto-heading modes offer an easy user experience. The PIONEER is also equipped with 3000-lumen lighting to provide underwater visibility.

The Blueye PIONEER is part of the same product series as the Blueye X3 and the Blueye PRO.

This underwater drone features a 6-axis brushless propulsion, automatic depth, and orientation functions, a leak detection circuit, and can also be equipped with a mechanical manipulator arm to grab objects.

A very interesting feature is the built-in nine-axis compass that allows real-time monitoring of bow and underwater attitude.

Designed to withstand the harshest environments, the SeaOtter-2 can be equipped with an RMD-1 remote metal detector, front and rear pan and tilt color cameras, a high-intensity LED light ring, and a 10.5-inch flat-panel display built into the lid.

With its 150 meters depth-rated housing, the SeaOtter-2 is perfect for a variety of applications like pipeline inspections, river and ocean searches, oil and gas platform work, etc.

The SeaOtter-2 is part of the same product series as the SeaLion-2 ROV.

With a maximum speed of 4 knots and a maximum dive depth of 350m, this industrial-grade underwater ROV platform is made to resist difficult underwater environments.

It is equipped with a ton of features like a U-QPS underwater quick positioning system (providing its real-time location), a Sonar Array system (QYSEA patent algorithm that allows position lock, Collision Avoidance, and Contour Scanning functions), a Dual 4K Camera System, a fully modular design to add specific systems and many others.

The FIFISH PRO W6 is part of the QYSEA FIFISH PRO series, with the FIFISH PRO V6 PLUS and FIFISH PRO Zen1.

This underwater ROV (remotely operated vehicle) is designed to be robust and durable, even in harsh conditions. It is suitable for a wide range of professional uses, including marine biology research, aquaculture, military defense, exploration, and more. The REVOLUTION ROV features a 4K camera, quick-swap batteries, a high depth rating, and a convenient travel case.

With its Diving depth of only 3 meters, the Mariana is not designed to sink too far into the oceans. This underwater drone should rather be considered as a toy than a tool covering real applications other than pleasure.

Nevertheless, its double propulsion system that allows it to reach 1.5 knots (2.8km/h), its maximum control range of 100m, and its 7.2V / 3AH battery make it a toy that will certainly delight most users looking for underwater fun!

This cheap underwater drone costs only $74 and is considered a toy drone. The SPYCAM AQUA is mainly intended to be used in controlled water environments such as small aquariums.

However, the drone can be fitted with 4 weight balancers to be used in seawater and freshwater. A small detachable fish feeding arm can also be attached to lure fish to get close-up footage of them.

The PowerDolphin is an affordable underwater drone that is optimal for fishing. Despite its lower price tag, the drone boasts advanced features such as a 4K camera, a “Return To Home” function, and a 4.5 m/s maximum speed.

In addition, a range of add-ons is available, including a bait container, a tow line, and the PowerSeeker sonar.

This waterproof quadcopter is predominantly aerial, but is surface buoyant and is able to film underwater from the surface. As SwellPro puts it, this drone is metaphorically more like a “flying boat” than a submarine.

The SplashDrone 3+ waterproof drone features a 3-axis gimbal 4K camera and a range of optional accessories are available.