New to Diving - need Digital Camera

[aostrows]

Hi folks -

My husband has been certified for a few years and I just got certified this past year. We dive rather infrequently and are traveling to Tahiti in October so I'd like to purchase an underwater digital camera. We don't really want to spend more than $300 - 400. Our other option is getting a housing unit for our Sony camera. What are your thoughts in comparison? Should we just get a digital underwater or get the housing unit? If we go with digital underwater is there one that is recommended in our price range? As we don't dive too often we aren't going to spend exorbitant amounts of money on the camera but do want good quality pictures for when we do use it.

Thanks for your help!

Amanda:D

[FrankPro1]

Here's a good article on the best underwater camera options for all price ranges: Underwater Camera Articles: Review: Best Underwater Point & Shoot Cameras for 2009 (http://www.backscatter.com/learn/article/article.php?ID=57)

The other option that you mentioned "using your current Sony Camera" is also a good way to go. You already know how to operate it well, which is the first step anyone should take before putting any camera in a housing and taking it diving.

[randini]

It really depends on what you want out of your UW photo experience. If you just want snapshots of you & the hubby UW, and maybe some scenic shots, then just get the housing for the camera that you already have. The main advantages of this are cost and that you already have and know the camera.

If you want more than that, It's really hard to suggest what to do without knowing what camera you already have and what it's capabilities are (not to mention what you want out of UW photography).