Cameras and Water Do Mix!
So you finally made it. You have the tickets in your hand, and the car is racing toward the airport. Within eight hours, you’ll be sunning yourself on the beaches of Jamaica (or Majorca or Hawaii—just name it). This year, you’ve promised yourself, you’re going to learn to snorkel. Wouldn’t it be great if you could bring back some underwater photos to complete the trip?
     Once prohibitively costly, today, underwater cameras fall within the budget of most Americans. Take your pick from several inexpensive point-and-shoot cameras (or even single-use models) designed for shooting in shallow depths.
     Often housed in brightly colored high-impact plastic, these cameras offer oversized viewfinder and controls, built-in electronic flash, and other settings designed for use while wearing snorkeling mask and gloves. As a bonus, these cameras adjust aperture, shutter speed, and focus automatically so you don’t have to.
     Of course, you don’t have to limit your underwater camera to the briny deep. It’s great for above-surface shots, too. And, because it’s waterproof, it’s ideal for using on the beach, in the rain, or boating, skiing, rafting--anywhere a conventional camera may fear to tread.
     One word of warning: Don't mistake a "weatherproof" camera for a "waterproof" one. While many modern cameras are weatherproof, they weren’t made to hold up to continued exposure to an undersea environment.
     So before you board that flight to Tahiti, make sure you’re properly equipped with the best camera to help you bring home the proof—and the memories—of your trip … both above, and below, the water.