You can use a waterproof digital camera to record and preserve memories of your water-based vacations. It is a mistake to count on a supposedly-waterproof disposable camera. Sadly, I speak with the voice of experience.

You don’t want to lose any of those great underwater photos of your favorite snorkeling or scuba dive. By using a good quality underwater camera you can capture the beauty of life below the water’s surface.

Waterproof digital cameras also are a great way for you to get some action shots of white water rafters and kayakers shooting the rapids. I suppose you also can get a few close-up shots of a sedentary fisherman, landing a big one. .

If you dive deep, you want a SeaLife DC500 or SeaLife DC600. Lots of waterproof digital cameras can function thirty feet under water. Scuba divers love these SeaLife cameras because they can be used at a depth of 200 feet!

This superb camera offers two different underwater shooting options. One is the usual underwater snapshot with a shutter lag. The other is the Shark Mode, which first focuses on the intended subject. The camera remembers that range so later pictures have virtually no shutter lag.

These SeaLife digital cameras have a flash and can use other lenses, as well as a 3X optical zoom plus a 4X digital zoom. You get auto-focus. There is a large 2-inch LCD display so you can view your pictures. The SeaLife DC500 has 5 megapixels and the SeaLife DC600 has 6 megapixels.

The Olympus Stylus 770SW is not only waterproof. It claims to be crush-proof and freeze-proof! You get 7.1 megapixels and a huge 2.5-inch LCD display. This Olympus waterproof digital camera is waterproof to a bit over thirty feet underwater and is shockproof with a drop of five feet. On top of that it can survive 220 pounds of crushing force. There are almost thirty shooting modes and movie sound.

If you want a thin camera, consider the Olympus Stylus 1040 compact camera. With 10 megapixels and a 2.7-inch LCD screen, it gives Sony and Casio some worthy competition in this category.

A good budget buy for a waterproof digital camera is the PENTAX Optio W20. There are many good features for a very reasonable price. It’s not as depth-resistant as the others, but it will serve you well if you stay within five feet of the surface. It has 7 megapixels and good zooming.

So which waterproof digital camera should you buy? It depends on you. Think about how you will use it and how much you can afford. Do your research first, and then buy the camera that is right for you.