This Summer’s 7 Must-Have Waterproof Gadgets

The old adage of water and electronics not mixing well is carrying less and less gravitas. These days, it’s the avant-garde. Smartphones, cameras, watches and all spectrums of technology are taking the plunge, with decades of style, finesse and unabashed quality making waves underwater. Whether snorkelling the turquoise-tinged flats of the Caribbean or sailing into the teeth of a katabatic North Sea storm this summer, here are some of the latest gadgets to get excited about.

GOPRO HERO 3+

, One for the thrill seekers. The latest edition to the GoPro range is this finely tuned version of the already hugely successful Hero 3 model, boasting better battery life, clearer audio, faster Wifi and a new Superview shooting mode for wide-angle shots. And, miraculously, all this improvement encompasses a 20% size and weight loss.

Price: £360 From: Gopro.com

NIKON 1 AW1

, The company synonymous with optic excellence has taken their expertise underwater, fusing sophistication and style with time-tested durability. Both waterproof and shockproof, the AW1 can shoot down to 15m (49ft). However, its real party trick is that this is one of the first underwater cameras with interchangeable lenses, adding a whole new dimension to aquatic photography.

Price: £640 From: europe-nikon.com

BREITLING SUPEROCEAN CHRONOGRAPH II

, It wasn’t all that many years ago that watches caused a stir as they first dipped their hands below the surface. Progress has been fast and impeccable style and finish has kept abreast. Our pick is the striking Breitling Superocean Chronograph II, capable of functionality at a remarkable 500 metres.

From: breitling.com

HYDROVIEW MAX, , Ever wanted to explore the seabed from the warmth of the shore or comfort of the deck? Now you can. HydroView Max, a remote operated underwater vehicle with a high definition video camera, can be navigated using your iPad or laptop., Price: from $5,500 From: aquabotix.com

SEA-DOO SEA SCOOTER RS 1

With a top speed of 7km/h and a runtime of 90 minutes, the RS1 – the latest innovation from Sea-Doo Seascooter to be making inroads into minimalistic underwater propulsion – is a great way to explore the open water.

Price: £1,500 From: seadooscooter.com

SONY’S XPERIA Z2

Sony were the first to take the plunge into the realms of water resistant smartphones, and their latest offering to fly off the production line, the Z2, is carrying the torch with the style and panache we’ve come to expect. Delving into the nitty-gritty of its specifications only add further weight to this. Water resistant up to 1 metre, a new 5.2-inch screen engineered into a thinner and lighter body, and a whopping 20.7MP camera to play with.

From: Sonymobile.com

THE TRITON – ONE TO WATCH…, , Would you prefer to swim or fly? It’s one of those unreachable itches that regularly appear in conversation. And thanks to the innovative Korean creator Jeabyun Yeon, the former is no longer looking to be a fictitious pipe dream, with his invention, The Triton – although yet to grace the shelves – promising to allow the operator to breath underwater. It certainly has us, and many others, watching attentively.

By Patrick Tillard