Finding the best underwater camera for your needs isnโt just about video quality โ itโs about being able to see whatโs happening in real time. Whether youโre fishing, filming marine life, or performing underwater inspections, live visibility makes a huge difference. In this guide, weโll help you choose the best underwater camera for 2025 and show how you can pair it with Seavuโs kits to stream live footage to your phone, tablet, TV, or monitor.
When evaluating the best underwater camera for your activities, keep these key features in mind:
The DJI Action 5 Pro stands out as the best underwater camera for live streaming in 2025.
Seavu Compatible Kits:
The GoPro HERO13 Black is one of the best underwater cameras for high-res footage and data overlay.
Works with all Seavu Kits:
Looking for the best underwater camera without spending too much? The GoPro HERO (2024) delivers excellent value:
Ideal with the Seeker Starter Kit for fishing and general use.
Wi-Fi and Bluetooth donโt work underwater โ as explained in this UCSB article on underwater communication โ which is why Seavuโs tethered systems exist.
Seavu lets you livestream from the best underwater cameras using a cable-to-surface system that sends video to your mobile device, TV, or computer โ perfect for research, filming, or fishing.
The best underwater camera in 2025 depends on your needs โ whether thatโs quality, live output, or budget. Pairing one with a Seavu kit transforms your setup into a live streaming powerhouse, ready for whatever lies beneath the surface.
Whether you’re fishing, exploring reefs, inspecting marine structures, or capturing cinematic underwater scenes โ being able to livestream underwater footage in real time is a gamechanger. But action cameras alone canโt stream from beneath the surface. Water blocks wireless signals like Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, cutting off your live connection the moment your camera goes underwater.
Thatโs where Seavu comes in. In this guide, weโll show you exactly how to livestream underwater footage from your GoPro or DJI camera using Seavu kits โ either to your phone or tablet, or directly to a TV, monitor, or computer using DisplayPort.
Most action cameras today โ like the GoPro HERO13 and DJI Action 5 Pro โ come equipped with Wi-Fi and Bluetooth so you can control your camera or livestream to a mobile device. These connections are greatโฆ while the camera is above water.
But the moment your camera goes beneath the surface, the signal drops out. Thatโs because water absorbs high-frequency radio waves, especially the 2.4GHz and 5GHz bands used by Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. Even at shallow depths, wireless signals are blocked within seconds โ meaning you canโt view, control, or record live footage from your phone while the camera is underwater.
Learn more: Why Wi-Fi Doesnโt Work Underwater โ National Ocean Service
Seavu was created to bridge this communication gap.
Our camera systems use a marine-grade tether cable that carries your cameraโs wireless signal to the surface, where itโs picked up by a receiver and wireless transmitter. This lets your phone, tablet, or TV maintain a seamless connection to your camera โ even when it’s metres below the surface.
No signal loss. No delay. Just live footage โ straight from beneath the surface.
This is the go-to option for mobile users looking to view and control their camera while underwater. Ideal for:
Both kits:
Example: Snapper fishermen use the Seeker Kit to mount a camera to a burley pot and watch fish approach in real time on their phone โ giving them an edge when choosing the right lure and spot.
For more advanced applications, such as marine research, charter tours, or film production, you can use Seavu to livestream underwater footage directly to larger screens โ with zero compression and uninterrupted power.
Key Features:
Example: A reef tour operator mounts the Explorer+ Kit off the back of the boat and streams the underwater scene directly to a large TV onboard โ creating a captivating guest experience without anyone getting wet.
Learn more: DisplayPort technology
Unlike HDMI, DisplayPort over USB-C allows a single cable to transmit both uncompressed video and power. That means:
Reference: DisplayPort vs HDMI โ Cable Matters
With Seavu, anyone can livestream underwater footage with ease โ from recreational anglers to professional filmmakers. Whether you’re using a GoPro HERO13 or DJI Action 5 Pro, Seavu makes it possible to stream high-quality underwater video to your phone, tablet, TV, or computer in real time.
Ready to livestream your next underwater adventure?
Explore the full range of kits at www.seavu.com
When it comes to capturing live underwater footage, the camera you choose makes all the difference. Whether you’re fishing, filming, exploring marine life, or conducting underwater inspections, the ability to stream in real-time to your phone or display is crucial. With the rise of systems like Seavu, which enable action cameras to livestream underwater, two contenders stand out: the DJI Action 5 Pro and the GoPro HERO13 Black.
In this article, we compare how these cameras perform in underwater livestreaming, with a focus on two key applications:
Seavuโs Seeker and Explorer Kits allow you to livestream footage from your action camera directly to your phone or tablet using the cameraโs app. This setup is ideal for fishing, exploring, marine education, and inspections where real-time visibility is essential.
๐ Verdict:
The DJI Action 5 Pro offers the most stable connection and the best app experience for mobile underwater livestreaming with Seavu kits. Its low-light performance is especially useful when filming deeper or in cloudy conditions.
๐ Verdict:
The GoPro HERO13 is solid, especially with its improved hardware, but is let down slightly by its app reliability. It works well with Seavu, but DJI is the better mobile-streaming option.
The Seavu Explorer+ Pro Kit is the worldโs first underwater system to use DisplayPort over USB-C for direct, uncompressed video streaming and power delivery โ allowing seamless connection to TVs, monitors, and computers.
Currently, only the DJI Action 5 Pro supports this feature natively, but future action cameras are expected to follow.
๐ Verdict:
The DJI Action 5 Pro is currently the only camera on the market that supports this setup. It delivers exceptional quality, stable power, and unmatched ease of integration with Seavuโs Explorer+ Pro Kit.
At this time, the GoPro HERO13 does not support DisplayPort output over USB-C, making it incompatible with Seavuโs Explorer+ Pro Kit.
While GoPro offers alternatives like webcam mode or HDMI output via the Media Mod, these options come with trade-offs. To achieve both video output and continuous power, youโll need to run two separate cables โ one for HDMI and one for USB-C power โ which makes the setup bulkier and more complex.
In contrast, the DJI Action 5 Pro delivers both uncompressed video and power through a single USB-C connection using DisplayPort, offering a streamlined and efficient setup.
๐ซ Verdict:
For DisplayPort-based livestreaming with the Seavu Explorer+ Pro Kit, the GoPro HERO13 is not compatible. Until GoPro enables DisplayPort output, the DJI Action 5 Pro remains the only choice.
Feature | DJI Action 5 Pro | GoPro HERO13 Black |
---|---|---|
Mobile App Livestreaming | โ Excellent | โ Excellent |
App Experience | โ Very user-friendly | โ Very good |
Low-Light Underwater Footage | โ Excellent | โ Excellent |
DisplayPort Streaming (TV/PC) | โ Fully Compatible | โ Not Supported |
Power While Streaming | โ Supported | โ Not Compatible |
Both cameras offer exceptional mobile livestreaming performance when used with Seavuโs Seeker or Explorer kits. The GoPro HERO13 delivers crisp footage, strong connectivity, and excellent low-light performance โ making it a reliable option for most underwater users.
However, the DJI Action 5 Pro edges ahead for a few key reasons:
If you’re primarily using Seavu to stream to your phone or tablet, both cameras are top-tier. But if you’re also looking to stream to a TV, monitor, or computer, the DJI Action 5 Pro is the clear winner for now.
Seavu Seeker Starter Kit โ Stream from DJI or GoPro to your phone
Seavu Explorer Adventure Kit โ Stabilised housing for live mobile streaming
Seavu Explorer+ Pro Kit โ Direct video output to displays with DJI Action 5 Pro
Ready to dive into real-time underwater viewing? Explore Seavu Kits โ
In the world of underwater imaging, clarity, reliability, and real-time access to footage are essential for professionals. Whether you’re broadcasting a sporting event, inspecting infrastructure, training divers, or capturing stunning marine visuals for film, the tools you use matter. Thatโs where the Seavu Explorer+ Pro Kit marks a major leap forward โ as the worldโs first underwater camera system to utilise DisplayPort for live, high-resolution video directly from an action camera.
DisplayPort is a high-performance video output standard typically used in computing and professional video systems. It offers higher bandwidth, uncompressed video, and support for resolutions up to 4K and beyond โ all over a single USB-C connection.
In action camera systems, DisplayPort opens up new possibilities for live video workflows, making it easier than ever to get crisp, real-time footage onto a larger screen or computer for monitoring, analysis, recording, or streaming.
The Seavu Explorer+ Pro Kit is the first of its kind to harness this powerful video output standard for underwater use. It enables the DJI Action 5 Pro โ the first action camera to support DisplayPort over USB-C โ to deliver a high-resolution, hardwired feed to a TV, monitor, or computer.
At the core of the kit is the Seavu Media Cable โ a 15-metre fibre-optic USB-C cable that delivers:
DisplayPort video output (up to 4K)
Power delivery to the camera
Stable, uncompressed video transmission
A simplified and professional underwater setup
The Explorer+ Pro Kit was engineered for performance in real-world underwater environments. Whether you’re on a boat, dock, or poolside, this kit allows for long-duration viewing and capture without needing to recharge or manage wireless signals.
Itโs ideal for:
Live underwater event coverage
Commercial inspections
Scientific research
Dive training and demonstrations
Underwater filmmaking and documentaries
With built-in DisplayPort output, the Explorer+ Pro Kit allows for:
Direct connection to a TV or monitor using the included DisplayPort HDMI Adapter (with PD)
Connection to a computer for livestreaming or recording (via optional 4K Video Capture Card) using software like OBS, VLC, or Zoom
For advanced setups, the HDMI output can be routed into video switchers (e.g. Blackmagic ATEM Mini Pro) or HDMI to SDI converters, offering full compatibility with broadcast-grade systems.
DisplayPort output support โ currently exclusive to the DJI Action 5 Pro
Hardwired underwater connection via fibre-optic USB-C cable
Continuous camera power delivery during use
High-quality 4K video feed to a variety of devices
Cable reel for clean storage and deployment
Professional mounting options for fixed-position use
The DJI Action 5 Pro, released in September 2024, is the first action camera to support DisplayPort over USB-C. The Explorer+ Pro Kit is the first camera system in the world to take advantage of this capability in an underwater setting โ opening the door to new levels of quality and reliability for real-time underwater viewing.
As DisplayPort becomes more common in future action cameras, the Explorer+ Pro Kit is already ready โ future-proofed for professionals demanding the very best.
The Seavu Explorer+ Pro Kit redefines whatโs possible for underwater filming and monitoring. It combines industry-first DisplayPort support, continuous power delivery, and real-time high-resolution output in a compact, reliable system. For professionals in events, research, inspection, or film โ this is the underwater solution youโve been waiting for.
Check out the Explorer+ Pro Underwater DisplayPort Kit!