Underwater Drones Might Be the Best New Yacht Toy
Though anglers have been using drones for a few years, stabilization and picture quality are improving, making them attractive options for yachters who just want to see what's underwater without all the usual effort.
They haven't reached the heights (sorry) of aerial drones just yet, but underwater drones have been making steady improvements since they were first introduced, and they're a lot more fun now (just check the caveats).
If you've ever used an aerial drone, the controls are typically similar — and if you haven't, most systems aren't difficult to pick up ("most" being the key word; the more high-tech and expensive the drone, the more complex its operation, generally). The as-yet small industry's been pushing "consumer-friendly" lower-cost versions that sound easier to use, but let the buyer beware: there are drawbacks to going cheap and simple, which I'll get into after the fun stuff.
QUSEA FIFISH E-GO
First, based on extensive footage review and use comparisons (and ignoring much of the marketing, especially for the aforementioned "consumer-friendly" versions, which tend to feature plenty of shots of the drones in action and very little actual footage), here are our top 2025 picks for underwater drones for photography (or just exploration) lovers, in order of ballpark prices:
THE CHASING M2 S
PRICE: anywhere from $2500-$3600 USD.
For those who might be familiar, this is the newest version of the older yellow Chasing M2, and even that was good enough that it was able to let a fisherman capture this image of a manatee, taken directly from footage:
PROS: This is probably the lowest price point at which you'll find crisp images.
CONS: Stabilization can be a challenge if there's any kind of current — extremely calm waters are key. Also note that, like most higher-end drones, the battery is not on the drone itself, so it'll take up some space onboard.
THE CHASING M2 PRO MAX
PRICE: anywhere from $6600-$9900 USD.
This model is billed as "for industrial users," as in, for instance, a company that might want to inspect underwater infrastructure without risking a diver — but its camera and capabilities are an improvement over the M2 S, and we think it'll interest explorers and but-I-don't-feel-like-diving-right-now photographers and videographers, too.
Video footage shows enhanced maneuvering and image quality despite the interference of ocean debris:
from austintollefson at Youtube.
PROS: This is still cheaper than our top pick overall, and represents the (otherwise) best capabilities on the market thus far.
CONS: Although the model has built-in stabilization features, there are still detectable movements that wouldn't be present in ordinary underwater photography.
THE BOXFISH LUNA
PRICE: Custom made-to-order with no given range; Boxfish's website has a contact form for more information.
Probably not for the curious amateur, the Boxfish Luna is the best aquatic drone camera out there, intended for artists and filmmakers. Its footage is stunning, its range is staggering (up to a thousand meters!), and accordingly, it's a little larger and heavier than its more consumer-oriented counterparts, with far more tether and a more complex capture system.
Given the intended customer, it was difficult to find footage that was not professional — but this, extra footage from the recent Great Lakes documentary All Too Clear, was released by the filmmakers themselves, not specifically aided by or in support of Boxfish:
From TVO Docs.
PROS: Stabilization, customization, range, operating capabilities, and image quality are all well superior to any other product in this category.
CONS: Top-quality custom anything, as always, takes time and money.
A NOTE ABOUT INEXPENSIVE DRONES
There are plenty of other models marketed toward the "beginner" user that go for as little as $400 USD or so, but we reviewed footage from those, too. If your only interest in drones is for photography/videography, you may be better off waiting for further improvements and price-drops (and given how much improvement's happened in the past six years or so, when aquatic drones dipped their toes in the water — sorry — you may not have to wait long, anyway).
"Beginner" models tend to have poor stabilization, lighting, and image quality, and a few are marketed as tetherless: don't be fooled; as noted earlier, currents play a big role in underwater drone photography, and with nothing to keep it close, a strong current can sweep a tetherless drone right out to sea.
