Uploaded August 2012 | Updated September 2026, 1 week ago
I compare the underwater video quality using the standard GoPro Hero HD Housing against the GoPro Dive Housing. The standard housing produces blurry, out-of-focus images underwater. Unlike the standard housing which has a lens built into it, the dive housing uses a flat glass surface over the GoPro camera's lens to maintain focus underwater.
The curved lens in the standard GoPro housing does not focus under water because it was designed to work in air where the index of refraction (~1.0) is 25% lower than in water (~1.33). However the Dive housing's flat glass surface does not focus incoming light and allows the GoPro camera lens itself to do all the focusing. It supports a sharp focus equally well above and below water.
It seems odd GoPro would sell a waterproof case that does not focus underwater, but apparently their goal was to simply keep the camera safe from wet conditions, not to support underwater use.
@podfeet's Amazon affiliate link to order GoPro Dive Housing: amazon.com/gp/product/B0090A5P0Q/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B0090A5P0Q&linkCode=as2&tag=httppodfeecom-20
I compare the underwater video quality using the standard GoPro Hero HD Housing against the GoPro Dive Housing. The standard housing produces blurry, out-of-focus images underwater. Unlike the standard housing which has a lens built into it, the dive housing uses a flat glass surface over the GoPro camera's lens to maintain focus underwater.
The curved lens in the standard GoPro housing does not focus under water because it was designed to work in air where the index of refraction (~1.0) is 25% lower than in water (~1.33). However the Dive housing's flat glass surface does not focus incoming light and allows the GoPro camera lens itself to do all the focusing. It supports a sharp focus equally well above and below water.
It seems odd GoPro would sell a waterproof case that does not focus underwater, but apparently their goal was to simply keep the camera safe from wet conditions, not to support underwater use.
@podfeet's Amazon affiliate link to order GoPro Dive Housing: amazon.com/gp/product/B0090A5P0Q/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B0090A5P0Q&linkCode=as2&tag=httppodfeecom-20
