\u200bTether, Wireless or Autonomous?<\/h3>\n
\u200bFor recreational users or beginners, a wireless drone is the easiest type of drone to use from a control standpoint, but due to the water, those drones would be the least capable and least stable drones to use. They would be unsuitable for any serious operation. Tethered underwater drones have the highest bandwidth and are the most stable drones. The direct connection allows it to perform consistently and at greater depths, though the setup may intimidate recreational operators. Drones capable of functioning autonomously are better for solo divers because they won\u2019t have to worry too much about the controls, and they can focus on their dive.<\/p>\n
\u200bIs There a Need for an Underwater Drone?<\/h2>\n
Underwater drones serve a variety of needs to a variety of different users. Some people only want to use the drones for fun while fishing or scuba diving on vacation, and others use them for more serious applications, such as treasure hunting, salvaging, military operations and scientific observations.<\/p>\n
\u200bRecreational Use vs. Professional Use<\/h3>\n
\u200bUnderwater drones used by recreational operators, such as scuba divers on vacation or someone who wants to see what they can find, would want to concentrate on drones that are more user-friendly, inexpensive and lighter. If the user wants a drone for a professional purpose, such as salvage\/treasure hunting, a professional videographer, or someone performing an underwater experiment, then the focus will be more on sheer performance and depth capabilities.<\/p>\n
\u200bStreaming and Film<\/h3>\n
\u200bMany underwater drones are capable of live streaming the footage that they pick up. This makes it useful for filmmakers, bloggers, and social media influencers who may want to bring their audience along with them as they explore the lakes and oceans.<\/p>\n
\u200bGoPro Cameras and Underwater Drones<\/h3>\n
\u200bGoPro Cameras from the Hero product line are the only GoPro Cameras compatible with the underwater drones. The key when choosing a GoPro Camera is to look for one with a high frame rate, to able to keep up with fast moving fish, swimmers, and to be able to produce smooth slow motion shots. The most advanced GoPro in the Hero line is the Hero7.<\/p>\n
\u200bWhat to Look for When Buying an Underwater Drone<\/h3>\n
\u200bThe first thing anyone who seeks to purchase an underwater drone should look into is battery length and maximum depth. A long battery life ensures you get as much footage as you can, and the deeper the drone can go, the more you\u2019re liable to see. After that, it\u2019s a matter of what you can afford and the functionality you need.<\/p>\n
\u200bImage source: pixabay.com<\/em><\/a><\/em><\/p>\n As previously mentioned, the varying types of drone operators will all have different needs and requirements when purchasing an underwater drone, but the main things considered are:<\/p>\n If you\u2019re only fishing or diving for fun, your depth capacity requirements wouldn\u2019t be all that high, and you wouldn\u2019t be willing to spend as much as professional users. With this in mind, some popular models for beginners and recreational users are the Fathom One, the Biki, and the CCROV.<\/p>\n The Fathom One is an extremely portable drone. Its side propellers can be removed, allowing for the Fathom One to be placed in a backpack. While it may not last as long or go as deep as some higher grade drones, the Fathom One is reasonably fast and can be purchased for under a $1,000. It\u2019s highly accessible for rookie drone pilots who are looking to get their feet wet in underwater exploration.<\/p>\n The Biki is a little drone that is autonomous and shaped just like a fish. It even propels itself with a little fin-shaped propeller. This option has obstacle avoidance software and has a built-in camera. Like the Fathom One, it\u2019s also relatively cheap. It doesn\u2019t have a very high performance, but for shallow water exploration and fun, it\u2019s adequately equipped. It\u2019s best suited for shallow water divers and swimmers.<\/p>\n The CCROV has a small size compared to that of other ROV drones, but the major selling point is its high maneuverability and how easy to deploy and\/or rewind it. This makes retrieval a quick and easy process. The tether is not very long and the battery life only goes for an hour, so this isn\u2019t suitable for many professional applications.<\/p>\n \u200bIf you intend on using a drone for treasure hunting, salvaging, business reasons or scientific research, then price usually isn\u2019t a major issue (or it shouldn\u2019t be). At this level, you\u2019re likely wanting to invest in a reliable, high-performance model that will get the job done and done right. Popular high-performance models are the DTG2 series, Blueye, Power Ray and iBubble.<\/p>\n \u200bThe DTG2 series of drones come in four models that are all designed for increasingly heavy duty tasks. They were never meant for recreational use. The Starter, Pro, Smart and Worker models mainly differ in depth capability and tether length; all the models have a long, six to eight-hour run time, powerful lighting capabilities, and an advanced camera with a 330-degree field of view.The most advanced model, the Worker, comes equipped with grabber arms and auto depth features, making it ideal for salvagers and treasure hunters. The DTG2 series drones are highly customizable; even more equipment can be added on. The Starter model costs over $3,800, and the Worker will run at about $10,000. These are commercial grade drones.<\/p>\n \u200bThe iBubble may have a rather short run time of one hour, but it\u2019s one of the most maneuverable, fastest models available. The iBubble is autonomous with avoidance technology, making it a higher performance alternative to the Biki, which is rather slow. The iBubble doesn\u2019t require a tether, further adding to its maneuverability and movement. The downside is that it doesn\u2019t have a camera built into it, and it requires a GoPro attachment, but many serious scuba divers would find this easy to use.<\/p>\n![\"coral\"](\"https:\/\/diving-info.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/coral-1053837_640.jpg\" "\\"\\"")
<\/span><\/p>\n\u200bA Guide to Buying an Underwater Drone<\/h2>\n
Buying Criteria for Underwater Drones<\/h3>\n
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What Are Some of the Best Underwater Drones for Recreational Use?<\/h3>\n
Fathom One<\/h4>\n
\u200bBiki<\/h4>\n
\u200bCCROV<\/h4>\n
\u200bWhat Underwater Drones are Suitable for Professional Use?<\/h2>\n
\u200bDTG2 Series<\/h4>\n
\u200biBubble<\/h4>\n
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