If you’ve just picked up your new Hero 10 and have questions like whether the GoPro Hero 10 is waterproof without a case, how deep it can dive with a housing, and if it’s safe to use in saltwater, then you’re in the right place.
 
I understand how frustrating these questions can be, especially when you want to protect your expensive gear.
 
That’s why I’m here to help.
 
In this article, you’ll learn whether the GoPro Hero 10 is waterproof both with and without the case, how deep it can go, and I’ll also offer some tips for underwater shooting.

Take a look at my GoPro underwater guide where I explain settings, accessories and tips for diving and snorkeling:

BEST GoPro UNDERWATER Settings, Accessories, Tips for Diving & Snorkeling

 

 

Is The GoPro Hero 10 Really Waterproof?

GoPros were originally designed to capture surfing adventures from a POV perspective, which makes them exceptionally well-suited for use in water.

The GoPro HERO 10 is waterproof straight out of the box and can withstand depths of up to 10 meters (33 feet), making it perfect for activities like swimming, snorkeling, kayaking, and paddleboarding, as well as exposure to rain and waterfalls.

Best GoPro for Diving

However, if you’re planning on scuba diving, you will require a robust underwater housing.

It’s a good idea to invest in a reliable underwater housing since your GoPro is quite the investment, and you wouldn’t want to risk harming it with a less-than-stellar case.

Below are some of the most dependable options available:

GoPro Hero 10 Protective Housing 

GoPro Protective Housing (HERO13 Black/HERO12 Black/HERO11 Black/HERO10 Black/HERO9 Black) - Official GoPro Accessory
GoPro Protective Housing (HERO13 Black/HERO12 Black/HERO11 Black/HERO10 Black/HERO9 Black) - Official GoPro Accessory
  • Protects your GoPro from mud, dirt and debris during extreme activities
  • Front LCD screen remains accessible for viewing
  • Waterproof down to 196ft (60m) perfect for deep-water diving
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The GoPro official Protective Housing is an excellent choice for your Hero 10 camera, allowing you to take it down to depths of 60m/196ft underwater.

This means you can enjoy diving, snorkeling, and other extreme underwater activities while capturing everything on your action camera without any worries. It ensures that your GoPro Hero 10 is well-protected from mud, dirt, and debris.

The GoPro Hero 10 Protective Housing features a skeleton backdoor that enhances audio capture and allows you to use the camera’s back touchscreen even with the case on. The flat glass lens ensures sharp, high-quality images both above and below water.

Fitstill Waterproof Case

FitStill 196FT/60M Waterproof Case for Go Pro Hero 13/Hero12 Black/Hero11 Black/Hero10 Black/Hero9 Black,Protective Underwater Diving Housing with Accessories for Hero13/12/11/10/9 Black Action Camera
FitStill 196FT/60M Waterproof Case for Go Pro Hero 13/Hero12 Black/Hero11 Black/Hero10 Black/Hero9 Black,Protective Underwater Diving Housing with Accessories for Hero13/12/11/10/9 Black Action Camera
  • 【DESIGNED FOR】Go Pro Hero 13 Black/Go Pro Hero 12 Black/Go Pro Hero 11 Black/Go...
  • 【NOTE】Does not work for Go Pro Hero 11 mini/Go Pro Hero 4K.
  • 【60M/196FT Waterproof】This waterproof housing case with upgraded waterproof...
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Designed specifically for the GoPro Hero 10 Black, the FitStill Waterproof Case is a top-tier housing option that effectively safeguards your action camera.

It comes equipped with a waterproof sealing ring and a secure buckle to prevent any water leakage. With this case, you can confidently take your Hero 10 down to depths of 60 m (196 ft) without concerns about leaks, making it ideal for activities such as diving, surfing, and snorkeling.

Constructed from high-quality PMMA material, the FitStill Waterproof Case is extremely durable. It features a flat glass lens that ensures maximum image sharpness underwater, allowing you to capture high-quality footage without any compromise, even while submerged.

Find more underwater housings for The GoPro Hero 10 >>>>

Will my protective housing from another GoPro fit on the Hero 10?

The protective housing designed for models prior to the Hero 9 will not fit the GoPro Hero 10.
 
For example, the GoPro Hero 8 model looks almost the same, but has slightly different dimensions and button placements, requiring specific housings.
 
However, the GoPro Hero 9, Hero 10, Hero 11, and Hero 12 do indeed share the same designs and dimensions, which allows them to use the same housings.
 
So, if you have a protective housing from any of these models, it should be compatible with the others in this range. However, the Hero 8 has different dimensions and controls, so its housings are not interchangeable with the newer models.
 
 

Can the GoPro 10 Be Used in Salt Water?

The GoPro Hero 10 is designed for use in both fresh and salt water. However, due to the corrosive nature of salt water, it’s essential to carefully maintain your equipment after exposure.

GoPro diving accessories

After using your GoPro in salt water, be sure to rinse the camera and any accessories with fresh water. This step helps remove salt deposits that could potentially harm the camera’s housing and internal parts over time.

Once rinsed, dry your GoPro gently with a soft, lint-free cloth to prevent water spots and ensure that no moisture is left on the camera.

It’s a good idea to remove and separately dry any detachable parts like the battery and SD card to prevent any trapped moisture from causing corrosion or mold.

Best Underwater Setting For The GoPro Hero 10

Before diving underwater, it’s important to set up your camera before since the touchscreen likely won’t function with the underwater housing on.

gopro hero 11 diving

Here are the optimal settings for general underwater video when snorkeling, freediving, or scuba diving, using ambient light (natural sunlight) or video lights.

These settings offer a good balance between resolution and frame rate, allowing for potential slow motion effects in editing without needing high ISO settings.

Profile: Standard

Aspect Ratio: 16:9

Resolution: 4K

Frames Per Second: 60

Lens: Wide

HyperSmooth: Auto Boost

Duration: No Limit

Scheduled Capture: Off

Timer: Off

Protune Settings:

  • White Balance: Auto
  • Sharpness: Medium
  • Color: Natural
  • RAW Audio: Off
  • Wind: Off

Shortcuts: Disable all shortcuts to remove them from the screen, as they can’t be used in the housing.

LED Light

gopro light

When diving in darker underwater spots, it’s best to turn off Hypersmooth as it may cause a jello effect in low light, which could spoil your footage.

In low-light situations, consider lowering the frame rate to 30 FPS to help the camera capture more light.

You might also want to use a waterproof LED light.

I recommend the Suptig Waterproof LED Light.

Suptig Waterproof LED Light

Suptig Diving Light High Power Dimmable Waterproof LED Video Light Fill Night Light Diving Underwater Light Waterproof 147ft for Gopro Hero 13/Hero 12/11/10/9/8/7/6/5/5S/4/3+ More Action Cam
Suptig Diving Light High Power Dimmable Waterproof LED Video Light Fill Night Light Diving Underwater Light Waterproof 147ft for Gopro Hero 13/Hero 12/11/10/9/8/7/6/5/5S/4/3+ More Action Cam
  • Widely used: Perfect compatibility with Gopro Hero 13/Hero 12/11/10/9/8/7/6/5/4/3/2/1...
  • GREAT DIVING LIGHTS Take amazing POV underwater video with this Suptig light for...
  • WIDE-ANGLE 500Lumen Max. (5500K-6000K) by 36 LEDs.This is THE underwater light to buy...
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If you’re diving at night or into deep, dark waters, a waterproof LED light is really helpful! It lights up the area around you for about 3-6 feet, reviving the bright colors of underwater scenes.

The Suptig Waterproof LED Light, compatible with the GoPro Hero 10 Black, works up to 45m (147ft) underwater. This wide-angle 500 Lumen LED light has three modes: Normal (HI), Power-saving (LOW), and Flash (SOS), each suitable for different lighting situations.

Red Filter

gopro color correction underwater footage

A significant challenge for the GoPro HERO 10 when filming underwater wide-angle videos is its inability to manually adjust the white balance. This feature is essential for restoring the red, orange, and yellow colors that are often lost as you dive deeper into waters dominated by blue, green, and cyan tones.

By attaching a color correction filter to your GoPro HERO 10, you can reintroduce these warm hues without needing to alter the camera’s settings directly.

I recommend using these filters:

  • Light Red Filter: Ideal for color correction in clear freshwater at shallow depths from 2-15 feet.
  • Red Filter: Best for adjusting colors in blue or tropical waters at depths of 15-85 feet.
  • Magenta Filter: Perfect for correcting colors in greenish waters, like those found in lakes and reservoirs, from depths of 8-75 feet.

SOONSUN 3 Pack Dive Filter

SOONSUN 3-Pack Dive Filter for GoPro Hero 8 9 10 11 12 13 Black Official Waterproof Housing Case - Red, Light Red, Magenta Filters - Color Correction for Underwater Video and Photography
SOONSUN 3-Pack Dive Filter for GoPro Hero 8 9 10 11 12 13 Black Official Waterproof Housing Case - Red, Light Red, Magenta Filters - Color Correction for Underwater Video and Photography
  • Provide Outstanding Improvement of Underwater Footage: This 3-in-1 diving filter set...
  • Direct Snap-on Attachment: Easily snap on / off the dive filters to the official...
  • Reserved Slot for Tether: In case of loss, loop the included tether to the side of...
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For a cost-effective solution suitable for various underwater settings, the SOONSUN three-filter pack is an excellent choice. This set is equipped to handle diverse diving conditions.

The red filter is designed for tropical or blue waters at depths of 15 to 80 feet, the magenta filter is ideal for similar depths in green waters, and the snorkel filter enhances colors in shallow tropical waters from 2 to 15 feet deep. These filters effectively enhance the vibrant, tropical colors in your underwater footage.

This product is highly rated and offers great value for money. It is recognized as one of the best on the market, with no major drawbacks to note.

PolarPro Dive Filter 3-Pack

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PolarPro Red Filter 3-Pack for GoPro Hero12 Protective Housing - Fits Hero9/10/11/12 Cameras in Protective Housing
PolarPro Red Filter 3-Pack for GoPro Hero12 Protective Housing - Fits Hero9/10/11/12 Cameras in Protective Housing
  • Engineered specifically for the HERO9, HERO10 Black, HERO11 Black, Hero12 Black...
  • Capture vibrant colors in blue, green, and shallow waters.
  • Secure slide-on design with added safety tethers ensure your filters stay connected...
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This PolarPro Dive Filter 3-Pack is specifically designed for the GoPro Hero 9. It includes Red, Magenta, and Snorkel filters, each optimized for different underwater conditions and water colors.

The Red filter works best in blue waters at depths of 15-75 feet, the Magenta filter is excellent in green waters within the same range, and the Snorkel filter is ideal for shallow waters from 2-15 feet. Note that this kit does not include anti-fog inserts.

GoPro LUTs

Alternatively, you can use GoPro LUTs in post-production to achieve excellent results without needing to buy a red filter. I have a Color Grading LUT pack optimized for GoPro:

GoPro LUTs Color Grading Filters - Underwater Pack [Download]

 

 

Thanks for reading!

I hope this guide helped you learn about The GoPro Hero 10 waterproof capacity:)

 

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