The rugged GoPro Hero 8 Black is capable of going down to 33 feet (10metres) underwater without a housing case.
So, you can go snorkeling with your Hero 8 action camera without housing but you do need an underwater case for diving.
In this article, you’ll find various accessories you’ll need for capturing epic underwater shots with the GoPro Hero 8 Black. Also, I’ll provide you with some useful tips for using your GoPro Hero 8 underwater.
Check out my tutorial on the best GoPro underwater settings and accessories:
GoPro Hero 8 Underwater Accessories
Here’s the list of some important accessories that I suggest you use for shooting photos and videos underwater with your GoPro Hero 8 Black.
Suggested GoPro Accessories for Snorkeling:
Floating Stick/Pole/Grip
A floating Stick/Pole/Grip is one of the most useful accessories for your GoPro when filming underwater while snorkeling. Here are its two major uses:
- It helps you have better overall control of the camera underwater.
- It prevents your camera from sinking.
I like the GoPro Handler Floating Hand Grip
- Keeps your GoPro afloat better than ever before so you can shoot in and around the...
- Easy to switch between mounts with a quick release base
- Makes it easy to aim your camera and capture a bunch of different angles
Compatible with GoPro Hero 8 Black, the official GoPro Handler Floating Hand Grip helps keep your action camera afloat so that you can shoot in and around the water worry-free! It features a bright orange cap piece which makes it easy to spot in case you happen to drop it in the water.
Check out 9 Best GoPro Handle for Diving.
Dome Port Housing
A Dome Port Housing is a great accessory that lets you shoot unique split photos and videos half above water & half underwater.
Here’s the Dome Port Housing that I recommend you use with the GoPro Hero 8 Black:
SHOOT Dome Port
- SHOOT Dome Port, upgraded coating flm for anti-scratch,a newly designed dome for...
- High Transparent Dome Lens offer you high visibility to capture vivid images 50/50...
- Waterproof up to 30m/98ft, Overall Waterproof Case for easy installation and use....
The SHOOT Dome Port is a recently designed Dome Post Housing for capturing vivid 50/50 above and below the water photos/videos by the sea or by the pool. It’s waterproof down to 45m/147ft.
Suggested GoPro Accessories for Scuba Diving:
Waterproof Housing
If you want to go deep into the ocean with your action camera, such as while deep-sea diving, the GoPro Hero 8 would require a waterproof housing case.
Here’s the one that I recommend:
GoPro Protective Housing
- Protects your HERO8 Black from mud, dirt and debris during extreme activities
- Waterproof down to 196ft (60m)—perfect for deep-water diving
- Includes a skeleton backdoor for improved audio capture and easy access to the...
This GoPro official Protective Housing is perfect for you if you want to go deeper than 10m underwater with your Hero 8 Black. It protects your camera from mud, dirt, and debris too. The rugged housing case lets you dive down as deep as 60 meters underwater!
Read more about Waterproof Housing for GoPro Hero 8.
Red Filter Diving Lens
Red filters help enhance the picture by bringing back the reds that are lost as you dive deeper into the sea. Red filters are of three kinds:
- Light Red filter (for color correction in clear freshwater at shallow depth: 2-15ft),
- Red Filter (for color correction in blue/tropical water at depth: 15-85 ft), and
- Magenta Filter (for color correction in waters that appear green, like in lakes and reservoirs at depth: 8-75 ft).
I recommend that you use a multi-filter pack so that you can easily change filters as you go in deeper or come back to shallow waters.
Here’s the one that I’ve personally used and liked:
PolarPro DiveMaster Red Filter 3-Pack
- 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...
Engineered specifically for the GoPro Hero 8 Black Protective Housing, this Red Filter 3-Pack lets you capture vibrant colors in blue, green, and shallow waters. The kit includes Red, Magenta, and Snorkel filters.
Diving Camera Rig
The Diving Camera Rig helps you have better control of your camera while scuba-diving, which results in stable, high-quality footage.
I recommend using the following Diving Camera Rig with the GoPro Hero 8 Black:
Movo GB-U70 Underwater Diving Rig
- SOLID CAMERA RIG - Strong Aluminum Alloy Tray is corrosion resistant and provides...
- MULTIPLE MOUNTING OPTIONS - Features two cold shoe mounts for LED GoPro light,...
- 1-YEAR WARRANTY: We’ve got your back. Our products are designed to ease your...
Compatible with GoPro Hero 8 Black, the ultra-durable Movo GB-U70 Underwater Diving Rig provides amazing stability while shooting your underwater dives with your action camera. It also features an adjustable wrist strap for the enhanced safety of your GoPro.
Waterproof LED Light
If you are diving during the nighttime, or in deep waters that have dark spots, a waterproof LED light can prove to be really helpful! It can illuminate the surrounding area up to a distance of about 3-6 feet, bringing those lost beautiful colors of underwater scenes back into the picture.
I recommend using the Suptig Waterproof LED Light
- 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...
Compatible with GoPro Hero 8 Black, the Suptig Waterproof LED Light is capable of going down to 45m/147ft underwater. This wide-angle 500 Lumen LED light has three modes: Normal (HI), Power-saving (LOW), and Flash (SOS).
8 Tips to Use GoPro Hero 8 Underwater
Here are some tips for capturing epic shots using your GoPro Hero 8 Black underwater:
Prepare the Gear
This is the thing that you should prepare first and foremost – your gear to ensure that your camera is protected underwater. It includes some basic accessories, like waterproof housing or floating grip. After you’ve done setting up your camera with the basic accessories, you may proceed further to include other gear to enhance the quality of your underwater shots, like dome port housing or red filters.
Ensure that the Battery is Fully Charged
This is very important. Always ensure that the batteries of your GoPro and the accessories are fully charged before you go underwater. After all, the last thing you want while diving/snorkeling is an empty battery while you’re in the middle of it!
Pro Tip: Ensure that both Bluetooth and WiFi are disabled while diving to save battery.
Ensure Enough Space in SD Card
There is no way to change your SD card underwater. Therefore, make sure that you have a large one installed in your GoPro with a lot of available memory. It’s preferable if you could use an empty SD card.
Keep the Camera Steady
You can use a floating stick while snorkeling or a camera rig while scuba-diving to keep your camera steady and avoid unpleasant vibrations. It will help you achieve smooth and shake-free footage.
Use LED Light if Dark
Waterproof LED lights are a perfect solution to illuminate the surroundings if you’re planning on diving with your GoPro during nighttime or in case you want to explore dark spots underwater.
Record Long Sequences
When you go diving with your GoPro Hero 8, try to record long sequences while shooting your underwater experience. After all, your primary focus should be diving, and not recording! So, for a truly enjoyable experience, avoid too many takes while filming.
Recommended GoPro Hero 8 Settings Underwater
Before you go underwater, make sure that the following settings are adjusted on your GoPro Hero 8 Black.
Video Settings
- 4K60, Wide Lens
- 1080p240, Wide Lens
- 1440p60, Wide Lens
Photo Settings
- Time Lapse Photo (2 or 5-second interval), Wide Lens
- Burst (30/6 Rate), Wide Lens
In addition to this, if you are diving deep into the water at dark spots, avoid using Hypersmooth as it tends to give a jello effect in low light. So, it might compromise the quality of your shots. I would also recommend that you reduce the frame rate to 30 FPS in a low-light underwater scenario to allow the camera to capture more light.
Ready For Underwater Filming With GoPro Hero 8?
So, make sure that you put all these useful tips into practical use if you want to achieve epic underwater shots with your GoPro Hero 8 Black. Add the required accessories according to your need, and you’re sure to have an amazing experience creating exciting underwater memories.
Whether you’re snorkeling or diving in the sea, or even swimming in the pool, there’s a particular way you should use your camera and a particular accessory that will facilitate a great-looking shot. For example, if you’re looking to shoot split photos and videos half above water & half underwater while you’re in a swimming pool, a Dome Port Housing is what you need. So, decide accordingly. Happy Shooting!
Try My Cinematic Color Filters (LUTs) – Underwater Pack
I have released a fresh brand new Color Grading LUT pack optimized for GoPro and Drone.
Check it out here: GoPro Underwater LUT filters >>
This pack includes 100 LUTs in various formats (3D, .CUBE, .look, .XML) to cover most video and photo editing programs. Once installed, you can easily apply (and customize!) these color presets with a single click in Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Premiere Pro, After Effects, Final Cut Pro X, DaVinci Resolve, Sony Vegas, Filmora Wondershare and more!…
Check it out here: GoPro Underwater LUT filters >>
Thanks for reading!
I hope this guide helped you learn how to capture quality underwater shots with the GoPro Hero 8 Black 🙂
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