I am sure you will get many answers but so far one of the best I have found is the Go Pro Cameras..

Google Go Pro or go to YouTube and put in this link

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A3PDXmYoF5U
Hope this helps.. good luck!

Don't know anything about cameras, but if you're looking for "real" people responses, I'd take this posting with a grain of salt.

Son has the GoPro and it is a fantastic camera. He loves it.

Lydia

If you have an iphone, there's a product called a "watershot". It comes with a case, and an app specific to the case. A friend just got back from a cruise and the mate on one of his excursions lent it to him. He bought one (about $90) and mailed it to me so we're going to give it a shot. There are also serval on amazon for $60; the Kodak gets good reviews.

Another vote for the GoPro here! It has a different learning curve you could say, but well worth it. I know you wanted pictures, but I just burned a DVD of some videos I shot and let me tell you when you put them on a big flat screen it looks just like the Discovery Channel! I have been lazy and not posting from my WONDERFUL trip but I will try to get a couple quick posts of my GoPro in action soon 🙂

On a different note, for something with less of a learning curve and cheaper I have heard good things about items like the Kodak PlaySport from my non-techie friends.

I am an "amateur" but I do have a video background. I wanted to make that clear before everyone runs out and gets a GoPro as I saw the GoPro 3 video posted above. It is a GREAT camera/video camera. With what it does and where you can go, you can't beat it for the price. I do have to say, I went to video school about 10 years ago and it still took me a year to figure it out! I love it and highly promote it, but the number one thing I was taught is you have to run everything through the CINEFORM editor it comes with. If you do not your videos and pictures will look like pooh on your own dvds and especially youtube!

Again this is hard to explain as I highly recommend this camera, especially for the islands as you can capture everything you want and are seeing yourself (or other people of course with different mounts). I guess all I wanted to say is it takes a lot of work/studying. As I said I have a good video background and it took me a year until I can make the quality and shot angles at least decent on youtube. But they look great on dvd still!

I am going on forever and will do a short post of my amateur stuff now, but just do not get discouraged if you get a GoPro. Just please know it takes some time................. but if you take the time, it WILL look like the Discovery Channel if you make it! Truly incredible!

Here is a quick dumb little link, not much going on, I did not enhance the video at all in Cineform, but here is a GoPro Hero 2. This is mostly (some will recognize where the sharks were, lol) right on Sapphire Beach. Literally just 5 or 10 feet into the water waist high. And yes Islander, my little "Flounder" friend is at the end 😎

https://vimeo.com/61576899

Oh and please do not might all the shaking! 1) I am an amateur, 2) it was very windy and even Trunk Bay was closed that weekend a couple weeks ago, that is why I am bouncing so much in water

Nice video.
Looks like those nurse sharks were looking for a place to nap!

Sad to see Truck Bay corals looking so pathetic, tho.
As a reminder to visitors, please be aware the type of sunscreen you use can harm reefs so please so a reef friendly brand.

See: http://www.divermag.com/the-truth-about-sunscreens-and-coral-reefs/
and http://www.squidoo.com/eco-friendly-sunscreen-ocean-corals-will-thank-you

There are other major problems facing coral reef systems and their survival but everyone can do their part to protect the things they love to see from destruction.

Nice video Beer and the music made it fun. I saw the Flounder, great shot of it.

Alana - The video is all at Sapphire, and the shark clip was at Coral World Shark Encounter. I think Beer was just explaining how windy it was by adding that Trunk Bay was closed because of waves/wind. I don't think the video included any footage from Trunk Bay.

That said, your comments about doing all that we can to help protect the reefs applies whether its Trunk Bay or Sapphire or some other location. 🙂

That was Sapphire? How distressing to see the corals, where ever they are, in that condition.
We definitly need to protect our coral reefs before it is too late.

I am no longer a Coral World fan or supporter these days as I whole-heartedly believe Marine Mammals such as those poor pathetic Sea Lions they presently hold in captivity and the Dolphins the plan on accquiring for their Dolphin enclosure belong in the ocean not on display for entertainment and financial gain, being taught to do tricks that are forced, unnatural behaviors for food rewards.

There is a 76 page document titled "The Case Against Marine Mammals in Captivity" which was written by the Humane Society of the United States and the World Society for the Protection of Animals which is a MUST READ for those thinking that dolphins enjoy their lives in captivity.

They state:
“The HSUS and WSPA believe that the entire captive experience for marine mammals is so sterile and contrary to even the most basic elements of compassion and humanity that it should be rejected outright."

Here's the link:
http://www.humanesociety.org/assets/pdfs/marine_mammals/case_against_marine_captivity.pdf

.

Hi, yeah it was all at Sapphire. And I had to throw in the little sharks at Coral World 😉

I have the cannon and LOVE it. Great quality. video. east to use. I bring it every where. Just sits in beach bag no case no special handling.

Try the Olympus Stylus Tough series. they are waterproof, shockproof, freezeproof and dustproof they are all good cameras. you can get from 12MP and 14MP and up to 1080P Hd videos. I have the Olympus Stylus Tough 8010 which is an older model and I can go up to 33ft underwater and still get HD videos and high quality Pictures.