Top 10 Waterproof Drones In 2021 Compared And Reviewed!

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If you’re a drone enthusiast, you probably at least once wanted to take it outside when it’s raining. Those rainy shots are really something beautiful, but unfortunately, not every drone can make them.

What you’d need is a waterproof quadcopter for this type of adventure. If you opt for the one with a camera, you can make great shots under water. That’s right; waterproof drones can go underwater without damaging any of the electronic components.

Right off the bat, I’ll say that you won’t get AS good a drone if it’s waterproof. The best drones are not designed to be flown through rain or water, so you’re already limited to some of the lower quality drones in terms of video quality, performance etc. 

How is this type of drone different

Obviously, these can work underneath the water surface which is something not many drones can do.

Some models come equipped with waterproof cameras so you can take impressive pictures. These are usually quite heavy-duty and rugged; made especially to withstand unfavorable weather.

Your regular drone might get damaged or lost in bad weather, whereas a waterproof one is built to endure the tricky situations.

Waterproof vs. water-resistant

We’re sure you’ve heard of water-resistant drone, so it’s important to mention that these are not to be confused with waterproof ones. The two types aren’t the same, as a matter of fact, there are some crucial differences.

Those that are waterproof have all the inner components sealed tightly. This allows you to submerge them in water. Those that are just water-resistant shouldn’t be immersed because their inner components aren’t completely sealed.

They offer some level of protection and probably won’t be damaged by a little splash of water. However, submerging them would cause damage due to the underwater pressure.

If you want to make underwater pictures, it’s best you opt for a waterproof one. If you fly it on dry land and in clear weather, you’ll do well with a water-resistant quadcopter.

We’ve researched the market to find the best 10 waterproof drones in 2020. Below we’ll discuss their performance, specifications, features, and pros and cons. Make sure to check out the reviews in order to find the best one for your upcoming underwater adventures.

Top 10 Waterproof Drones in 2020

1. Power Vision PowerRay Wizard

DON’T WORRY we know this isn’t a drone technically. It’s more of a submarine type thing with an FPV camera, but it’s pretty cool so we included it before we get to the FLYING drones.

This is one of the best underwater drones on the market in 2020. It can dive as deep as 98 feet in saltwater, freshwater, and even cold water.

Its battery lasts about 2 hours (Imagine if a fling drone had that battery life!), and it comes with a high-quality camera. The 4K UHD camera allows 12MP photos and 1080P streaming which is ideal for underwater filming.

For this reason, people often use it for treasure hunting and fishing. You even get a bait drop mechanism and a fish finder with the device.

It’s definitely on a pricey side, but the overall quality and diversity of the kit make it worth. It’s one of the top-rated drones because all the components are heavy-duty and protected from water. The construction is rugged so it can handle an occasional bump.

Sand presents a bit of a nuisance if it gets stuck in, but that shouldn’t be too big of a problem. The kit comes with the PowerRay vehicle and station, batteries, a wireless controller, chargers, and a 64GB memory card.

Pros:

  • High-quality construction
  • Handles great depths
  • Long-lasting battery
  • Quality pictures and videos

Cons:

  • No user manual included

2. Goolsky JJRC H31

If you’re a beginner looking for something affordable and easy to operate, this might be the best for you. Its headless mode makes it even more fun to play with especially if it’s your first time flying a drone.

It’s waterproof, but you still have to approach it with care. It can’t really handle deep waters, so you should avoid that. It can withstand rainy weather and some water, just not at great depths. Stay near the surface of the water, and you should be fine.

It has a return home function that allows the quadcopter to return with ease. The 6-axis flight control system makes it simple to control. Plus, the entire construction is quite stable and rugged so it can handle an occasional bump here and there. The one key return and the 3D flips function ensure your drone always returns home.

This was actually one fo the first drones I got, and I remember being amazed at how fast it flew! Sadly I quickly outgrew this drone and moved onto FPV fliers like the BetaFPV Beta65 and things like that. 

Pros:

  • Easy to use
  • Handles rainy weather
  • Features LED lights

Cons:

  • Not for deep waters

3. GoolRC T6 Waterproof Drone

NOTE: This drone is no longer available. Try this one with similar specs.

If you’re not interested in making pictures but simple flying, this is one of the best drones for you. It doesn’t have a camera, but it’s waterproof and able to withstand occasional bumps and splashes.

The durable frame is completely sealed so no water can pass through. Still, it’s not entirely safe in deep waters, so make sure you’re close to the surface. Its battery is also protected from over-charging.

This one can do 360° flips in the air. It’s easy to use and especially fun for beginners who are just learning to fly quadcopters.

It features a headless mode and one key return. This allows your drone to return home safely with just a push of a button. Also, you don’t have to adjust its position each time before you fly it. The device features a 6-axis gyro flight control system, so it’s stable in the air

Pros:

  • Easy to operate
  • One key return mode
  • Headless mode
  • Works in rainy weather

Cons:

  • Can’t be in waters for too long

4. LiDiRC L15FW WiFi FPV

NOTE: This drone is no longer available. Try this one with similar specs.

If you want something that looks as impressive as it performs, the L15FW might be a good choice. It has a headless mode that’s always useful especially if you’re a beginner.

Its one-key return function and identification system allow you to recall the drone with ease. There’s almost no chance it can get lost. It’s also capable of 3D aerobatic flight. It’s more than just forward or backward rolling, but 360° rotations.

The 720P HD FPV transmits through WiFi always in real time. This allows you to make some great shots at all times. Plus, since it’s waterproof, you can soak it for about 5 hours. Still, you shouldn’t keep it in for any longer than that because you could damage its parts and reduce its life span.

It’s an excellent quadcopter for beginners who want to take pictures in the rain. If you’re submerging it in water, make sure to keep it close to the surface as the pressure can actually damage its parts.

As you can probably see, the drones that are waterproof aren’t as cool or as high performing as some of the higher end racing drones. 

Pros:

  • 360° rotations
  • Uses WiFi
  • One key return mode
  • Headless operation

Cons:

  • Not for deep waters

5. F51 Remote RC Quadcopter

NOTE: This drone is no longer available. Try this one with similar specs.

This is one of the best drones to take pictures with when under water. Its 2.0MP camera makes clear videos and images, and the sturdy construction can take a few bumps.

It’s waterproof, so you can submerge it and take pictures of the fish and world below the surface of the water, although I’m not sure who would do that!. Plus, because it’s so light and small, it’s easy to use and carry around at all times.

It’s only a little bigger than the palm of an adult man. For the same reason, it’s not recommended you fly it in strong winds.

It features a one-key return function that helps the quadcopter find its home. It’s stable regardless of whether it’s in the air or underwater. Still, don’t leave it submerged for a long time.

The drone features bright LED and is entirely capable of flying in the dark. It looks impressive when in darkness and can make great footage at the same time, too.

Pros:

  • Small and lightweight
  • LED lights
  • One-key function

Cons:

  • Not for strong winds

6. Goolsky Q353 Triphibian

NOTE: This drone is no longer available. Try this one with similar specs.

The Triphibian is considered a professional-grade drone for its specifications and overall abilities. Its design allows the whole construction to sit on water but also withstand some bumps and rough handling.

If this drone also came with an FPV camera, I’d say it’s the BEST waterproof drone. That being said, even without an FPV camera, it’s still a lot better than almost any other drone on this list. Check it out!

This one is completely waterproof. It means you can submerge it even when it’s upside down. In some waters, the Triphibian can do stunts and rolls.

It features LED flashlights that help you identify its tail and head at night. This also helps with flying in darkness since it provides better visibility. It doesn’t come with a camera, but you can upgrade it with a compatible model.

The drone features 2.4Ghz technology that makes sure there’s no interference while the headless mode makes the experience more fun and exciting.

Pros:

  • Lightweight
  • Sturdy construction
  • Can handle deep waters
  • Suitable for flying at night

Cons:

  • Doesn’t come with a camera

7. GPTOYS H2O Aviax Waterproof Surviax Drone

NOTE: This drone is no longer available. Try this one with similar specs.

This is another professional yet easy to use drone suitable for indoors and outdoors use. It’s fun, simple to maintain and features a unique design.

It’s completely waterproof so you can submerge it in any water. Still, it’s not recommended you do that in deep waters since the high pressure can damage its parts. The Aviax has the 6-axis system that allows you to hand-launch the drone.

The 6-axis gyro quad-rotorcraft and the overall stability allow you to do fun stunts and movements in the air. It also performs well when the winds are stronger since it’s easy to control and can withstand a bit of bumping. For anti-interference, the brand has adopted the 2.4 technology.

Pros:

  • 100% waterproof
  • Easy to use
  • Suitable for indoors and outdoors

Cons:

  • It flies off if out of range!

8. Parrot Hydrofoil MiniDrone

This is a mini-drone, so you won’t need any FAA registration to fly it. The drone comes with a VGA mini camera. It has streamlined foils and hydrodynamic hull that allow the construction to move through water with ease. Plus, it’s quite resistant to shock so you can do many stunts and flips with it.

Use your tablet or smartphone to connect the drone to the Free Flight Mini app that allows you the ultimate control when in air or water. This one also comes with a lithium-polymer 550mAh battery that’s removable and lasts up to 9 minutes. It takes it about 25 minutes to recharge, and it’s best you use a 2.6A charger for that.

It’s great for beginners who want to learn how to fly the quadcopter and take decent pictures at the same time.

Pros:

  • Connects to a phone or tablet
  • Charges quickly
  • Shock-resistant

Cons:

  • Only suitable for beginners

9. Autel Robotics X-Star Drone

NOTE: This drone is no longer available. Try this one with similar specs.

If you’ve already had your fair share of different drones and consider yourself a professional, this might be a good choice of a waterproof drone for you. It doesn’t only look impressive, but it performs amazingly in water as well as in the air.

It comes with a 4K ultra HD camera and a quick-release 3-axis Gimbal Stabilizer. This allows you to take great pictures and videos of life above and under water.

If you use the Starlink app on your Android or iOS, the drone receives HD Live View up to 0.62 miles away, as well as autonomous flight modes.

This one has dual GPS/GLONASS outdoor navigation and an intuitive remote controller. The LCD and action buttons on the controller provide ultimate ease of use. The drone comes with a 16GB MicroSD card, fast charger, intelligent battery, small parts, and spare propellers.

Pros:

  • Many useful features
  • 4K HD camera
  • Connects to phones and tablets

Cons:

  • Not for windy weather

10. Goolsky IDEAFLY Poseidon-480

NOTE: This drone is no longer available. Try this one with similar specs.

As its name implies, this drone can withstand substantial amounts of water. It goes quite deep, and you can keep it soak for more than 10 hours in total.

This is an actual fishing drone, so probably the best performing drone on this page BUT it’s not in my upcoming summary because of the price. It’s out of reach for most people who want to just buy a drone for a bit of fun.

It features real-time FPV while within 900m range and a 700TVL camera. It also supports 1200g payload, and you can upgrade it by installing 3-axis Gimbal.

The battery it comes with has 4500mAh and 22.2V. It’s LiPo and offers about 25 minutes of flying after which you’d have to charge it for about 40 minutes.

This is a pretty straightforward quadcopter that’s simple to use. Many anglers use it as a fishing drone because it can withstand loads of water for a long time.

This one is suitable for indoors and outdoors use, and it can also put up with some rough handling. So, if you use it in the wind, you don’t have to worry if you bump it a few times here and there.

Pros:

  • Easy to use
  • Suitable for deep waters
  • Also used for fishing

Cons:

  • Not the best camera (but it can be upgraded)

The best waterproof drone

I have to say the best waterproof drone I’ve seen is either the hydrofoil drone by Parrot or the H31. It’s a tough choice, and many of the smaller drones and lower quality ones almost always become ‘unavailable’ on Amazon or other retailers. The best choice is one of these two, depending on how much you need it to have an FPV camera on board.

Categories: Reviews