Photography question - using a camera underwater!

[debbie321]

My camera - Panasonic Lumix DMC TZ3 - has an underwater setting and I really want to use it underwater next year!  I'm off to the red sea for a week and plan on lots of snorkling and possible scuba diving    I've always used a cheap underwater camera from Lidl on past holidays but the red sea deserves better 

I know I need a camera housing  and searching the net I'm gobsmacked at the price!  The cheapest I've found is £180 

Does anyone know of a place where you can hire them for a week or so?  Are they not the sort of thing that can be hired?  Where could I get one cheapish - I've looked at ebay 

[Becky and Wilson]

Sorry I cant help but would you trust a casing?!  Especially if you bought a cheap one!  I'd be too worried it would leak and ruin my camera, especially if you'r out scuba diving so cant exactly get your camera out of the water quick if the casing starts to leak!

I think I'd just settle for disposable ones, at least then if that breaks you wont have lost your proper camera and the rest of your holiday pics!

[Nicola]

You should be able to hire them there, most dive companies there also hire stuff like that, they did when I went to Sharm with the ex OH, I made him use his camera   We also went snorkelling in Brazil and the company hired out underwater cameras, they were pretty fancy cameras in casings and they were great. We hired two between our group and I used one of them pretty much the whole time, definitely no leaks or anything. I think Becky's idea of taking a couple of disposables with you as well is good though just in case you change your mind.

[MegandMolly]

Would Jessops or a specialist camera shop be able to help? Or is there a local photography club you could ask?

[Annette]

The company we went with to the Great Barrier Reef last month offered to hire digital underwater cameras, but we had bought two disposable ones from Boots.

I regret it a bit now, The photos aren't bad, but I do think we would have got better quality shots with a digital. I don't think it is worth buying underwater cases unless you are going to use them a lot.

[debbie321]

Thanks guys!  There is a small independant camera shop at the end of the road - they are lovely but pricey    I'll ask their advice.  They have a small sign in the window requesting that people don't use them for expert advice and then buy from the internet    Ooops - that would have been me then