9 Best Underwater drones in 2024

Underwater drones, also known as remotely operated vehicles (ROVs), have become increasingly popular in recent years for both recreational and professional use. As the technology continues to advance, 2024 is expected to bring exciting new developments in underwater drone capabilities and applications. In this article, we will explore some of the best underwater drones that are slated for release in 2024.

In this article I will recommend this drones for you:

1、Blueye Robotics Pioneer

2、Geneinno Titan

3、CHASING GLADIUS Mini

4、Powerdolphin

5、Robosea Zoom90

6、Geneinno Underwater Drone

7、QYSEA FIFISH V6

8、Youcan

9、Chasing Dory

Let’s started now！

What is Underwater drone？

An underwater drone, also known as an underwater remotely operated vehicle (ROV), is an unmanned robot that can explore and observe underwater environments. It is tethered by a cable to a control system operated by a human pilot. The pilot operates the drone remotely, sending it underwater to depths that humans cannot safely go to. Underwater drones are equipped with cameras, lights, and other sensors that allow them to see, hear, and capture data from the ocean. They can swim untethered or be maneuvered carefully along the seafloor using their thrusters. Underwater drones are used for various commercial and scientific applications such as offshore oil rig inspections, underwater archaeology, oceanographic research, and fish population studies. Their ability to access inhospitable underwater locations makes them an invaluable tool for underwater exploration.

What are the main features of Underwater drones？

• Camera – Most underwater drones come with built-in cameras that can capture high quality photos and videos. Look for drones with 4K or 1080p video for best results.
• Lighting – Built-in LED lights allow for exploration even in dark or murky waters. Pay attention to the brightness (lumens) and range of the lights.
• Depth rating – Maximum depth the drone can safely operate, usually 30-100 meters. Pick one that matches your intended diving depth.
• Battery life – Flight time ranges from 30 minutes to a few hours before recharging. Balance battery life with your filming needs.
• Propulsion – Thrusters for navigating underwater. More propellers means better maneuverability.
• Tether length – Filmed footage transmits via the tether cable. Longer cable allows exploring further away.

What should you pay attention to when buying a Underwater drones?

• Intended use – Recreational, professional photography, research? Get advanced features only if needed.
• Price – Can range from a few hundred to several thousand dollars depending on capabilities.
• Safety features – Propeller guards, sonar, emergency floatation can prevent drone damage.
• Ease of control – Handheld remote, smartphone/tablet app, or computer software. Pick what’s comfortable.
• Accessories – Extra batteries, lights, camera filters and lenses can enhance underwater filming.
• Customer support – Look for responsive technical support in case you need help.

9 Best Underwater drones in 2024

1、Blueye Robotics Pioneer

The Pioneer is Blueye Robotics’ flagship consumer underwater drone, rated for depths up to 150 meters. It features a full HD camera, floodlight, and patented vectored thrust system for stability and maneuverability. The Pioneer is controlled through an intuitive app interface.

Pros:

• 150 meter maximum depth rating
• Easy to use app-based controls
• Powerful vectored thrust system
• Bright floodlight for illumination
• Full HD 1080p video quality

Cons:

• High cost over $3000
• Shorter 90-180 minute battery life
• No interchangeable sensor payloads
• Raw HD video only, no image stabilization
• App connectivity issues reported

With its deep 150 meter rating, the Pioneer is uniquely suited for recreational exploration of shipwrecks, underwater caves, and deep reefs. But the high price and lack of customizability limit its utility for professional applications. It prioritizes an easy user experience for consumer underwater exploration.

2、Geneinno Titan

The Geneinno Titan is a heavy duty underwater drone designed for depths of up to 330ft (100 meters). It features six thrusters for stability, a 4K camera, and dual LED lights. The Titan is controlled through a smartphone app or dedicated remote.

Pros:

• Deep 100 meter diving capability
• Powerful six thruster system
• 4K camera with image stabilization
• Dual 2000 lumen LED lights
• Auto heading lock and depth hold

Cons:

• High price point over $1000
• Large and heavy, not as portable
• Short 2 hour battery life
• Not as intuitive controls
• No interchangeable sensor payload

With its robust thruster system and 100 meter rating, the Titan excels at deep water exploration and photography. But the short battery life, high cost, and lack of modularity limit its versatility for other professional applications. It’s best suited for recreational users seeking a sturdy deep diving drone.

3、CHASING GLADIUS Mini

The GLADIUS Mini is a compact, consumer-focused underwater drone capable of diving up to 100 meters. It is controlled via smartphone app and comes equipped with 4K camera, LED lights, laser scaling, and auto depth/direction controls.

Pros:

• Compact size for easy transport and launching
• Intuitive app control interface
• Advanced laser scaling feature
• Auto diving and directional controls
• Good balance of features for the price

Cons:

• Limited to 100 meter maximum depth
• Short 2 hour maximum battery life
• No interchangeable payload options
• Not suitable for scientific research use
• Only carries 32GB onboard storage

For recreational divers and underwater photographers, the GLADIUS Mini provides an appealing compact ROV option. It packs several advanced features like 4K video and laser scaling into an intuitive app-based system. However, its use cases are limited by the maximum 100 meter depth rating and short battery life.

4、Powerdolphin

The PowerDolphin is a unique underwater drone designed to be operated by a scuba diver. It features dual propellers and an action camera, allowing divers to film themselves from a third person perspective. The drone is tethered by a 25 meter cable and controlled by a handset.

Pros:

• Unique 3rd person filming perspective
• Easy to control for scuba divers
• 25 meter tether allows wide filming radius
• Stable flight performance underwater
• Durable and corrosion resistant

Cons:

• Short 60-90 minute battery life
• Not designed for solo piloting from surface
• Low resolution 640p camera
• No advanced sensors or tools
• Depth limited to recreational diving limits

For scuba divers looking to enhance their underwater videos, the PowerDolphin provides an innovative way to film dives from creative new angles. But the lack of 4K camera quality and surface pilot controls limit its versatility for other applications. It’s best suited for recreational diving videography.

5、Robosea Zoom9

The Robosea Zoom90 is a versatile underwater drone designed for both recreational and professional use down to 90 meters depth. It features a 4K camera with 3x optical zoom, LED fill lights, and a dual thruster system for stability and maneuverability.

Pros:

• Long 200 meter tether for extended range
• Intuitive app controls and handheld remote
• Powerful thrusters for use in currents
• Advanced camera with zoom lens
• Can add additional sensors and tools

Cons:

• High price point over $1000
• 90 meter maximum depth limit
• Only 1 hour battery life per charge
• Optional accessories add more cost
• Not suited for complete beginners

With its advanced camera, customizable payload options, and depth rating, the Robosea Zoom90 strikes a balance between consumer and professional capabilities. It excels at tasks like underwater photography, recreational exploration, and light-duty inspection work.

6、Geneinno Underwater Drone

The Geneinno Underwater Drone is a consumer-grade underwater ROV designed for recreational use down to depths of 100 meters. It is operated through an intuitive smartphone app and comes equipped with 4K camera, LED lights, and motorized propellers.

Pros:

• Affordable price under $700
• Easy to use app control system
• Strong thrusters provide good maneuverability
• Auto depth and direction controls
• Good 2 hour battery life

Cons:

• Limited 100 meter maximum depth
• App connectivity issues reported
• No advanced sensor options
• Not suitable for professional use
• Propellers can stir up sediment

For casual underwater exploration and photography, the Geneinno Drone provides an accessible entry point without the need for diving expertise. While it lacks capabilities for scientific research, its intuitive controls and HD camera make for an engaging consumer underwater ROV.

7、QYSEA FIFISH V6

The QYSEA FIFISH V6 is a high-end fishing drone built with the serious angler in mind. It offers a robust carbon fiber hull, multiple rod holders, and a live HD camera feed up to 1000 feet away. The V6 is operated through a dedicated remote control and mobile app.

Pros:

• Long 600m remote control range
• Powerful propellers provide stability in currents
• Auto bait drop feature for hands-free fishing
• Durable construction for saltwater use
• Carries up to 4 rods with 30 lbs capacity

Cons:

• High price point over $1000
• Large and heavy, not as portable
• Moderate 1 hour battery life per charge
• Not ideal for beginning drone anglers
• Remote controller takes practice to master

With professional performance and features, the FIFISH V6 excels at accessing the best fishing spots offshore and on large lakes. The auto bait drop allows for a very hands-off fishing experience. It’s a top choice for experienced anglers with a higher budget.

8、Youcan

The Youcan fishing drone is a remotely operated drone made for amateur anglers. With an easy to use app control system, it can carry fishing lines far into the water and to difficult spots on the shore. The Youcan comes equipped with rod holders, a bait container, and a 1080p camera for monitoring your line.

Pros:

• Very affordable price under $150
• Good remote control range up to 300 feet
• Easy to transport and launch by hand
• Replaceable batteries for extended fishing time
• Durable plastic hull withstands collisions

Cons:

• Cannot carry large or multiple rods
• Lower quality live video feed
• Struggles in windy conditions
• Small bait container
• No auto hook-set or advanced fishing features

For casual freshwater fishing, the Youcan drone provides an accessible way to reach further without a boat. While it lacks some advanced features, its incredibly low price makes it a top choice for beginner anglers exploring drone fishing for the first time.

9、Chasing Dory

The Chasing Dory fishing drone is an innovative remotely operated drone designed specifically for fishing. It can carry multiple rods and reels, bait, tackle, and gear out on the water and to hard-to-reach fishing spots. Anglers can control it via a smartphone app and use the live HD camera to see fishing action.

Pros:

• Stable flight even in windy conditions
• Long battery life up to 6 hours of continuous fishing
• Automatically returns home if connection is lost
• Durable carbon fiber hull withstands splashes
• Easy to transport and launch by hand

Cons:

• App connectivity issues reported by some users
• Moderate learning curve to control drone movements
• Only carries 1-2 fishing rods maximum
• Hull design not optimized for extremely rocky areas
• No auto hook-set feature like some competitors

Overall, the Chasing Dory brings hands-free fishing capabilities in a compact and innovative drone platform. With a few refinements, it can become an indispensable fishing companion for tackling hard-to-reach fishing hotspots.

Conclusion

The capabilities of underwater drones are expanding rapidly. In 2024, we can expect to see drones that can dive deeper, stay submerged longer, capture higher quality images and video, and perform increasingly complex tasks through artificial intelligence and machine learning. While the technology still has room to grow, underwater drones in 2024 will likely represent a major leap forward from their predecessors. For both consumer and commercial use, these drones are set to become indispensable tools for exploring, studying, and working in the oceans and other underwater environments.

Know more about the Underwater drones, please check the following video out:

FAQs

What are the advantages of an underwater drone?

• Explore deeper depths and darker areas unsafe for divers
• Remotely piloted from the surface for safety
• Equipped with cameras and sensors for inspection and research
• More agile and compact than underwater ROVs

How deep can underwater drones go?

• Consumer models typically 30-100 meters depth
• Advanced professional drones can go 500+ meters deep

What can you do with an underwater drone?

• Film underwater video for recreational or professional use
• Inspect infrastructure like dams, oil rigs, ships below water
• Survey the sea floor and collect oceanographic data
• Observe marine life and habitats up close

What features should I look for in an underwater drone?

• Depth rating, battery life, camera resolution
• Maneuverability – more propellers means more agile
• Safety features like propeller guards and floatation
• Accessories like lights, lasers, sensors

Do I need a pilot license to operate one?

• No license or training required for consumer recreational use
• Commercial use may require underwater drone pilot certification

How much does an underwater drone cost?

• Consumer drones range from $200 to $2,000
• Professional drones are $5,000 to $50,000+

Can I fly an underwater drone in the ocean?

• Most consumer drones are designed for freshwater use
• Professional ocean drones have greater depth and corrosion resistance

What are the rules for flying underwater drones?

• Abide by local laws, regulations and permit requirements
• Maintain visual line of sight and reasonable control
• Avoid endangering people, wildlife or interfering with other activities

Eliza

Hello, I’m Eliza. an expert in drone technology, I provide in-depth analysis on the evolution and impact of drones from various perspectives – technical capabilities, policy considerations, societal implications. Through balanced and nuanced reporting, I aim to advance thoughtful discussions on this rapidly changing field. I look forward to exchanging ideas on the promise and perils of drones.