Samsung Ocean Mode: is it really useful underwater?

A few weeks ago, Samsung made an announcement that stirred quite a few diver groups on social media. Ocean Mode, the underwater photography feature previously reserved for the Galaxy S25 Ultra, was rolling out to the entire Galaxy range: S26, S25, S24, Fold 7, Flip 7, and even last year's foldable models.

On paper, it looks like a revolution. A dedicated camera mode for underwater photography, built right into your phone, with automatic colour correction and motion blur reduction. Samsung even received an award for its "Coral in Focus" initiative at the 2026 Halo Awards.

So can you pack away your underwater photography gear and dive with your Galaxy? The short answer: no. The long answer deserves a closer look.

Ocean Mode is accessible through Samsung's Expert RAW app. It applies a colour correction calibrated for underwater conditions, reduces motion blur, and offers a burst mode at intervals of 2, 5, or 10 seconds.

The algorithm analyses the blue or green colour cast in the image and attempts to restore the warm tones that water naturally absorbs. It is exactly the same principle as the manual white balance at 5000K that we teach in the AquaExposure training, except here it is automated.

And credit where it is due: the results are surprisingly good for automatic processing. On static subjects between 0 and 1.5 metres depth, in clear water, with good natural light, the colours are fairly accurate.

Here is where things get complicated. The Galaxy S26, like every model in the range, carries an IP68 certification. In plain terms: it can withstand 1.5 metres of depth for 30 minutes, in fresh water.

Three important words in that sentence. Fresh water. Seawater is corrosive. Salt attacks the seals. Samsung actually says so in their own warranty conditions, even if it is written in very small print.

And 1.5 metres is the depth of a children's paddling pool. Not exactly where you will find the best underwater subjects.

Samsung's "Coral in Focus" initiative is telling in this regard. When Samsung's teams went to film coral reefs with Galaxy S24 Ultras, they placed them in transparent waterproof housings before going down. The phone on its own was not enough.

If underwater photography with a smartphone interests you (and it should, it is the best possible entry point), the solution is not a software mode but a physical housing designed for the purpose.

The DiveVolk SeaTouch 4 Max, for example, protects your phone down to 60 metres. It is compatible with the iPhone 17, Samsung Galaxy phones, and most high-end 2026 Android devices. The touchscreen works underwater. You keep full control of your camera.

In fact, it was with a DiveVolk SeaTouch 4 Max Platinum V2 that Jack Ho won the very first Smartphone category at the Underwater Photographer of the Year 2026. Not with a bare phone in Ocean Mode.

The good news is that these two solutions do not oppose each other. They complement each other.

You can perfectly well use Ocean Mode inside a DiveVolk housing. Samsung's software corrects the colours, the housing protects the equipment and lets you descend to 60 metres. It is the combination that works.

Where Ocean Mode on its own is interesting is for casual snorkelling. While snorkelling in calm, clear water at less than a metre of depth. To introduce someone to the underwater world who has never put their head below the surface. As a gateway into the passion, it is wonderful.

But for real underwater photography, the kind where you control your composition, your light and your approach, you need a housing. It is as simple as that.

If you own a Galaxy S26 and you are heading to the coast on holiday, activate Ocean Mode in Expert RAW. Run some tests at the surface. Have fun. Share the results.

And if the images make you want to go further (and they will), invest in a DiveVolk housing or equivalent before investing in a dedicated camera. You already know your phone. The interface is natural. The gear is compact. And the entry cost is far lower than that of an action camera with its housing.

That is actually the advice we consistently give in the AquaExposure training: start with what you have, practise before investing, and upgrade only when you have hit the limits of your current equipment.

The AquaExposure training dedicates an entire module to choosing equipment and mastering your camera underwater, whatever your starting point. Discover Module 2 - Equipment and Settings on aquaexposure.com.

Does Samsung Ocean Mode replace a waterproof housing?

No. Ocean Mode is a software treatment that corrects underwater colours. It does not protect your phone beyond 1.5 metres in fresh water (IP68 rating). For diving, you need a dedicated housing like the DiveVolk SeaTouch, which is rated to 60 metres.

Which Samsung phones are compatible with Ocean Mode?

Since 2026, Ocean Mode is available on Galaxy S26, S25, S24, Fold 7, Flip 7, Z Tri-Fold, Fold 6 and Flip 6 via the Expert RAW app. Samsung continues to extend compatibility to older models.

Can you use Ocean Mode inside a DiveVolk housing?

Yes, and it is the best possible combination. The DiveVolk housing protects the phone and lets you descend to depth, while Ocean Mode optimises colours automatically. The SeaTouch touchscreen works underwater.

Is Ocean Mode useful for snorkelling?

Yes, that is its ideal playground. While snorkelling between 0 and 1 metre depth in clear water, Ocean Mode produces images with natural colours without any additional equipment. It is an excellent gateway into underwater photography.

Where can I learn underwater photography with a smartphone?

AquaExposure offers a complete training course covering underwater photography from smartphone all the way to semi-professional gear. Module 2 is dedicated to choosing equipment and optimal settings for each type of camera.

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