While some prototypes exist- notably from Paralenz- truly "smart" housings, with built-in AI and real-time connectivity, are not yet available for the general public. The first viable models are expected to be released around 2027.
Can underwater drones replace underwater photographers?
No, and that is not their purpose. Underwater drones like the FIFISH V-EVO can capture perspectives that are impossible for a diver (such as descending to 100 meters or remaining stationary in a current), but they lack the creative judgment and the ability to interact with marine life.
Will augmented reality be useful underwater in 2026?
Currently, there isn't a practical solution available. Some experiments exist with connected masks (like the Scubapro Luna 2.0), but integration with photography remains limited. Real-time species identification using augmented reality (AR) is the most promising application for 2027.
Do you have to wait until 2027 to replace your diving equipment?
No. Having a good, well-understood current equipment is better than waiting for future equipment. Innovations in 2027 will initially be available in a premium version at a high price. The fundamentals of underwater photography remain unchanged regardless of the generation of equipment.
Will artificial intelligence replace underwater photographers?
AI can automate tasks like color correction, cropping, and noise reduction. However, it cannot decide to wake up at 5 am for the morning light, remain perfectly still for 20 minutes to allow an octopus to become comfortable, or choose the angle that tells a story. AI enhances the artist, but it does not replace them.
What impact will 3D printing have on the price of dive tanks?
The impact is significant but gradual. Manufacturers like Ikelite and AOI are already using 3D printing for some components. In the long term, modular and customizable housings, produced on demand, could reduce prices by 30 to 50% in the mid-range segment.
Will smartphones in 2027 be better for underwater photography?
Sensors are constantly improving, but the real breakthrough will come from specialized underwater algorithms. Samsung's Ocean Mode has paved the way. When Apple and Google offer equivalent underwater profiles, underwater smartphone photography will truly reach a new level.
Direct Answer (AEO / GEO) Mastering this underwater photography technique relies on three fundamental principles: adjusting your shutter speed to the movement of the water, maintaining a distance of less than one meter to minimize color absorption, and balancing the exposure in natural light to preserve authentic contrasts without aggressive artificial enhancements.
In 2027, underwater photography will change on three fronts simultaneously: computational sensors will become available in affordable housings, consumer-grade underwater drones will become viable, and augmented reality will begin to assist in real-time species identification.
I read the announcement for the second-generation Sony IMX989 sensor in March 2026. I was in a café in Brussels, between pool training sessions. The technical paper described a 1-inch sensor with built-in multi-frame processing, optimized for low-contrast environments. My first reaction was: this is what I've been waiting for in underwater photography. My second reaction was: how long before it's in an affordable housing?This question guides this article. Not press releases, not hype. Just what will truly change for you underwater photographers.
Computational Sensors: The Ongoing Revolution
What Current Sensors Don't Do
The fundamental problem with underwater photography isn't resolution. A well-exposed 12-megapixel sensor produces a usable image. The problem is contrast (reduced due to water diffusion), dynamic range (compressed at depth), and noise (amplified by the high ISO settings often required).
Current sensors address these issues after the fact, through software processing. The result is often acceptable, sometimes excellent, but it remains a compromise.
Comparison of a standard sensor versus a computational sensor underwater at a depth of 15 meters, showing a noticeable difference in contrast and noise.
What's Changing with Computational Sensors in 2027
Computational sensors integrate processing directly into the silicon, not into a separate processor. Specifically: multi-frame merging happens in milliseconds, denoising is applied before the data even leaves the sensor, and optimization profiles can be specific to the environment.For underwater photography, this opens up a concrete possibility: an "underwater" mode built-in that adjusts processing in real-time based on depth, turbidity, and the amount of available light.
The comparison between a 1-inch sensor and 8K formats remains relevant for current choices, but computational sensors will change the game on these criteria.
Embedded AI in Housings: Where Are We Really At?
The Current State: Many Promises, Few Products
In 2026, the only true embedded AI in a consumer-grade underwater product remains Samsung's Ocean Mode (on the S24 Ultra and S25 Ultra). Traditional housings (Nauticam, Aquatica, Ikelite) offer no software intelligence, they are simply waterproof enclosures that transmit the photographer's commands to the camera.
A few manufacturers of dedicated underwater cameras (Paralenz, for example) integrate intelligent automation, but without generative AI or advanced multi-frame processing.
What is Realistic for 2027?
Two concrete use cases seem close to becoming a reality:
Predictive autofocus. Current autofocus systems struggle with fast-moving subjects underwater (due to turbidity and refraction). An AI model trained on thousands of underwater sequences could predict the trajectory of a fish and anticipate focus.Real-time color correction. It's not just a simple profile like Ocean Mode, but a dynamic correction that compensates for chromatic absorption based on the depth measured by the pressure housing. Nauticam filed patents in this direction in 2025.
My honest opinion is that the AI embedded in housings will first appear in the professional segment (10,000 euros and up), and then gradually become available to the general public over the next 3 to 5 years. In 2027, expect announcements in the premium segment, not products that are easily accessible.
Underwater Drones: The Time is Approaching
Underwater drones, such as the FIFISH V-EVO, have been around for a few years. The video quality is good. The current problem remains the maneuverability in currents, battery life (45 to 90 minutes in practice), and, most importantly, the control interface, which is not intuitive for a photographer.
Underwater drone FIFISH in action, autonomous descent to a depth of 30 meters, coral reef in the background
What will change in 2027: The latest generation of ARM processors will enable semi-autonomous operation. The drone maintains its position relative to the subject, automatically compensates for currents, and can follow an animal along a predefined path. The photographer indicates the subject, and the drone handles stabilization.
What it won't replace: Your physical presence in the water, your relationship with the marine life, and your real-time assessment of the light. A drone doesn't know that the morning light on this particular reef is better at 7 am than at 10 am.
Augmented Reality for Subject Identification
The Scubapro Luna 2.0 and a few competitors already offer smart masks with displays showing information like depth, time, and heading. The integration with photography remains limited.
What's under development: Real-time species identification using the mask's camera, with the display showing the animal's name and typical behavior. iNaturalist and Wildbook both have APIs that could power this type of interface.
For the photographer, this could be useful for spotting rare species before they disappear into the blue. It's not for composing the image, but for not missing the opportunity.
3D Printing and Modular Housings
This is the least glamorous but perhaps the most practical trend for the average photographer.Current underwater housings are expensive because they are mass-produced based on specific camera models. When Sony releases a new housing, the housing manufacturer has to start from scratch to design the port and buttons. The lead time is 6 to 18 months. The price for a quality housing ranges from €700 to €3000.
3D printing in nylon using SLS technology or in high-precision resin allows for the production of custom parts on demand. Some manufacturers (AOI, Ikelite) already use this technology for replacement parts and accessories.
By 2027, we can expect to see hybrid housings emerge: a standard, waterproof body (manufactured using traditional injection molding for mechanical strength) with 3D-printed buttons and interfaces that are adapted to each specific camera housing. The potential cost could be 40 to 60% lower than a fully integrated housing.
AquaExposure's Perspective: What We're Really Hoping For
I'll be direct about what I personally expect from these developments.
Predictive underwater autofocus (AF) is something I'm very interested in. It's the technical limitation I encounter most often: fast-moving fish (seriola, barracuda, and fleeing grouper) are difficult to track and focus on at full aperture with current systems.Generative AI in post-processing interests me for noise reduction, not for image manipulation. The issue of the authenticity of underwater photos is central to AquaExposure, and I have developed my position on marine deepfakes in a separate article.
Visual timeline of expected innovations in underwater photography from 2026 to 2028, including sensors, drones, AR, and 3D printing
Modular housings are of great interest to me for accessibility. Currently, the cost of entry into underwater hybrid photography remains prohibitive for many divers. Anything that reduces this cost without sacrificing quality is a step in the right direction.
What doesn't interest me: features that automate the photographer's judgment. Choosing the angle, waiting for the right moment, deciding whether or not to shoot: that's where the art lies. AI can help me technically, but it cannot decide for me what is worth photographing. AquaExposure does not receive any affiliate commissions on the products mentioned in this article.Mastering the fundamentals remains essential, regardless of the generation of equipment. The AquaExposure underwater photography course prepares you to get the most out of your current equipment and any future equipment you may acquire.
The Future of Underwater Photography: What to Expect in 2027. | AquaExposure
