Does a GoPro Float?
No. A GoPro sinks. It is waterproof, so water stays out, but it is heavier than the water it pushes aside, so it goes to the bottom if it slips out of your hand. To keep it at the surface, attach a float or wear a camera float 1-pack.
Key takeaways
- GoPro cameras are waterproof, not buoyant.
- By the makers' own numbers, popular action cameras are denser than water.
- A depth rating tells you how deep the camera can go without leaking. It says nothing about getting it back.
- A float or camera float 1-pack is what keeps the camera at the surface.
Quick check: do you have this straight?
Do most action cameras float on their own?
Right. They are denser than water, so they sink unless you add a float.
They sink. Waterproofing is about leaking, not about staying at the surface.
Does a waterproof rating mean the camera will float?
Right. A depth rating tells you how deep it can go without leaking. It says nothing about buoyancy.
A depth rating is only about leaking. It does not say whether you can get the camera back.
Can a float keep a GoPro at the surface?
Right. Each Nordic Flash float is made to float an item up to 7 oz (200 g). Weigh the camera plus housing or case first.
A float does help, as long as the full setup is within the 7 oz (200 g) rating per float.
By the numbers
- GoPro lists the HERO13 Black at 71.0 x 55.0 x 33.6 mm and 157 g, battery included (GoPro (opens in a new tab)).
- DJI lists the Osmo Action 5 Pro at 70.5 x 44.2 x 32.8 mm and 146 g (DJI (opens in a new tab)).
- Insta360 lists the Ace Pro 2 at 71.9 x 52.2 x 38 mm and 182 g (Insta360 (opens in a new tab)).
Journalists and writers may use these figures with credit and a link back to this page. Questions: [email protected].
Why doesn't a GoPro float?
Something floats when it weighs less than the water it pushes aside. Water is about 1 gram per cubic centimeter. Divide a camera's weight by its volume and you can see which side of that line it sits on.
Here is the math with the makers' own figures. Treating each camera as a solid box overstates its volume, because real cameras have rounded edges, so the real density is a little higher than the number in the table.
| Camera (maker's figures) | Size (mm) | Weight | Box volume | Density (box estimate) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GoPro HERO13 Black | 71.0 x 55.0 x 33.6 | 157 g | about 131 cm³ | about 1.2 g/cm³ |
| GoPro HERO12 Black | 71.0 x 55.0 x 33.6 | 153 g | about 131 cm³ | about 1.2 g/cm³ |
| DJI Osmo Action 5 Pro | 70.5 x 44.2 x 32.8 | 146 g | about 102 cm³ | about 1.4 g/cm³ |
| Insta360 Ace Pro 2 | 71.9 x 52.2 x 38 | 182 g | about 143 cm³ | about 1.3 g/cm³ |
All four come out heavier than water, so all four sink.
Doesn't "waterproof" mean it floats?
No. Waterproof means water stays out down to a rated depth. GoPro says the HERO13 Black is waterproof to 10 m (33 ft) without a housing (GoPro (opens in a new tab)). That rating is about leaks. A camera can be fully sealed and still sink.
Does a GoPro float in a housing or with a mount?
Don't count on it. A housing, a mount or a grip adds weight as well as size, and whether the whole setup floats depends on the parts you use. Unless the accessory maker says the setup floats, plan as if it sinks and add a float.
How do you make a GoPro float?
Give it something buoyant to hang on. You have two options:
- The camera float 2-pack: two foam floats with quick-release cords. Each float is made to float an item up to 7 oz (200 g), and you can connect both to one camera for added security.
- The camera float 1-pack: one float on an adjustable strap that keeps the camera on your wrist.
Weigh the camera with everything attached before you rely on a float. Our weight capacity guide shows how. For the full setup, see how to keep a GoPro from sinking.
Frequently asked questions
Will a GoPro float in water?
No. A GoPro is denser than water, so it sinks unless a float holds it up.
Does the GoPro HERO13 float?
No. Using GoPro's size and weight figures, the HERO13 Black works out to about 1.2 g/cm³ as a box estimate, and water is about 1.0. It is waterproof to 10 m (33 ft), not buoyant.
Does an Insta360 or DJI Osmo Action camera float?
Not on its own, going by the makers' published weights and sizes. The DJI Osmo Action 5 Pro and the Insta360 Ace Pro 2 both work out heavier than water in the table above. Insta360 doesn't say the X4 floats either, so plan as if it sinks.
Do any action cameras float on their own?
Don't assume it. Check the maker's spec page, and if it doesn't say the camera floats, plan as if it sinks.
Is a waterproof GoPro the same as a floating GoPro?
No. Waterproof means water stays out down to a rated depth. Floating depends on weight and size, and GoPro cameras sink.
What is the easiest way to keep a GoPro from sinking?
Attach a camera float. Each Nordic Flash float is made to float up to 7 oz (200 g), and the 2-pack lets you connect both floats to one camera.
Sources
- GoPro: HERO13 Black camera size and weight (opens in a new tab)
- GoPro: HERO12 Black camera size and weight (opens in a new tab)
- GoPro: HERO13 Black, how deep can you dive? (opens in a new tab)
- DJI: Osmo Action 5 Pro specs (opens in a new tab)
- Insta360: Ace Pro 2 (opens in a new tab)
Related reading
- How do you keep a GoPro from sinking?
- How much weight can a camera float hold?
- Olympus TG-7 float: how to keep it from sinking
- Camera float 2-pack
GoPro, DJI and Insta360 are trademarks of their owners. Nordic Flash is not affiliated with them; brand names are used only to describe compatibility.