ProShot Dive Case Underwater Phone Housing Review

Sylvia JenkinsDIVEIN contributor Rebecca Strauss taking a selfie near a city canal
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Sylvia Jenkins
Content Specialist at DIVEIN.com
Coming from London, UK, Sylvia has always loved traveling. During a family trip to Thailand in her early teens, it was of course a no-brainer to...
Rebecca Strauss
DIVEIN contributor Rebecca Strauss taking a selfie near a city canal
Editor at DIVEIN.com
Rebecca has been an avid traveler and scuba diver for many years. She began her editorial career by updating travel guides, which took her all over...
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ProShot Dive Case Review for iPhone and Android Divers
ProShot, DIVEVOLK and Oceanic smartphone dive housings lined up on a beach bench during testing
All the housings on the beach
Android and Apple versions of the ProShot Dive Case opened side by side on a wooden rail
The ProShot Dive Case has an Android (left) and Apple version.
Our tester holding up the ProShot Dive Case on a palm-lined Belize beach
Holding up the ProShot housing
Full ProShot Dive Case kit laid out with hard case, three filter pouches, float grip and housing
Full package of everything included with the ProShot Dive Case
Divers over a reef ridge covered in sea plumes, shot through the ProShot Dive Case on a test dive
The ProShot housing worked well and kept our iPhone dry at depth.
ProShot Dive Case opened to show the clear housing and its spring loaded phone tray
The ProShot’s spring-based tray means it can fit many models.
Our tester holding the ProShot housing on its float grip with the camera app running on the phone inside
The ProShot App repurposes the volume buttons for shooting underwater controls.
Three blue ProShot filter pouches for pink, red and magenta filters sitting in the kit case
There are three color correction filters included with the ProShot.
Red and magenta ProShot color correction filters resting above their three labeled pouches
Each filter has a letter (P, M & R) and its own pouch
ProShot housing opened on a wooden deck with the phone tray, filters and pouches laid out beside it
The filters are installed internally so you cannot switch them once underwater.

Our verdict

The ProShot Dive Case is a budget Android and iPhone underwater housing for leisure diving and snorkeling. During our testing, it was easy to use underwater, it’s lightweight, the case never leaked, and the price is good.

The main tradeoff is that it lacks leak alarms and the advanced controls of more expensive phone housings. It’s ideal for casual divers, snorkelers, and warm-water travelers who want a quick and easy way to capture photos and videos underwater.

About this review

To help you find a Underwater Phone Housing that will fit your needs, we’ve tested, researched, and reviewed the best ones available today.
We test both in the water, diving in various conditions - and in our lab - so we can give you accurate answers on quality, performance, and the overall value.

Read about our test of Underwater Phone Housings

Recommended in: Underwater Camera Underwater Phone Housing

Things we like:

  • Good price for a hard-shell phone housing
  • Rated to 130 feet (40 m)
  • Good fit for snorkeling, warm-water travel, and casual reef dives
  • iPhone version fits all models (iPhone 6 to 17 Pro Max) and most Android models
  • ProShot also includes a 1-year smartphone protection guarantee

Things we don't like:

  • No vacuum system or electronic leak alarm
  • The red filter system can not be changed underwater

Diving With the ProShot Dive Case and How We Tested

Video
The ProShot was easy to use and understand underwater.

We tested both the iPhone and Android ProShot Dive Case. The iPhone Dive Case we tested on a warm-water dive trip to Belize, around Ambergris Caye. These were relaxed, recreational boat dives, among tropical reefs with clear and bright visibility. We’re judging it as a leisure-diving and snorkeling housing rather than a more serious, complex camera setup.

Since we do not have an Android phone, we did not test the Android ProShot Dive Case underwater. We were able to borrow a friend’s to test the compatibility of an Android phone in the phone tray and the app’s usability.

During testing, we checked:

  • Whether the case leaked during underwater use
  • How easy the controls were underwater
  • How secure and practical the floating handle felt
  • Whether the housing fogged during warm, humid conditions
  • How useful the color filters were

Underwater Control and Usability

Video
Through the app, the volume buttons become the mode selection and stop/start buttons.

The ProShot Dive Case is not a housing built around manual camera control or complicated settings, but that’s part of the appeal. During my Belize trip with the iPhone ProShot Dive Case, I went from shallow snorkeling sessions to deeper dives of 66 feet (20 m). From colorful reefs to wide-angle scenes and turtle shots, it worked well.

The controls are simple because everything is done with the phone’s volume buttons. The down button cycles between the shooting modes, and the up button takes the photo or starts and stops the video. We like this for casual diving because we don’t want to be scrolling through menus when something swims past. It is much closer to a point-and-shoot experience than a full underwater camera setup.

Video
Footage from 65 feet (20 m) captured on iPhone 15 Pro Max

The downside is that there’s not much control once the phone is sealed inside the housing. You cannot switch to the app inside the housing, so make sure to have the app open and ready before your dive.

In the app settings, you can shoot in 4K, record at 60fps, and capture photos at 48 megapixels. The app itself does more than it first looks: modes include Photo, Video, Slow-Mo, Timelapse, Burst, Timer, Selfie Cam, Sleep Mode, and Gallery Mode. Sleep Mode dims the screen between shots to reduce battery drain.

The limit is that everything runs through the two volume buttons with no touchscreen, so you can’t tap to focus, switch apps, or change settings once the case is sealed.

The ProShot’s budget positioning does not offer the same level of control as a more advanced phone housing, but it is quick to learn and easy to use in the water. The floating hand grip makes the case easy to hold at the surface, but for scuba an extra wrist strap would be nice.

For beginner to intermediate divers who want simple footage or a family-friendly design, the ProShot Dive Case is a great fit.

Pre-Dive and Leak Prevention

Video
The ProShot has simple yet secure locking tabs.

Both the Android and iPhone ProShot Dive Case is rated to 130 feet (40 m), which is plenty for recreational diving, and suited the shallow reef dives and snorkeling I did in Belize. Even so, this is still my phone, so I was careful with the setup. Before each dive, I checked that the o-ring was clean, seated properly, and free from sand, hair, sunscreen, or salt crystals.

Closing the ProShot phone housing is done with two tabs that lock the phone tray into the main housing. The housing uses the side volume buttons to control your phone underwater, so be sure that the app is open, and that those buttons are aligned prior to diving.

In terms of security, when I tried placing the phone tray the wrong way around, the lock tabs did not align or close, which makes it impossible to close it wrong and risk a leakage.

Video
If you slide the tray in the wrong way, the housing cannot close.

The ProShot does not have the extra reassurance of a vacuum check or electronic leak alarm, so this is where the budget positioning is most obvious. Although there is no warning system, that also means the ProShot doesn’t rely on batteries like the Oceanic+ or SeaLife Ultra housings. Because you are relying on the physical seal and your own pre-dive checks, the ProShot works more as a leisure diving and snorkeling housing than a primary dive-camera setup.

Over my numerous dives, the ProShot never flooded and the app worked consistently well and fast. ProShot also includes a 12-month smartphone protection guarantee, which adds some reassurance.

Heat and Fogging

Video
The ProShot did not fog, and our phone footage was clear.

The ProShot is a slim and tight-fitting case, which is a good thing since there is less surface for condensation to occur. On our testing, we did not have any fogging issues. The ProShot does not have preventive features like a dedicated anti-fog insert or moisture capsule, so keep it shaded before the dive. Be sure the phone and inside of the housing are completely dry and avoid sealing humid air inside if possible.

In-App Editing and Color Correction

Video
The ProShot app uses your side volume buttons for underwater camera control.

The purpose of the ProShot app is to repurpose your volume buttons to start/stop and mode selection. There are no in-app editing or color correction features, unlike with the Oceanic+. If you want to edit your footage after your dive, you can do that either on a different phone app or with editing software like Adobe.

For color correction, ProShot sells an additional filter set as a $25 add-on, not included with the housing. ProShot offers a set of three filters: red for blue water at 25 feet (7.5 m) and deeper; magenta for green water at 25 feet (7.5 m) and deeper; and pink for snorkeling. These are useful additions, especially for shallow footage where the water can quickly wash out the warmer tones.

ProShot Dive Case with its red filter and three labelled ProShot colour filter pouches on wood
Red, magenta, and pink filters come with the housing.

Note, though, that the filters sit inside the housing, so you must choose one before you close the case, and you can’t remove it until afterward your dive. For snorkeling, this is not a major issue since the depth does not change much. However, for scuba, a dive can start at the surface, drop to 100 feet, and then finish with a shallow safety stop.

Filter placement also affects how the case works with lights. If I’m using a tray and video light, I may not want a red filter for the deeper part of the dive because the light is already bringing color back. Yet if I want to add a filter later during the safety stop or in shallower natural light, I cannot do that underwater.

For the current version, I would treat the filters as useful but limited. They suit snorkeling and predictable shallow dives best, but they are not as flexible as an external filter.

Accessories and Mountings

Video
The floating handle uses the same attachment as many familiar action cameras

The ProShot Dive Case comes with a floating handle, which attaches in the same way as an action camera or GoPro-style mount. If I let go of the case at the surface while snorkeling, the handle floats, which makes the setup much easier to recover and gives a bit of reassurance when swimming over shallow reefs. For scuba diving, I found the handle did float a little, but since there was a wrist strap, I never felt like I was going to lose it. The handle is also adjustable: you can fill it with water via the bottom cap to reduce buoyancy, making it closer to neutral for scuba diving.

Since the ProShot uses the same mounting system as action cameras, you can easily expand the setup to include a tray or lights. Many tray systems do use screw mounts so you may need an additional GoPro-style adapter rather than attaching it directly to the housing. That’s not necessarily a dealbreaker, but do check before buying extra lights, arms, or a tray.

Phone Compatibility

Video
The springs on the phone tray make it possible to accommodate a wide range of phone models.

The ProShot Dive Case comes in two versions: iPhone and Android. The iPhone version fits all iPhones, from 6 through 17 Pro Max. For Android, one case covers most models, so check ProShot’s compatibility guide before buying, as button alignment can vary on older devices.

I do like the way the phone loads into the case. Instead of needing a separate phone tray for each phone, like with the DiveVolk, the ProShot uses spring tabs to hold the phone in place. You push the phone against the springs, and the tray grips it securely inside the housing. This makes the setup feel simple and keeps the phone from moving around once it is sealed inside.

This is especially useful when upgrading your phone or sharing the housing with friends and family. Since the same iPhone case fits all iPhone models, switching to a new phone does not necessarily mean you need to buy a new housing. Just remember to check ProShot’s compatibility chart before buying, especially if you have a larger or newer model.

Value for Money

The ProShot Dive Case is very much a less-is-more phone housing. You are not getting all the bells and whistles of more advanced housings, such as vacuum and moisture alarms or full touchscreen functionality underwater. 

It is a much simpler dive case and, for many snorkelers and leisure divers, that may be more than enough. If you want an affordable housing for shallow reef dives and casual vacation footage, the ProShot gives you the basics without overcomplicating the experience.

Throughout our testing, it never leaked and the app worked well. Within its range of capabilities, this is a good dive case. It is not the one I would choose for serious underwater photography, but for simple snorkeling and leisure diving, it does the trick.

ProShot Dive Case compared to others

Our tester shooting with the DiveVolk SeaTouch 4 Max Plus phone housing and wide angle lens on an open water dive

DiveVolk SeaTouch 4 Max Plus vs. ProShot Dive Case

I would choose the DiveVolk if you want full underwater touchscreen access rather than button control. It is rated to 200 feet (60 m), and it supports iPhone and Android models through adapters. It is more expensive than the ProShot, but the advantage is that you can use the phone’s native camera controls and third-party apps.

Read the review of DiveVolk SeaTouch 4 Max Plus Underwater Phone Housing
SeaLife SportDiver underwater smartphone housing with red filter lens, resting on a chart and dive guides

SeaLife SportDiver Smartphone Housing vs. ProShot Dive Case

The SeaLife SportDiver Ultra is a good option if you want a more advanced phone housing that still works with both iPhones and Androids. Like the ProShot Dive Case, it is not limited to one phone ecosystem, but it is a much more serious underwater housing.

The SeaLife SportDiver Ultra has a vacuum pressure alarm, an internal moisture alarm, and a more camera-like housing design with physical controls. It also has more accessory mounting options for trays, lights, and lenses, which makes it better suited to divers who want to build out a more complete underwater filming setup.

Read the review of SeaLife SportDiver Smartphone Housing Underwater Camera

Specs & Features

Max depth rating 130 feet / 40 m
Phone compatibility iPhone or Android
Seal type O-ring/gasket in the end cap secured with two blue side clips
Touchscreen compatible No
Mechanical controls Yes
Number of control buttons Two
Leak detection system No
Vacuum system support No
Mount type Action-camera mount compatible; floating hand grip included
App needed Yes

FAQs

Does the ProShot Dive Case work with iPhones and Androids?

Yes, but you need to buy the correct version. The ProShot Dive Case comes in two versions: iPhone and Android. The iPhone version fits all iPhone 6 through 17 Pro Max. For Android, check ProShot’s compatibility guide, as button alignment can vary on older devices.

Can you use the phone touchscreen inside the ProShot Dive Case?

No, the ProShot Dive Case is not touchscreen compatible. Once the phone is sealed inside, you control the camera through the ProShotCase App using the phone’s volume buttons.

How do you control the camera underwater with the ProShot Dive Case?

You control the camera through the phone’s volume buttons. One button cycles through the shooting modes, while the other takes photos or starts and stops video. It is a simple point-and-shoot system, which works well for casual underwater footage.

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