Underwater P&S Cameras

I'm currently looking into getting a waterproof P&S camera, since I don't have a pocket cam, and would like one I could take to the beach, snorkeling, etc. I did look into housings and ewa-marine stuff for snorkeling, but they are almost the cost of a P&S, and I'd like to have a pocket cam anyway.

So I was wondering if anyone has any suggestions - I'm looking at the Olympus 770 SW and 790 SW, and the Pentax Optio W30. (I'm not sure any others exist.) Any opinions on any of these?

I'm leaning toward the 790 SW, but the Optio is cheaper. And the 770 is tougher (good to 33 feet rather than the 10 feet of the other two).

Thanks for any advice...

Look at the new Canon G9. They have a true underwater housing for it and it runs about $180.00.

I do quite a bit of underwater photography and if you aren't going to buy a whole system for use underwater, then the point and shoots are great. You won't have much luck getting really nice stuff underwater without buying strobes (and lots of other expensive bits), but for snapshots they are perfect. They are also great since you can throw them in your pocket and go for a swim...you don't have to worry about it getting rained on...dropped into the river/lake/ocean that you are kayaking on etc. As soon as you buy any sort of a housing for a camera you run the risk of it flooding. You can learn quickly how to use one properly, but it is still another step, and another expense. It is really nice to have a camera that you don't have to worry about much. I worked on a dive boat the past 7 years and saw a lot of people who used the Olympus and loved it. Just remember that anytime you have it in saltwater you need to rinse it off with fresh before it dries out and the salt gunks everything up. Also, I would go with the 33ft model...it is pretty easy to free dive to 10 or more feet and then say "oops!" It is nice to have little extra cushion.

Thanks for the tips guys. Jerry - I'd love to have a G9, but I want something truly pocketable, to take when out with friends, and literaly keep in my pocket - and the G9 is a little too bulky.

Nathan - Good to hear - the other times I've been snorkeling I've used disposables. I think I still got some nice pics, but I figured the P&S would be a nice upgrade. Thanks for the info.

You will definitely appreciate the upgrade from disposables...I shouldn't have said " You won't"...it's just a little harder...shoot shallow and shoot up...good luck...hope you get to use it somewhere warm soon...all the best...Nate

I've had great luck using a canon S60 or S70 (they use the same housing) in tropical waters without a strobe. I've gotten some decent pictures off San Diego with it, too, but in the colder waters I definitely need to get a strobe.

Thanks for the advice everyone....I wound up with the Oly 770 SW.