Is the GoPro HERO10 Waterproof?

The GoPro HERO10 Black is waterproof out of the box without a separate waterproof housing or case. But there are still limits to how waterproof it is, and there are also ways to make it even more waterproof.

GoPro HERO10 Black
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Yes, the GoPro HERO10 Black is waterproof without the need for a separate waterproof housing or case.

The GoPro HERO10 Black is Waterproof Without a Case

This is something that comes up often, because older GoPros needed a separate clear plastic housing to add waterproof protection.

But since the HERO5 (or, more accurately, the Session), GoPro cameras have switched to having the camera body itself being waterproof. So for many situations in and around water, you no longer need to have a separate waterproof housing, as you did for the HERO4 models and earlier. The GoPro HERO10 continues that approach.

The GoPro HERO10 Black is waterproof right out of the box. By itself, it’s rated for full submersion underwater to a depth of 33 feet / 10 meters.

If you need to take the camera deeper than that, or just want extra protection, you can add a protective housing (more on that below).

NB: There is now an exception. The new GoPro HERO10 Black Bones, which is designed specifically for FPV drones, is not waterproof or water-resistant and should not be used in the rain or submerged underwater.

GoPro at the beach
GoPro cameras really come into their own at the beach and around water.

How to Increase the Waterproof Protection of a GoPro HERO10 Black

The HERO10 Black is rated to a depth of 10 meters, or 33 feet. That’s good for many uses: swimming, snorkeling, rain, waterfalls, paddleboarding, and so on.

But what if you want to take it deeper than that? In most cases, that means SCUBA diving. That’s where a Protective Housing comes in useful.

The Protective Housing is rated down to 60 meters, or 196 feet. That’s well below the depth of standard recreational SCUBA diving.

GoPro HERO10 Protective Housing
  • Protects your GoPro from mud, dirt and debris during extreme activities
  • Front LCD screen remains accessible for viewing

It’s also a useful accessory above the water. It adds quite a lot of protection to your GoPro from dust, mud, and grime, and if it gets cracked from a knock, it’s much cheaper and easier to replace just the housing rather than the whole camera.

Be sure to get the Protective Housing specifically for the HERO10/9 cameras. GoPro has used the “Protective Housing” name for other models too, but the HERO8 Protective Housing, for instance, won’t work with the HERO10–the camera body dimensions and shapes are slightly different.

Things Worth Knowing

Waterproof protection is only as good as the weakest seal. So be sure that the camera’s side door is properly locked in place and that its rubber seals are intact and don’t have any grit or sand that could create a gap for water to get in. And make sure that the lens cover is locked in place.

For the camera to be waterproof, the side door needs to be fully attached and closed. The HERO10 is only waterproof when using its internal battery and without the Media Mod. Anything that requires access to the USB-C port–such as an external battery, an external monitor, an external microphone, or the Media Mod–means opening the side door to access the USB-C port and therefore leaving it exposed. GoPro does sell a USB Pass-Through Door that allows external access to the USB port, but it’s weather-resistant rather than fully waterproof. The same goes for most third-party external power kits (some are rated as water-resistant or weather-resistant).

I have some more detailed recommendations on using GoPros around water here.

Touchscreens don’t work underwater, but you can still use it as a viewing screen.

GoPro cameras don’t float. There are several ways to tackle this problem–I cover some of the best options in a separate post: How to Make a GoPro Float.

Neither GPS nor Wifi work underwater. Those are not shortcomings of the HERO10–they’re limitations on the GPS and Wifi signals.

Waterproof Depth Ratings for GoPro Cameras

Newer GoPro models have a waterproof body. Older models required an external waterproof housing. Here are the depth ratings for the cameras themselves.

GoPro ModelWaterproof Depth Rating (without external housing)
HERO11 Black33 feet / 10 meters
HERO11 Black Mini33 feet / 10 meters
HERO10 Black33 feet / 10 meters
HERO10 Black Bones EditionNot waterproof or water-resistant.
HERO9 Black33 feet / 10 meters
HERO8 Black33 feet / 10 meters
MAX16 feet / 5 meters
HERO7 Black33 feet / 10 meters
HERO7 Silver33 feet / 10 meters
HERO7 White33 feet / 10 meters
Fusion16 feet / 5 meters
HERO6 Black33 feet / 10 meters
HERO (2018)33 feet / 10 meters
HERO5 Black33 feet / 10 meters
HERO5 Session33 feet / 10 meters
HERO4 Session / HERO Session33 feet / 10 meters
HERO+ LCD131 feet / 40 meters
HERO+131 feet / 40 meters
HERO (2014)131 feet / 40 meters
HERO4 BlackNot waterproof. Requires external waterproof housing.
HERO4 SilverNot waterproof. Requires external waterproof housing.
HERO3+ BlackNot waterproof. Requires external waterproof housing.
HERO3 BlackNot waterproof. Requires external waterproof housing.
HERO3 SilverNot waterproof. Requires external waterproof housing.
HERO3 WhiteNot waterproof. Requires external waterproof housing.
HD HERO 2Not waterproof. Requires external waterproof housing.
HD HERO OriginalNot waterproof. Requires external waterproof housing.
SD HERONot waterproof. Requires external waterproof housing.

Protective Housings / Dive Housings for GoPro Cameras

To go deeper, you can put the camera inside a protective dive housing. These are the compatible protective housings for recent cameras.

GoPro CameraCompatible Protective HousingDepth Rating of Protective Housing
HERO11 BlackProtective Housing (for HERO11/10/9)196 feet / 60 meters
HERO10 BlackProtective Housing (for HERO11/10/9)196 feet / 60 meters
HERO10 Black Bare BonesNot compatible with protective housing.
HERO9 BlackProtective Housing (for HERO11/10/9)196 feet / 60 meters
HERO8 BlackProtective Housing (for HERO8)*196 feet / 60 meters
HERO7 BlackSuper Suit196 feet / 60 meters
HERO7 SilverProtective Housing (for HERO7 Silver/White)131 feet / 40 meters
HERO7 WhiteProtective Housing (for HERO7 Silver/White)131 feet / 40 meters
HERO6 BlackSuper Suit196 feet / 60 meters
HERO (2018)Super Suit196 feet / 60 meters
HERO5 BlackSuper Suit196 feet / 60 meters
HERO5 SessionAftermarket Dive Housing
HERO SessionAftermarket Dive Housing
HERO4 SessionAftermarket Dive Housing
HERO4 BlackAftermarket Dive Housing
HERO4 SilverAftermarket Dive Housing
* NB: Despite sharing the name, there are a few different versions under the same name of Protective Housing. So be sure you're getting the specific version for the camera you're using. For example, the HERO10 Black and HERO9 Black share the same one because their camera body is the same. But the Protective Housing for the HERO8 Black is different. And they're all different again from the Protective Housing for the HERO7 Silver and HERO7 White.

FAQs

Is the GoPro HERO10 waterproof?

Yes, the GoPro HERO10 Black is waterproof without the need for a separate waterproof case or housing. By itself, the camera is rated for 33 feet / 10 meters. So you can comfortably take it swimming, surfing, snorkeling, or paddleboarding.

If you’re SCUBA diving deeper than that, you can buy a Protective Housing to make it even more waterproof (down to a depth of 60 meters / 196 feet).

The GoPro HERO10 Black Bones, a special version designed exclusively for FPV drones, is not waterproof or water-resistant and should not be submerged underwater or used in the rain.

Does the GoPro HERO10 need a waterproof case?

The GoPro HERO10 Black is waterproof without needing a waterproof case or housing. By itself, the camera is rated for 33 feet / 10 meters. You can add a Protective Housing to make it even more waterproof.

How deep can the GoPro HERO10 go?

The GoPro HERO10 Black is rated for full submersion to a depth of 33 feet / 10 meters without an external waterproof housing.

By adding an external waterproof housing, you can take your GoPro deeper. The official housing for the GoPro HERO10 Black, the GoPro Protective Housing (model number ADDIV-001), is rated to a depth of 196 feet / 60 meters. Aftermarket housings might be rated for different depths and be subjected to different quality control protocols.

Is the GoPro HERO10 Black Bones waterproof?

No. The GoPro HERO10 Black Bones is a version designed specifically for FPV drones. It is not waterproof or water-resistant and should not be used in the rain or submerged underwater.

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The Latest Model: GoPro HERO11 Black

Released in the fall of 2022, the HERO11 is GoPro's current model. Well, actually two models.

First, there's the flagship Black that has all the bells and whistles and sets the standard for action cameras.

GoPro HERO11 Black
  • Shoot 5.3K60 & 4K120 video at up to 120Mbps bitrate
  • Take 27MP photos
  • Waterproof to 33ft / 10m without a separate housing
  • Built-in mount point
  • HyperSmooth 5.0 In-camera Video Stabilization creates smooth video without a gimbal
  • Shoot up to 8x slow motion

A couple of months later, they released Black Mini. It's smaller and shares many of the flagship models capabilities, but it's also stripped-down in important ways. For instance, it doesn't have a touchscreen, its battery isn't removable, and it shoots video only (so no photo mode).

GoPro HERO11 Black Mini
  • Shoot 5.3K60 & 4K120 video at up to 120Mbps bitrate
  • Compact form factor
  • Waterproof to 33ft / 10m without a separate housing
  • 2x built-in mount point
  • HyperSmooth 5.0 in-camera video stabilization
  • Shoot up to 8x slow motion @ 2.7K
  • Built-in battery
David Coleman / Photographer

David Coleman

I'm a freelance travel photographer based in Washington DC. Seven continents, up mountains, underwater, and a bunch of places in between. My images have appeared in numerous publications, and you can check out some of my travel photography here. I've been shooting with GoPros for years, starting with the HD HERO, and have owned and used every model since. More »

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