Is the GoPro HERO11 Black Mini Waterproof?

The GoPro HERO11 Black Mini is waterproof out of the box without a separate waterproof housing or case. But there are still limits to how waterproof it is.

GoPro HERO11 Black Mini
Filed Under: GoPro Tips & Tricks

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Yes, the GoPro HERO11 Black Mini is waterproof without the need for a separate waterproof housing or case.

The GoPro HERO11 Black Mini 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. And there have been occasional specialized models more recently, like the HERO10 Black Bare Bones, that aren’t waterproof.

So if you’ve used an older GoPro and skipped some of the more recent models, it’s a pretty major design change (and mostly for the better).

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 HERO11 continues that approach.

The GoPro HERO11 Black Mini 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, the best bet is to add a protective housing.

The catch is that, for now, there’s no official GoPro protective housing for the HERO11 Black Mini. But there’s a very good chance that will change as third-party aftermarket manufacturers make some available.

Have Camera Will Travel / GoPro

Things Worth Knowing

Waterproof protection is only as good as the weakest seal. So it’s always a good idea to ensure 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. That’s really only an issue if you’ve removed or replaced the lens—I’ve never seen the lens coming loose by itself so long as it’s properly attached.

For the camera to be waterproof, the side door needs to be fully attached and closed. Anything that requires access to the USB-C port–such as an external battery, an external monitor, or an external microphone–means opening the side door to access the USB-C port and therefore leaving it exposed.

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

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.

Wifi doesn’t work underwater. Those are not shortcomings of the HERO11 Mini–it’s a limitation of how Wifi signals work.

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.

FAQs

Is the GoPro HERO11 Black Mini waterproof?

Yes, the GoPro HERO11 Black Mini 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 paddle boarding.

Does the GoPro HERO11 Black Mini need a waterproof case?

The GoPro HERO11 Black Mini is waterproof without needing a waterproof case or housing. By itself, the camera is rated for 33 feet / 10 meters.

How deep underwater can the GoPro HERO11 Black Mini go?

The GoPro HERO11 Black Mini is rated for full submersion to a depth of 33 feet / 10 meters without an external waterproof housing. That’s so long as the side door is properly sealed and in place.

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 »