The best underwater drones and ROVs in 2024

One of the best underwater drones traversing the sea bed

The best underwater drones open up exciting possibilities in aquatic exploration. Also known as remotely operated vehicles (ROVs), these mini remote-controlled submarines allow you to capture footage much deeper than the typical 40m/130ft limit for scuba divers. Beyond capturing video for entertainment and education, they’re great for inspecting your boat or enhancing your fishing trips.

We've put our experts to work, to curate the list below, of the best underwater drones and ROVs available. We explain the differences between them, and highlight their key features to help you make an informed choice. 

Adam Juniper headshot
Adam Juniper

With over 20 years of expertise as a tech journalist, Adam brings a wealth of knowledge across a vast number of product categories, including timelapse cameras, home security cameras, NVR cameras, photography books, webcams, 3D printers and 3D scanners, borescopes, radar detectors… and, above all, drones. 

Adam is our resident expert on all aspects of camera drones and drone photography, from buying guides on the best choices for aerial photographers of all ability levels to the latest rules and regulations on piloting drones. 

He is the author of a number of books including The Complete Guide to Drones, The Smart Smart Home Handbook, 101 Tips for DSLR Video and The Drone Pilot's Handbook

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Adam Juniper
Managing Editor

With over 20 years of expertise as a tech journalist, Adam brings a wealth of knowledge across a vast number of product categories, including timelapse cameras, home security cameras, NVR cameras, photography books, webcams, 3D printers and 3D scanners, borescopes, radar detectors… and, above all, drones. 

Adam is our resident expert on all aspects of camera drones and drone photography, from buying guides on the best choices for aerial photographers of all ability levels to the latest rules and regulations on piloting drones. 

He is the author of a number of books including The Complete Guide to Drones, The Smart Smart Home Handbook, 101 Tips for DSLR Video and The Drone Pilot's Handbook