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Waterproof in marketing is not the same as “I dropped it off a dock.” Read the meter rating, whether that rating needs a door lock, and what salt water does to the USB flap.
Action cam versus rugged compact
GoPro / DJI Osmo action cams win when you want stabilization on a helmet. A rugged compact (Tough / WG class) wins when you want a zoom and a screen you can see in sun. Phones in a bag are not a dive plan.
Depth and housings
A 10 m IP rating is a pool. Thirty meters with a housing is a different product and a different insurance problem. If the brand sells a housing, assume you need it for anything serious.
Who should skip a dedicated cam
Skip it if you already shoot on a phone and you will not mount anything to a board. Skip cheap no-name “4K 30 m” listings with stolen photos. Confirm the return window; fogged lenses show up after weekend one.
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