Which water resistant cameras do you recommended?

I've been using the OM System Tough TG-7  and it's absolutely fantastic for the price point. It's waterproof to 50 feet, shockproof from 7-foot drops, and freezeproof down to 14°F. The image quality underwater is excellent and it even shoots 4K video with great nighttime photo capabilities. Has WiFi and Bluetooth built-in for easy phone transfers too. Definitely worth the investment if you're serious about underwater photography!

Wait, real quick before I dive into my own experience, are you planning on actually diving down a few meters or just sticking to the surface waves? It totally changes the budget math!! I remember when I first started out, I tried to save money by getting a cheap generic case for my old phone. Terrible idea! The seal failed during a simple snorkel trip and it was a total disaster... lost every single photo from that trip. Now I always prioritize gear thats specifically built for the water rather than trying to adapt something else. It might cost more upfront but honestly, the peace of mind is amazing when youre out there in the waves! My current setup was a bit of a stretch for my budget back then but it has survived three separate beach trips without a single leak. You really cant put a price on knowing your gear wont fail mid-vacation!

Ive put a lot of gear through its paces over the years and honestly, the DJI Osmo Action 4 is the one to look at if you care about the raw data. Most people just look at the waterproof rating, but you really gotta check the sensor size. This unit has a 1/1.3-inch CMOS, which is massive compared to the tiny 1/2.3-inch sensors in most rugged point-and-shoots. That extra glass means better low-light performance and way more detail in the shadows when youre a few meters down. Another big technical win is the dedicated color temperature sensor. In my experience, most cameras turn underwater shots into a muddy blue mess because the auto white balance gets confused. This one handles it natively and keeps skin tones looking natural. Its rated for 18 meters without a case, which is plenty for snorkeling. For about $300, its a steal compared to your $800 limit. Tbh, unless you specifically need the macro microscope mode of a dedicated tough camera, the higher bitrate and better sensor on the DJI are gonna give you much cleaner files for your vacation memories.