GoPro Versus Waterproof Phone Case for Snorkelling: Which Is Safer?

What the GoPro is rated for

GoPro's support guidance, checked on 24 October 2026, rates the HERO13 Black waterproof to 10 m (33 ft) without any housing, and 60 m with the optional Protective Housing. The care rules are simple and published: close the door latch before it touches water, rinse with fresh water after salt. Water is this product's home turf; snorkelling at the surface does not come near its limits.

What the phone makers say about their own phones

Apple's support page, checked on 24 October 2026, gives the iPhone models it lists with a 6 m, 30-minute rating (currently the iPhone 12 through 17 series) an IP68 rating under IEC 60529 and then says: avoid swimming or bathing with your iPhone; splash, water and dust resistance are not permanent conditions; liquid damage is not covered under warranty. Samsung's guidance for the Galaxy phones it lists as IP68 says the IPX8 water test behind that rating is 1.5 m of still fresh water for 30 minutes, that resistance is not permanent, and its do-not list includes salt water and pool water. Neither maker sells its phone as an underwater camera.

Where a waterproof case or pouch fits

A pouch adds a physical barrier, and that is genuinely better than a bare phone. The problem is what stands behind it. The phone's IP68 rating is a fresh-water lab test, not a pouch endorsement; Apple and Samsung both warn resistance fades with wear; and if the pouch seal fails, Apple's position is unchanged: liquid damage is not covered under its warranty. You are trusting an unbranded seal with a device that also holds your boarding passes and UPI. That is a lot of trust for a few underwater photos.

So which is safer?

Safest for the phone: GoPro, because the phone stays dry on the beach or boat. Safest for your wallet: still the GoPro, because a drowned phone can mean an expensive repair or replacement, plus lost access to travel essentials. The pouch is the budget fallback, acceptable if you accept that its seal is the only thing between salt water and an expensive repair. Follow the care instructions for the exact camera or housing you take; GoPro advises a fresh-water rinse after salt-water use.

Common questions

GoPro versus waterproof phone case for snorkelling: which is safer?
For your phone, the GoPro: the HERO13 Black is rated waterproof to 10 m by its maker, while no phone maker rates its phone for swimming, Apple excludes liquid damage from warranty, and Samsung lists sea water as a do-not.

Is an IP68 phone safe in the sea with a waterproof pouch?
Safer than bare, not guaranteed. The IP68 rating is a fresh-water lab test (Samsung, for the Galaxy phones it lists as IP68: 1.5 m, 30 minutes, still water), resistance fades with wear, and Samsung lists salt water as a do-not. The pouch seal is the only real protection, and Apple's warranty still excludes liquid damage.

How deep can a GoPro go without a case?
The HERO13 Black is rated waterproof to 10 m (33 ft) without housing, per GoPro. Snorkelling happens at the surface. With the Protective Housing, GoPro rates it to 60 m.

Will Apple or Samsung replace my phone if it gets wet while snorkelling?
Apple states liquid damage is not covered under warranty. Samsung's guidance treats water resistance as non-permanent and names salt water and pool water as do-nots. Do not count on either warranty.

What should I do after using a camera or phone in the sea?
Rinse with fresh water. GoPro says rinse after exposure to salt; Samsung says rinse gently with clean water and dry with a soft cloth after sea-water exposure.

Sources checked on 24 October 2026: GoPro: HERO13 Black, how deep can you dive, Apple: splash, water and dust resistance of iPhone, Samsung UK: Galaxy phone water resistance, Samsung: sea water exposure. Pouch quality varies; the ratings above are manufacturer test conditions.