Best Underwater Drones of 2025 - Top 5 Compared

The Chasing Innovation Gladius Mini stands out as the premier underwater drone for 2025, offering a perfect balance of performance and features. Its five-thruster design provides exceptional maneuverability underwater, allowing precise control even in challenging conditions. The 4K camera delivers stunning footage, supported by powerful 1200-lumen lights that illuminate the underwater environment effectively. The depth-lock feature functions similarly to altitude hold in aerial drones, maintaining stable positioning at desired depths. The drone comes in a professional backpack with included accessories, making transportation and setup convenient. While the camera offers excellent resolution, it cannot be turned separately from the drone body, requiring the entire unit to tilt for different viewing angles.

In rough sea conditions, the image stabilization could be improved. The protective caps for the tether cable are noted as being easily lost, though this is a minor concern compared to the overall robust build quality. The bright yellow color ensures high visibility underwater, and the 64GB internal storage provides ample space for recordings. The accompanying app is well-designed and supports VR compatibility, enhancing the underwater exploration experience. For those seeking a reliable, feature-packed underwater drone, the Gladius Mini represents the current gold standard in the category.

The Qysea Fifish V6 model represent the pinnacle of power in consumer underwater drones for 2025. These models stand out for their industrial-grade capabilities, particularly the optional robot claw accessory that delivers an impressive 5kg (11lbs) of gripping force. This feature opens up possibilities for underwater retrieval operations, scientific sampling, and equipment positioning that few other consumer drones can match. The 4K camera is complemented by dual 2000-lumen lights, providing exceptional visibility even in dark underwater environments. The V6S model includes the robot arm in the package, while it remains an optional accessory for the standard V6. The drone offers a 100m maximum depth capability with a matching tether length, suitable for most recreational and professional applications.

The controller design resembles traditional drone controllers with space for a smartphone monitor, though the plain white pad feels somewhat generic compared to the rest of the premium package. The posture lock (hover) function maintains position accurately, and the depth-lock button provides easy access to stable depth maintenance. For those needing even more capability, Qysea offers an Expert edition with 6000-lumen lighting and shore power options for extended missions. The inclusion of VR head tracking creates an immersive piloting experience where the drone's camera follows the operator's head movements. While priced higher than many competitors, the Fifish series delivers professional-grade performance that justifies the investment for serious underwater enthusiasts and professionals.

The Chasing Dory earns its position as the best value underwater drone by offering core functionality at a fraction of the cost of premium models. As essentially a smaller, more affordable version of the Gladius Mini, it retains the same striking yellow color and five-thruster design that enables good maneuverability and camera tilting capability. The depth lock feature from its bigger brother is also present, providing stable positioning at desired depths. To achieve its lower price point, some compromises were made: the camera resolution is 1080p rather than 4K, supported by only 250 lumens of lighting that may prove insufficient at greater depths or in murky conditions. The tether is significantly shorter at 15m (50ft), though this is offset by the innovative Wi-Fi buoy system that allows wireless operation within range.

Control is handled entirely through the smartphone app rather than a dedicated controller, which may be less precise but keeps costs down. The battery is contained within the drone itself, simplifying charging requirements. Despite these limitations, the Dory performs admirably for its price class, offering a genuine underwater exploration experience that would satisfy most casual users. The app supports live streaming to social media, adding fun functionality for sharing underwater discoveries. For those wanting to enter the world of underwater drones without significant investment, the Dory represents an excellent starting point that still delivers on core functionality.

The PowerVision PowerRay is specifically designed for underwater explorers who want to uncover the mysteries beneath the surface. Its 4K camera captures detailed footage at up to 30fps, supported by two dimmable 450-lumen headlights that adapt to varying underwater visibility conditions. The drone's design features a central vertical thruster that allows depth changes without risking tangling of the 70m (230ft) communication cable, a thoughtful engineering solution. The PowerRay comes in two versions: the basic Explorer edition for video shooting and the more advanced Wizard edition that includes the PowerSeeker sonar device. This sonar can map underwater landscapes and use temperature data to identify fishing hotspots, making it valuable for both recreational and professional users.

The Wizard edition also includes Zeiss VR One Goggles for immersive viewing, a bait dropper, and a premium travel case. The camera's maximum ISO of 1600 performs well in low-light conditions, though the 1/2.3-inch sensor size leaves room for improvement in image quality. Storage options include either 32GB or 64GB built-in memory depending on the version, with the ability to expand via SD card. While the basic Explorer model offers solid performance, the Wizard edition's additional features come at a considerable price premium that may not justify the cost for casual users. For serious underwater explorers and fishing enthusiasts who will utilize the advanced capabilities, the PowerRay represents a compelling option that balances performance with specialized features.

The Chasing M2 series represents the professional tier of underwater drones, designed specifically for content creators and commercial operators. Its eight corner-mounted thrusters, controlled via a joypad-style interface, deliver exceptional maneuverability and a top speed of 3 knots underwater. The built-in camera features an f/1.8 aperture 12MP sensor with a 1/2.3-inch CMOS and electronic stabilization, ensuring smooth footage despite the drone's movements. Video capabilities include 4K at 30fps and up to 120fps at 1080p, with a wide 152-degree field of view that captures expansive underwater scenes. For those preferring action cameras, the M2 includes a GoPro mount for additional filming flexibility. The drone supports various professional accessories including a robotic arm for underwater manipulation and a powered tether reel (E-Reel) that automatically manages the cable.

The swappable battery system enables extended operation times, crucial for professional applications like hull inspections or underwater surveys. While the dual 2000-lumen lights provide adequate illumination, their proximity to the lens can sometimes cause backscatter in particulate-filled water. The M2 comes in several variants (Pro and Pro Max) with increasing capabilities, all built to industrial-grade standards. This professional focus does result in a higher price point that may be prohibitive for casual users, but for commercial operators, filmmakers, and researchers who demand top-tier performance and reliability, the M2 series delivers unmatched capabilities in the consumer/prosumer underwater drone market.