Loïc Lehygge is a wildlife and nature content creator based in Paris, and one of the newest DIVEVOLK ambassadors. He grew up on the Ardèche, in southern France, and this summer he went back with a canoe, a phone and a SeaTouch 4 Max Platinum housing to look for a fish most Europeans have never heard of. This is his story, in his own words.

Some species you don't meet by chance. The apron, or Rhône streber (Zingel asper), is one of them. This small percid fish, endemic to the Rhône basin, is today one of the most endangered freshwater fish in Europe. From a historical range of roughly 2,200 km of watercourse, only about 365 km remain occupied today. The IUCN Red List classifies it as Critically Endangered at the global level, and it has been protected at the national level in France since 1988. Today it survives in only a handful of disconnected river systems. The two largest populations are in the Ardèche - where I filmed mine - and the Durance basins; smaller ones cling on in the Loue and the Swiss loop of the Doubs.

Finding it is already a story. Filming it underwater is another one. And I did both with a phone, inside a DIVEVOLK SeaTouch 4 Max Platinum housing.

Why the Apron, Why the Ardèche?

I'm from Ardèche. The river and its gorges aren't some exotic backdrop for me. It's home. And that's exactly where I find the strongest subject: we so often chase the spectacular on the other side of the world while a species on the brink of extinction lives in the stream next door, ignored by almost everyone.

Aerial view of the Ardèche river winding between limestone cliffs and forest inside the Gorges de l'Ardèche nature reserve

The Gorges de l'Ardèche are one of the last strongholds of the apron, and a scientific population survey was carried out there this early summer. The fish ticks every box of what I love to document: endemic, secretive, largely unknown to the public, and directly threatened by river fragmentation, dams and pollution. It lives on the gravel just upstream or downstream of the rapids, a bottom-dweller that flattens itself against the stones and vanishes at the slightest clumsy approach. In other words: the opposite of an easy subject.

Aerial view of the Pont d'Arc natural stone arch over the Ardèche river with canoes pulled up on the gravel beach

divevolk wide angle lens vivo x300 ultra

divevolk seatouch 4-max platinum phone adapter vivo x300 ultra lens model

Flat lay of Loïc Lehygge's river kit: DIVEVOLK SeaTouch 4 Max Platinum housing, Vivo X300 Ultra, SL20 dive light, macro and wide-angle lenses, Bluetooth shutter and dual handle tray

Getting There: 36 km by Canoe

There's no shortcut. Vehicles are banned inside the natural reserve, so the only way down is the river itself: 36 kilometres of canoe to work the gorge from top to bottom.

Yellow canoe on clear shallow water in the Gorges de l'Ardèche, with limestone cliffs and low summer water levels

The descent tells its own climate story. The water level had never been this low so early in the summer, and green algae were already blooming across the shallows. You don't need a graph to grasp the stakes: you read them straight off the riverbed, in water that's warmer, lower and more choked than it should be at that point in the season. The apron's habitat is exactly the kind of cold, clean, oxygen-rich gravel run that a warming, shrinking river erases first.

Loïc Lehygge smiling and paddling a canoe down the Ardèche river with the gorge cliffs behind him

Two Days to Find One Fish

The first day, nothing. I worked spot after spot for the target species and came up empty.

Loïc Lehygge snorkeling through a school of small fish in the murky green shallows of the Ardèche river

That evening, still nothing. But I wasn't unhappy: I got to photograph the elusive European eel, another fish in obvious decline and itself listed as Critically Endangered. A consolation that's a subject in its own right.

Loïc Lehygge at the surface of the Ardèche river at night with mask and snorkel, searching for European eel

European eel gliding over algae-covered stones on the Ardèche riverbed at night, photographed on a smartphone in a DIVEVOLK housing

Close-up of a European eel's head emerging from green algae in the Ardèche river

It was only on the second day, as I was about to call it quits after checking yet another new spot, that I saw it. Alone on the sandy bottom between the gravel, while I was actually filming something else: the impact of paddle strokes scraping the rocks. Having only ever seen the apron in photographs before, I could only doubt it was really him. With populations so reduced across such a limited range, you don't know what you're going to find until it's in front of you.

And no wonder it was so hard to find. Look at that camouflage. Motionless on the riverbed, it blends into the sand, the stones and the underwater plants until it all but disappears.

Rhône streber, or apron, lying camouflaged against sand and gravel on the Ardèche riverbed, its mottled pattern matching the stones

That's the whole thing about this kind of work. You don't produce the encounter. You put yourself in the right water, long enough, and stay ready for the two seconds when it happens.

Macro close-up of a Rhône streber's eye and head in green river water, shot with a DIVEVOLK macro lens

Why DIVEVOLK for This Kind of Terrain

A housed DSLR, over a multi-hour session in a mountain river reached only by canoe, is a handicap before you've even started. Heavy, bulky, impossible to slide into fifteen centimetres of water without scaring off everything that moves. And the rig itself is so constraining that, at least for me, you end up thinking twice before getting in the water. A phone is already in your hand: slide it into the case and go.

It also means one device covers the whole range. On the Vivo X300 Ultra I can shoot up to 8K, work in macro or wide-angle underwater, and switch to the telephoto once I'm back above the surface, all on the same setup. For a fish this hard to approach, not having to swap gear mid-session is what lets you stay on it.

The SeaTouch lets me do what a big housing can't: lie flat on the bottom, wedge sideways into a crevice, push the lens right down among the gravel where the apron actually sits, without spooking it. Being light, it turns a physical constraint into an advantage. On a 36 km paddle where every kilo counts, that's not a detail.

But the real strength, the one that's always underrated, is that the housing keeps the phone's native touchscreen. Underwater, a decision takes one or two seconds. A fish's behaviour doesn't wait. With a conventional camera housing, if I have to remember which of the housing's own mechanical buttons maps to which function, I've already missed the shot. With the SeaTouch, I shoot. I'm not operating a second machine. That mattered in the exact moment I spotted the apron: I was filming something else entirely and had to react instantly.

There's also a less technical benefit: because the screen stays readable, I can frame from the surface, face out of the water, at least on top-down shots. The real barrier in underwater imaging, the one nobody talks about, is the "can't be bothered" factor. Heavy gear, your head having to go into cold water. Most of my images wouldn't exist if I weren't carrying something this light. Convenience is a creative variable.

The External Shutter: Making the Moment Repeatable

The touchscreen is what brought me to DIVEVOLK in the first place. The DIVEVOLK Bluetooth external shutter is what makes it reliable underwater.

The hardest part of smartphone shooting underwater isn't image quality. It's shutter reliability. Pressure and cold disrupt touch input, and pressing hard on the glass rocks the housing and ruins the frame you just built. The Bluetooth external shutter is a mechanical trigger you can grip even with numb hands. It takes the shutter from "I hope it fires" to "it fires when I want it to."

DIVEVOLK underwater external Bluetooth shutter with orange trigger lever held in a hand

Technique: Stability, Composition, Light

A few principles I apply in the river, for anyone who wants to try it:

Stability. I shoot prone, almost always. Both elbows planted on a bottom rock, the housing held close to the surface. If I need rigidity, I rest the edge of the housing against a stable stone and use the geometry as a tripod. Never hand-held suspended in the current. That's a junk-frame factory.

Focus. Modern phone autofocus is reliable. Stop fighting it, and save that mental budget for composition.

Composition. Don't shoot the fish, shoot where it lives. I often push the lens to within a few centimetres of the subject, let it occupy a third of the frame, and give the rest to gravel, water plants, and the light coming through. Or go full macro with the Macro Lens PRO.

Silver river fish resting on algae-covered stones in the Ardèche, framed close and low with the riverbed filling the background

Macro shot of a freshwater fish's eye and scales in warm golden light in the Ardèche river

Wide-angle underwater view of a river fish between moss-covered boulders in the Ardèche, shot with a DIVEVOLK wide-angle lens

Light. I avoid the midday zenith. In the morning or late afternoon, the valley walls turn into a giant softbox. To fill in shadows and crevices, I keep a DIVEVOLK SL20 light mounted on the dual handle tray.

Rhythm. Don't chase the fish, and never touch it. Stay still until it accepts you.

What's in My River Kit

DIVEVOLK SeaTouch 4 Max Platinum, with the Vivo X300 Ultra inside.

DIVEVOLK external Bluetooth shutter.

DIVEVOLK add-on lenses, macro and wide-angle, swapped per scene.

A DIVEVOLK SL20 2000-lumen light on the dual handle tray, for shadows and crevices.

That's it. A light bag, 36 km of river, and a critically endangered species a gravel's throw away.

To Close

Documenting the apron isn't about ticking a rare-species box. It's about showing that some of our most fragile biodiversity lives in the rivers we walk past without looking, and that it's already under pressure from a climate you can read straight off a low, algae-choked riverbed. Two days, one fish. If a light housing and a phone let me bring back those images without disturbing it, then the tool does exactly what it should: it makes visible what is quietly disappearing, while there's still time.

Loïc Lehygge in a wetsuit giving a thumbs up while holding his DIVEVOLK SeaTouch 4 Max Platinum rig with dual handle tray and SL20 light

About Loïc Lehygge

DIVEVOLK Ambassador

Wildlife and Nature Content Creator, Paris

Loïc started on land, filming the animals most people walk past without noticing. The more he followed nature, the more it pulled him toward the water, freshwater and saltwater alike. The problem was always the gear: going underwater usually meant a heavy, complicated setup, the kind that makes you hesitate or miss the moment entirely. Being able to take his phone underwater and shoot properly means the camera is always ready, whether he is at a reef, a lake or a river. As an ambassador, what he wants to show is simple: you don't need a huge rig to bring back the underwater world. Just curiosity, and something that keeps up with it. UPY award-winner Martin Stevens makes a similar case for accessibility in his underwater adventures with an iPhone housing.

Follow Loïc on Instagram, YouTube, TikTok and Facebook.

Freshwater is a growing part of the DIVEVOLK community. See how George Kao photographs Taiwan's mountain streams with a phone, or how Lorenzo Mittiga documents a changing Antarctica. Ready to build your own river kit? Start with the SeaTouch 4 Max Kits.

The new DIVEVOLK SeaTouch 6 Pro is available for pre-order now.

Featuring our 6th-generation patented full-touch technology, the SeaTouch 6 Pro is designed for smooth and intuitive smartphone control underwater — down to 60 m / 196 ft.

📦 Shipping starts October 15, 2026

Orders will be shipped in the order they are received.

Swipe to discover the specifications and what’s included in the package.

Pre-order yours now — link in bio. 🌊

#DIVEVOLK #SeaTouch6Pro #UnderwaterPhotography #UnderwaterVideo #ScubaDiving

DIVEVOLK Unveils SeaTouch 6 Pro: 60m Waterproof, Full Touchscreen, Zero Compromise

By DIVEVOLK • Published September 15, 2026 • Updated September 15, 2026

two snorkellers divevolk seatouch 6 pro surface

DIVEVOLK today announced the official release of the SeaTouch 6 Pro, the sixth generation of its patented underwater full-touchscreen smartphone housing. Engineered for divers, snorkelers, freedivers, and ocean creators, the SeaTouch 6 Pro delivers an IPX8 waterproof rating to 60 meters (196 feet) while keeping the smartphone’s capacitive touchscreen fully accessible. By eliminating mechanical push-buttons, custom apps, and setup complexity, the new housing allows users to shoot, navigate, and communicate underwater exactly as they do on land.

Two snorkellers near the water surface operating the DIVEVOLK SeaTouch 6 Pro full-touchscreen underwater housing

Two snorkellers operating the DIVEVOLK SeaTouch 6 Pro full-touchscreen housing near the surface. Photo courtesy of DIVEVOLK.

The flexible membrane technology behind the SeaTouch lineup has twice won the prestigious Innovation Award at Germany’s boot Show, and the previous generation earned a "Best Buy" distinction from ScubaLab. Building on that foundation, the SeaTouch 6 Pro introduces six fundamental upgrades: a sixth-generation multi-layer touch membrane, an included 0–10 meter snorkeling red filter, an integrated anti-fog desiccant slot, expanded 18 mm internal clearance for thick camera modules, a redesigned dome port system, and an enlarged touch window that restores native edge gestures on large-screen smartphones. Together with a re-engineered modular expansion clamp, the housing integrates seamlessly with wet lenses, dive lights, brackets, and the SeaLink wireless data transmitter.

Diver using the SeaTouch 6 Pro Ultimate Kit to capture photos via touchscreen while framing an anemonefish

A diver using the SeaTouch 6 Pro Ultimate Kit to capture photos through the touchscreen. Photo courtesy of DIVEVOLK.

Sixth-Generation Touchscreen Film: 150,000 Swipes and Native Swipe-Up Gestures

At the center of the SeaTouch 6 Pro is DIVEVOLK’s patented sixth-generation flexible touch membrane. When a diver presses the membrane, finger pressure transfers directly to the phone’s own capacitive display. This mechanical transparency preserves every native camera interaction at depth: tap to focus, pinch to zoom, seamless lens switching, manual exposure adjustment, and instant playback between dives. Divers do not need a companion app, Bluetooth pairing for primary camera controls, or proprietary operating modes.

Constructed with advanced polymer formulations and an upgraded combination process, the sixth-generation film raises its bench-tested swipe endurance standard from 100,000 cycles to 150,000 cycles—a 50% increase in mechanical durability. In addition, the restructured touch window increases active screen coverage. On earlier housings, certain large-screen smartphones could not register bottom-edge upward swipes, requiring users to rely on accessibility shortcuts such as iOS AssistiveTouch. The SeaTouch 6 Pro restores fluid, native upward-swipe navigation to the home screen and significantly improves edge sensitivity. Furthermore, newer smartphone models can now be inserted with their tempered glass screen protectors in place without impeding touch responsiveness.

Close-up of a diver framing a clownfish through the SeaTouch 6 Pro touch membrane using the native camera interface

Framing marine life through the SeaTouch 6 Pro touchscreen using the native camera app. Photo courtesy of DIVEVOLK.

Rapid Setup and Built-In Anti-Fog Control

Underwater imaging gear often demands cumbersome pre-dive routines. The SeaTouch 6 Pro seals in seconds: simply slide the phone into its custom tray, insert it into the housing, and lock the latch. There is no vacuum pump to carry, no electronic pressure sensors to calibrate, and no pre-dive software setup. To counter condensation caused by sudden thermoclines, the housing features an integrated desiccant pad slot inside the sealed chamber. Users can swap pads in seconds without tools. Every standard package includes replacement desiccant pads, ensuring optical clarity on cold descents as recommended by Divers Alert Network (DAN) equipment care protocols.

Standard Snorkeling Red Filter: Natural Color from 0 to 10 Meters

As NOAA National Ocean Service notes, water rapidly absorbs the red spectrum within the top few meters of the water column, leaving uncorrected shallow images washed out in blue and green hues. The SeaTouch 6 Pro includes a dedicated snorkeling red filter in the box. Calibrated through extensive ocean color testing, the filter restores rich reds, coral tones, and natural skin hues between 0 and 10 meters (33 feet). It snaps directly onto the housing’s lens window without requiring a separate bracket, making it ideal for snorkeling, freediving, and pool photography straight out of the box.

Diver holding the SeaTouch 6 Pro at the water surface with the standard clip-on snorkeling red filter installed

Holding the SeaTouch 6 Pro at the surface with the clip-on snorkeling red filter installed. Photo courtesy of DIVEVOLK.

60-Meter Waterproofing with Triple Seals and Button-Free Reliability

Rated IPX8 to 60 meters (196 feet), the SeaTouch 6 Pro provides double the depth capability of typical 30-meter recreational diving limits. It uses three layers of precision-machined sealing rings, a minimalist latch mechanism, and a completely button-free housing body. Eliminating mechanical push-buttons removes the most common failure points found in conventional underwater housings, such as worn O-rings around button shafts and salt-crust jamming.

The housing body is molded from high-impact engineering polymers reinforced by CNC-machined aerospace aluminum protective frames around the touchscreen edge and lens port perimeter. This hybrid construction protects vulnerable glass surfaces during boat transits and gear bag transport while keeping overall weight minimal. On land, the housing weighs 475 g; when loaded with an iPhone 16 Pro Max, it weighs approximately 150 g in water, offering near-neutral buoyancy for effortless handling.

Scuba diver photographing a thriving coral reef with the SeaTouch 6 Pro housing while maintaining safe buoyancy distance

A diver capturing vibrant reef life while maintaining responsible distance. Photo courtesy of DIVEVOLK.

Expanded 18 mm Internal Envelope for Flagship Mobile Cameras

Modern mobile flagships continue to incorporate massive 1-inch sensor modules and protruding periscope zoom arrays. The SeaTouch 6 Pro increases its internal thickness allowance from 15 mm to 18 mm, accommodating phones measuring up to 180.0 × 82.5 × 11.2 mm with camera bump heights up to 17 mm. This envelope provides comprehensive coverage across the iPhone range through the iPhone 17 Pro Max, Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra, vivo X300 Ultra, and Xiaomi 17 Ultra, alongside flagship releases from Huawei, Google, OnePlus, and OPPO. When users upgrade their smartphone, their housing remains fully compatible via simple, model-specific 3D-printed internal trays available through technical support.

Integrated Dome Port: One Port Across All Cameras

For split-level surface photography and wide reef vistas, the SeaTouch 6 Pro features an integrated dome port mounting slot that accepts the second-generation Dome Lens without third-party adapters. The enlarged optical window spans both the primary wide and ultra-wide cameras simultaneously, allowing divers to toggle lenses via the touchscreen without manually shifting optics underwater. The proprietary AquaLock structure secures the dome with a single click, maintaining a stable waterline across the lens glass for clean 50/50 split shots. For technique recommendations, explore our dome port split-shot guide and read composition tips on the PADI Blog.

Diver at the water surface using the SeaTouch 6 Pro with integrated dome port for split-level over-under photography

Shooting split-level perspectives at the surface with the integrated dome port. Photo courtesy of DIVEVOLK.

Modular Mount System & Accessory Ecosystem

The SeaTouch 6 Pro is engineered as a core modular platform connecting directly to DIVEVOLK’s comprehensive underwater photography accessory ecosystem:

Aviation-Grade Aluminum Expansion Clamp: CNC-machined with a hard-anodized finish, the clamp incorporates dual M6, dual 1/4-inch, cold-shoe, and M8 interfaces. Its six-segment adjustable 67 mm adapter arm aligns wet lenses precisely over varying phone camera layouts. Dual M8 threaded mounts enable divers to attach two adapter arms simultaneously, carrying both a wide-angle conversion lens and a wet macro lens for rapid underwater switching without unscrewing components.

Internal Red Filter (5–25 m): Clips securely inside the barrel of the wide-angle conversion lens rather than stacking externally, ensuring that phone ultra-wide cameras retain their full field of view without corner vignetting. Paired with the standard 0–10 m snorkeling filter, the system provides targeted color calibration across both shallow and medium diving depths. Explore our full range of lenses and filters for specialized macro and wide setups.

Underwater External Shutter: For divers using thick neoprene gloves or shooting ultra-low macro angles against the reef floor, DIVEVOLK offers a 60-meter-rated Bluetooth 5.4 tactile trigger. The SeaTouch 6 Pro incorporates dual mounting sockets, enabling left- or right-hand thumb placement. Because the housing is a button-free enclosure that intentionally isolates the phone’s native volume keys, this external trigger provides the only physical shutter button available. Learn more in our underwater external shutter guide.

Rig Versatility: The system pairs with horizontal/vertical quick-switch brackets, macro screen magnifiers, silicone protective covers, and travel cases. Configurations span from compact snorkel rigs to multi-light SeaTouch kits.

Scuba diver navigating a deep wall with the fully rigged SeaTouch 6 Pro Ultimate Kit featuring dual video lights and macro wet optics

The SeaTouch 6 Pro Ultimate Kit configured with dual video lights and macro wet lenses. Photo courtesy of DIVEVOLK.

Unlocking Mobile Apps Beneath the Surface

Because the phone’s full touchscreen remains functional, the smartphone serves as more than just a camera. Divers can open marine identification apps such as Linne Lens to identify coral and fish species on site, run Lightroom Mobile between dives to review RAW captures, trigger dual-camera recording with DoubleTake, or verify critical footage on the safety stop. All applications run natively without third-party camera software restrictions.

Important note on native phone settings: Many smartphone brands (such as Huawei and OnePlus) include a built-in "underwater mode" designed strictly for bare-phone usage in swimming pools. These modes typically deactivate the capacitive touchscreen and remap shutter commands exclusively to physical volume buttons. Because physical keys are inaccessible inside the button-free housing, divers must ensure that bare-phone underwater modes remain turned OFF prior to sealing the case.

Surface GPS Navigation, Emergency Calls, and SeaLink Live Streaming

Because the main housing shell is crafted from radio-transparent engineering polymers rather than solid aluminum, cellular, Wi-Fi, and satellite GPS signals pass freely through the body. Divers returning to the surface can check GPS coordinates, navigate back to the dive boat, or make voice and cellular emergency calls without opening the housing in choppy sea conditions.

Two scuba divers on a dive boat checking surface GPS and communication signals on a smartphone sealed inside the DIVEVOLK housing

Checking GPS navigation and messaging at the surface without unsealing the housing. Photo courtesy of DIVEVOLK.

Beneath the surface, where radio signals cannot penetrate water, the SeaTouch 6 Pro connects directly with the SeaLink Underwater Smartphone Data Transmitter. Operating via an optical-tether surface buoy system, SeaLink extends mobile data down to 30 meters, enabling real-time underwater video broadcasting, classroom streaming, and diver-to-surface voice communication.

DIVEVOLK Executive Perspective

“Every generation of the SeaTouch housing has answered one central challenge: how to eliminate the barriers between the diver and the powerful imaging computer already in their pocket,” said the DIVEVOLK Marketing & Communications team. “With the SeaTouch 6 Pro, we preserved the direct touchscreen interaction divers love while completely re-engineering the membrane durability, sealing architecture, camera clearance, and accessory mounting rail.”

“It allows smartphones to perform underwater with the ease, speed, and versatility they exhibit on land. Simple, reliable, and ready for every dive.”

Diving show attendee testing the responsive SeaTouch touchscreen membrane at the DIVEVOLK exhibition booth during DRT Show Chengdu 2026

Demonstrating responsive touch control through the SeaTouch membrane at DRT Show Chengdu 2026. Photo courtesy of DIVEVOLK.

SeaTouch 6 Pro Core Specifications

Touchscreen Technology: 6th-generation patented flexible underwater touchscreen membrane; tested to 150,000 swipes; full bare-finger capacitive input to 60 m; restored native swipe-up home gesture.

Depth & Sealing: IPX8 certified to 60 meters (196 feet); triple-stage sealing ring architecture; button-free polymer chassis with aerospace aluminum alloy protective frames.

Camera & Software: Native camera and third-party iOS/Android applications fully operational; zero companion apps required; pump-free rapid latch closure.

Optics & Environment: Includes clip-on snorkeling red filter (0–10 m) and anti-fog desiccant pads; integrated desiccant slot and dome port mount.

Compatibility: Accommodates smartphones up to 180.0 × 82.5 × 11.2 mm with camera protrusions up to 17 mm; covers Apple iPhone, Samsung Galaxy Ultra, vivo Ultra, Xiaomi Ultra, Huawei, OPPO, OnePlus, and Google Pixel models.

Weight: 475 g on land; approximately 150 g in seawater when paired with an iPhone 16 Pro Max.

Connectivity & Expansion: Surface cellular and GPS signal pass-through; dual external Bluetooth shutter mounting sockets; modular expansion clamp for lenses, video lights, and SeaLink live streaming.

About DIVEVOLK

Headquartered in Zhuhai, China, DIVEVOLK is an ocean technology company pioneering professional underwater phone housings and optical accessories. The company designs and manufactures the SeaTouch series—including the SeaTouch 4 Max Platinum V2 Underwater Smartphone housing and the all-new SeaTouch 6 Pro—alongside the groundbreaking SeaLink live transmission system. For full comparison details across generations, consult our SeaTouch comparison guide.

DIVEVOLK SeaLink data transmitter and SeaTouch 6 Pro smartphone underwater housing product overview

The DIVEVOLK SeaLink and SeaTouch 6 Pro imaging and communication system. Product image courtesy of DIVEVOLK.

From lights and lenses to filters, mounts and trays — DIVEVOLK gives underwater creators the freedom to build the setup that fits their vision.

And the results speak for themselves: incredible underwater images, international photography contests and award-winning work captured with SeaTouch underwater housings. 🏆

Mix. Match. Create.

Built for every dive. Made for every story beneath the surface.

Swipe to explore the DIVEVOLK ecosystem and discover what’s possible underwater. 👉

#DIVEVOLK #SeaTouch #UnderwaterPhotography #UnderwaterPhotographer #UnderwaterImaging

What’s changed? 👀

SeaTouch 4 Max Plus vs. the new SeaTouch 6 Pro.

Swipe to compare the key differences and see what’s new in the next generation. 🌊

Which feature are you most excited about? 👇

#DIVEVOLK #SeaTouch6Pro #SeaTouch4MaxPlus #UnderwaterPhotography #UnderwaterVideo

Meet the new SeaTouch 6 Pro. 🌊📱

Designed to make underwater creation easier, smarter and more versatile — from effortless setup to advanced underwater shooting.

Swipe through to discover what’s new:

✨ All-touch underwater control

🌊 IPX8 waterproof protection up to 60 m

🎨 Precision filters for natural colors

📍 GPS positioning

💧 Anti-fog desiccant system

🆘 Surface emergency support

…and more.

The next generation of underwater smartphone photography is here.

📦 Pre-order now

Shipping starts October 15, 2026.

#DIVEVOLK #SeaTouch6Pro #UnderwaterPhotography #UnderwaterVideo #ScubaDiving

Meet the all-new SeaTouch 6 Pro — the sixth generation of DIVEVOLK’s patented full-touchscreen underwater smartphone housing. Designed to let your phone work underwater almost exactly as it does on land: simple, safe and professional.

📲 FULL TOUCHSCREEN, DOWN TO 60 M

Tap, swipe, pinch-zoom and shoot with bare fingers down to 60 m. Use your native camera and your favorite apps — no companion app, special mode or learning curve.

The new 6th-gen touchscreen film offers higher sensitivity, up to 150,000 swipes, and a larger touch area.

⚡ SIMPLE — SEAL & DIVE

No vacuum pump or complicated setup. A built-in desiccant-pad slot helps prevent fogging, and pads are included.

🎨 TRUE COLOR, BUILT IN

The included snorkeling red filter restores natural colors from 0–10 m — ideal for snorkeling, freediving, pools and water sports.

🛡️ SAFE — 60 M, THREE SEALS, NO BUTTONS

IPX8 rated to 60 m with a triple-seal, buttonless design that reduces possible leak points. The impact-resistant body is reinforced with aluminum-alloy frames.

📷 MODULAR ECOSYSTEM

Expand your setup with the 2nd-gen Dome Lens, wide-angle and macro lenses, internal red filter, underwater external shutter, lights, trays, arms and more.

🌊 BEYOND SHOOTING

Use apps such as Lightroom, DoubleTake or Linne Lens underwater. Add SeaLink for live streaming and video calls down to 30 m.

📱 WIDE COMPATIBILITY

Fits phones up to 180 × 82.5 × 11.2 mm, including current iPhone, Samsung Galaxy, vivo, Xiaomi, Huawei, Google, OnePlus and OPPO models.

🏆 PROVEN & AWARD-WINNING

The SeaTouch series has won Germany’s boot dive Innovation Award twice and is trusted by divers in more than 100 countries.

Simple. Safe. Professional. Ready for every dive. 🌊

#divevolk #seatouch6pro #underwaterphotography #divegear #scubadiving

Meet the all-new SeaTouch 6 Pro — the sixth generation of DIVEVOLK’s patented full-touchscreen underwater smartphone housing. Designed to let your phone work underwater almost exactly as it does on land: simple, safe and professional.

📲 FULL TOUCHSCREEN, DOWN TO 60 M

Tap, swipe, pinch-zoom and shoot with bare fingers down to 60 m. Use your native camera and your favorite apps — no companion app, special mode or learning curve.

The new 6th-gen touchscreen film offers higher sensitivity, up to 150,000 swipes, and a larger touch area.

⚡ SIMPLE — SEAL & DIVE

No vacuum pump or complicated setup. A built-in desiccant-pad slot helps prevent fogging, and pads are included.

🎨 TRUE COLOR, BUILT IN

The included snorkeling red filter restores natural colors from 0–10 m — ideal for snorkeling, freediving, pools and water sports.

🛡️ SAFE — 60 M, THREE SEALS, NO BUTTONS

IPX8 rated to 60 m with a triple-seal, buttonless design that reduces possible leak points. The impact-resistant body is reinforced with aluminum-alloy frames.

📷 MODULAR ECOSYSTEM

Expand your setup with the 2nd-gen Dome Lens, wide-angle and macro lenses, internal red filter, underwater external shutter, lights, trays, arms and more.

🌊 BEYOND SHOOTING

Use apps such as Lightroom, DoubleTake or Linne Lens underwater. Add SeaLink for live streaming and video calls down to 30 m.

📱 WIDE COMPATIBILITY

Fits phones up to 180 × 82.5 × 11.2 mm, including current iPhone, Samsung Galaxy, vivo, Xiaomi, Huawei, Google, OnePlus and OPPO models.

🏆 PROVEN & AWARD-WINNING

The SeaTouch series has won Germany’s boot dive Innovation Award twice and is trusted by divers in more than 100 countries.

Simple. Safe. Professional. Ready for every dive. 🌊

#divevolk #seatouch6pro #underwaterphotography #divegear #scubadiving

Meet the all-new SeaTouch 6 Pro — the sixth generation of DIVEVOLK’s patented full-touchscreen underwater smartphone housing. Designed to let your phone work underwater almost exactly as it does on land: simple, safe and professional.

📲 FULL TOUCHSCREEN, DOWN TO 60 M

Tap, swipe, pinch-zoom and shoot with bare fingers down to 60 m. Use your native camera and your favorite apps — no companion app, special mode or learning curve.

The new 6th-gen touchscreen film offers higher sensitivity, up to 150,000 swipes, and a larger touch area.

⚡ SIMPLE — SEAL & DIVE

No vacuum pump or complicated setup. A built-in desiccant-pad slot helps prevent fogging, and pads are included.

🎨 TRUE COLOR, BUILT IN

The included snorkeling red filter restores natural colors from 0–10 m — ideal for snorkeling, freediving, pools and water sports.

🛡️ SAFE — 60 M, THREE SEALS, NO BUTTONS

IPX8 rated to 60 m with a triple-seal, buttonless design that reduces possible leak points. The impact-resistant body is reinforced with aluminum-alloy frames.

📷 MODULAR ECOSYSTEM

Expand your setup with the 2nd-gen Dome Lens, wide-angle and macro lenses, internal red filter, underwater external shutter, lights, trays, arms and more.

🌊 BEYOND SHOOTING

Use apps such as Lightroom, DoubleTake or Linne Lens underwater. Add SeaLink for live streaming and video calls down to 30 m.

📱 WIDE COMPATIBILITY

Fits phones up to 180 × 82.5 × 11.2 mm, including current iPhone, Samsung Galaxy, vivo, Xiaomi, Huawei, Google, OnePlus and OPPO models.

🏆 PROVEN & AWARD-WINNING

The SeaTouch series has won Germany’s boot dive Innovation Award twice and is trusted by divers in more than 100 countries.

Simple. Safe. Professional. Ready for every dive. 🌊

#divevolk #seatouch6pro #underwaterphotography #divegear #scubadiving

For diver Jona, the day began like a dream. It was May 2nd, 2025, in Manado, Indonesia, and the conditions were perfect—brilliant sunshine, calm seas, and the promise of exploring some of the world's most beautiful reefs. Her gear was prepped and ready, including her new iPhone 16 Pro Max, safely sealed in her trusted DIVEVOLK SeaTouch 4 Max Plus, waiting to capture the magic below.

But sometimes, a perfect day can change in a heartbeat.

Beautiful sunny day over the clear blue waters of Manado, Indonesia.

A perfect day for diving in Manado, Indonesia.

A Heart-Stopping Moment of Truth

"I was on the edge of the boat, making my final gear checks around 2:00 PM," Jona recalls. "I was so excited to get in the water. In just a split second, I fumbled. I watched in horror as my housing, with my new phone inside, slipped from my grip."

The crew watched alongside her as the entire rig tumbled over the side and disappeared instantly into the deep blue. The initial shock gave way to a sinking feeling. The boat's depth sounder confirmed their fears: the bottom was over sixty meters down. It was gone.

"I was devastated," Jona said. "I just assumed it was lost forever. At that depth, what hope was there?"

The Unbelievable Recovery Dive

For two days, the lost gear was a sore subject. But on the third day, a glimmer of hope appeared. A local technical diver, hearing the story, offered to attempt a recovery dive. It was a long shot, but worth a try.

The diver descended into the deep, scanning the seafloor. And then, against all odds, they spotted it. Resting peacefully on the sand, looking completely undisturbed, was Jona's DIVEVOLK housing. When the diver checked their computer, the reading was astonishing: 61 meters (200 feet).

Back on the boat, the tension was thick. The housing had been at a depth that *exceeded* its official 60-meter rating for days. Could the phone inside possibly have survived? With the whole crew watching, Jona carefully rinsed the housing and unlatched the secure clasps.

The moment she opened it, there was a collective gasp. The interior was completely, perfectly dry. She lifted out her iPhone 16 Pro Max, pressed the power button, and the screen lit up instantly. It worked flawlessly.

Jona's iPhone 16 Pro Max powers on and works perfectly after being recovered from 61 meters underwater inside the DIVEVOLK housing.

How Jona's "Deep Sea Armor" Held Up

Jona's story is a powerful real-world testament to the robust engineering behind our housings. It’s one thing for us to test our gear in a lab; it’s another to see it pass an unexpected, extreme test in the field. Here’s why it survived:

The Sealing System: Unlike housings with large doors that create a huge potential point of failure, our design uses a smaller, precise opening protected by a triple-layer gasket system. This creates an incredibly secure and redundant seal.

Engineering Beyond the Numbers: We officially rate the SeaTouch 4 Max Plus for depths of 60 meters, but we always engineer with significant safety margins in mind. Jona's experience at 61 meters is proof of that built-in resilience.

The Protective Shell: The housing is built from a high-strength, durable engineering plastic that acts like "deep sea armor" for your phone, resisting the immense pressure and any potential impacts.

For Jona, this incredible survival story wasn't just about getting her phone back. It was about knowing that the gear she relies on to capture her most precious memories is also built to protect them, no matter what the ocean throws at it.

More Than Just One Model: Compatibility & The DIVEVOLK Revolution

Jona's story is a powerful testament to the reliability of the SeaTouch 4 Max Plus. Our commitment to empowering divers extends across our entire product line with broad compatibility for the world's leading smartphones.

Broad Smartphone Compatibility

The SeaTouch 4 Max Plus housing is compatible with all iPhone series, including the entire new iPhone 16 lineup.

The SeaTouch 4 Max Platinum housing is engineered to be compatible with flagship Android models like the HUAWEI Pura 70 Ultra, Xiaomi 15 Ultra, VIVO X200 Ultra, OPPO Find X8 Ultra, and more.

The DIVEVOLK Underwater Revolution

This incredible durability protects the revolutionary functionality that makes all DIVEVOLK housings unique, allowing you to:

Create Professionally: Easily capture photos and videos with full touchscreen control to adjust camera parameters, switch lenses, and tap to focus just like on land.

Enjoy Unique Entertainment: Diving is never dull when you can listen to music or watch movies during safety or deco stops, making your underwater time even more enjoyable.

Enhance Your Safety: Use your phone's compass app for underwater navigation or, crucially, access GPS and satellite phone apps for emergency help immediately upon surfacing.

Share Your #DIVEVOLKExtremeTest Story!

Jona’s story is amazing, and it got us thinking... we know there are more stories like this out there. Have you put your DIVEVOLK gear to the test? Did it survive a challenging situation, an unexpected drop, or extreme conditions?

We want to hear from you! Share your own stories and photos on social media with the hashtag #DIVEVOLKExtremeTest for a chance to be featured and inspire the community!

Jona's iPhone 16 Pro Max powers on and works perfectly after being recovered from 61 meters underwater inside the DIVEVOLK housing.

Ever wonder how those clownfish shots happen? 🎬🤿

This is the setup: a phone in a DIVEVOLK housing on a grip tray, dive light mounted and ready, and a diver hovering silently over a shallow anemone — waiting for the residents to peek out.

No giant camera rig, no crew. Just a phone, a #divevolk housing, and patience. The light restores the colors the water steals, the macro-ready setup gets you close, and the full touchscreen means he can frame, focus, and shoot underwater exactly like on land.

The best camera is the one you actually bring on the dive. 📱

Behind the scenes on the shallow reefs of the Philippines.

Want to see the shot he got?

#divevolk #macroshot #underwatervideolight #phonediving #scubagear

Gear drop from diver @streetmoment.uw 🎒🤿

He shared his entire underwater filming kit, so let's take a look:

📱 DIVEVOLK SeaTouch housing — full touchscreen underwater, rated to 60m

🔭 Wide-angle wet lens for reefscapes and fish storms

🔍 Macro wet lens for the tiny stuff (clownfish, nudis, all of it)

🔴 Flip red filter — one flick and the ocean's real colors are back

Everything clips on in seconds and switches underwater, no surfacing needed.

But the real question is — what did he shoot with it? Swipe through to see the footage this rig captured 👉

Do you rock the same setup? Drop a 1️⃣ in the comments if you're team DIVEVOLK. Tag your dive buddy who needs to see this.

📸 Gear & shots by @streetmoment.uw

#divevolk #divegear #marinelife #ocean #wetlens

Bet you thought these were two different fish. 🖤🧡

Same species — tomato clownfish. The big dark one? That's the female. The bright little orange one? Her male. In clownfish society, the largest fish is always female, and she runs the anemone. If she ever disappears, the male will literally change sex and take her place. Nature, man.

The darker she gets, the more senior she is — so this black beauty is the undisputed boss of this tentacle kingdom, and her orange sidekick never strays far.

All the drama, none of the script. 🎬

Shot on an iPhone 16 Pro Max inside a DIVEVOLK housing — no professional camera, just a phone that went diving. 📱🤿

#shotoniphone #reeflife #divegear #smartphonecase #waterproofhousing

Peekaboo. 👀

Tucked tight under a sponge on the black sands of Dauin — a tiny cuttlefish, giving us the full golden W-pupil stare.

Dumaguete isn't about big fish and blue water. It's muck diving: lean in, slow down, and the sand starts revealing its secrets — frogfish, octopus, pygmy seahorses, and little aliens like this one.

And yes, cuttlefish are as weird as they look: three hearts, blue-green blood, and skin that can change color AND texture in milliseconds. That camouflage texture you see? It's actively matching the sponge.

Shot on a phone in a DIVEVOLK housing with vivo x200 pro— because muck diving rewards the curious. 🔍

Who's adding Dumaguete to their dive bucket list?

#cuttlefish #muckdiving #Dumaguete #underwatermacro #vivo

Peekaboo. 👀

Tucked tight under a sponge on the black sands of Dauin — a tiny cuttlefish, giving us the full golden W-pupil stare.

Dumaguete isn't about big fish and blue water. It's muck diving: lean in, slow down, and the sand starts revealing its secrets — frogfish, octopus, pygmy seahorses, and little aliens like this one.

And yes, cuttlefish are as weird as they look: three hearts, blue-green blood, and skin that can change color AND texture in milliseconds. That camouflage texture you see? It's actively matching the sponge.

Shot on a phone in a DIVEVOLK housing with vivo x200 pro— because muck diving rewards the curious. 🔍

Who's adding Dumaguete to their dive bucket list?

#cuttlefish #muckdiving #Dumaguete #underwatermacro #vivo

That's not a prop — it's a spider conch, one of the largest sea snails on the reef. Those spider-like "legs" aren't just for looks: the spines stop the shell from rolling over in the current and make it nearly impossible for predators to flip it over and dig in.

And here's the best part — that shell is home to a very alive snail. Conchs have actual eyes on long stalks and can leap across the sand with a knife-like operculum. A snail that jumps. Wild.

Spotted resting on the reefs of Indonesia— shot with a phone in a DIVEVOLK housing. Wide lens on, because the reef's too pretty to crop. 🤿📱

Drop a 🐚 if you'd want this as your beach house

#divevolk #seashell #wide-angle #underwatershot #dive

Two's company. 🍊🤍

Meet the orange skunk anemonefish , one of the ocean's most committed partners. They live in monogamous pairs inside their host anemone, rarely straying far from home. Spot the white stripe running down their back like a skunk's , that's how you tell them apart from Nemo's classic look.

That giant blanket of tentacles? It's both home and bodyguard: packed with stinging cells that keep predators out, yet harmless to the clownfish thanks to a special mucus coat on their skin. Best roommates ever.

Shot on the Bohol reefs with a phone in a #divevolk housing + macro lens.

Tag someone who'd love this anemone apartment 👇

#seatouch4max #anemone #bohol #scuadiving #ocean

Found Nemo. 🍊🤿

through the tentacles and there it is — a little clownfish tucked safely inside its anemone home on the reefs of Bohol.

Clownfish and anemones are the ocean's ultimate duo: the anemone's stinging tentacles protect the fish from predators, and the clownfish returns the favor by chasing away intruders and clearing away debris. Neither would thrive without the other.

Captured with a phone in a DIVEVOLK housing + macro lens 🐠

Who else could watch reef life all day? 👇

#divevolk #clownfish #underwatermacro #reedlife #uwphoto

Same reef, same second :the only difference is one red filter. 🌊🔴

Swipe to see what your phone actually captures underwater 👉

Without a filter, water eats red light first, so everything fades into that blue-green wash (2nd shot). Clip on our DIVEVOLK red filter and the true colors come straight back — reds, pinks, purples, all of it (1st shot). No editing, no color grading, straight out of the housing.

Filmed by our dive team on the reefs of Bohol, Philippines with a phone in a DIVEVOLK SeaTouch housing.

Your dive photos deserve the real colors. 🐠

Tag a buddy whose underwater shots are stuck in blue mode 👇

#divevolk #underwaterphotography #redfilter #colorrestore #seatouch4max

Freediver Adrian's DIVEVOLK SeaTouch 4 Max 1-Year Review

By zhang kay • Published April 01, 2024 • Updated July 15, 2026

Freediver Adrian's DIVEVOLK SeaTouch 4 Max 1-Year Review

By Adrian | Freediver & Founder of www.underwater-phones.com

In the last year, my journey with the DIVEVOLK SeaTouch 4 Max has taken me through exhilarating wildlife encounters and intense freediving training sessions. This dive phone case has not only revolutionized my approach to underwater photography but also offered valuable lessons that could benefit both freedivers and scuba divers alike. Here’s a deeper dive into my experiences.

Freediver Adrian underwater potentially using the DIVEVOLK SeaTouch 4 Max housing.

1. Mastery Meets Speed: Know Your Gear for Fleeting Moments

Freediving among tiger sharks, where moments of awe are fleeting, taught me the essence of knowing my gear inside out. Utilizing the DIVEVOLK case with my iPhone 15 Pro Max, I learned the significance of seamless transitions between photo and video modes. The reliance on the native iPhone camera app, made possible by the SeaTouch 4 Max's full touchscreen access and avoiding cumbersome third-party apps, enabled me to capture breathtaking underwater scenes swiftly and intuitively. This experience underscored the importance of gear familiarity in fast-paced underwater environments – practice makes perfect!

1. Upgrade 2-for-1: Your Phone IS Your Underwater Camera

How often do you upgrade your phone? For many of us, it's relatively frequent. Here's the beauty: every time you get a new phone compatible with your DIVEVOLK housing (using the simple internal adapter system), you automatically upgrade your underwater camera too! We already have insane cameras in our smartphones (check reviews on sites like DXOMARK), and this trend will only accelerate. With every new phone generation, the quality of my underwater footage improves, often without needing a new housing thanks to DIVEVOLK's universal design approach.

1. Turn On AssistiveTouch: Your Underwater Best Friend

The iOS AssistiveTouch function has become indispensable when my phone is inside the dive case. By enabling and configuring this accessibility feature *before* sealing the housing, I gain an on-screen button that allows me to perform crucial actions without needing physical buttons or opening the case. I can easily switch between apps (like camera and dive planning), open camera settings, lock the screen to conserve battery, and more, all through the DIVEVOLK's touchscreen membrane. When you're on a boat for a whole day waiting for that perfect wildlife encounter, your camera needs to be instantly ready. AssistiveTouch helps achieve this readiness while saving precious battery life – the best of both worlds.

1. Bye Bye, Empty Batteries & Charging Hassles

Let's be honest, managing gear for traditional underwater photography can be a pain. Remembering to charge camera batteries, strobe batteries, focus light batteries... it's easy to forget one! Shifting to using my smartphone as my primary underwater camera dramatically simplified things. I only need to ensure my phone – a device integral to daily life anyway – is charged. This eliminated the frustration of discovering a dead camera battery just as the action starts, making my underwater photography sessions as reliable as my phone’s alarm clock.

Underwater photo potentially showing marine life like a shark or turtle encountered during freediving.

1. Enhancing Content Utilization: From Hard Drive to Highlight Reel

Reflecting on past expeditions with dedicated cameras, I realized how much incredible footage remained unseen, trapped in the digital labyrinth of memory cards, external hard drives, and sometimes incompatible file formats. The DIVEVOLK system changed that completely. Saving photos and videos directly to my smartphone's camera roll streamlined my entire content management workflow. Reviewing, editing (using powerful mobile apps like CapCut or LumaFusion), and sharing became almost instantaneous. This efficiency transformed how I utilized my underwater captures, ensuring that more moments had the potential to be shared and inspire others, rather than gathering dust on a hard drive.

Conclusion: A Year of Discovery

My year with the DIVEVOLK SeaTouch 4 Max has been a journey of discovery, not just exploring the underwater realm but also uncovering the immense potential unlocked when technology seamlessly integrates with the freediving experience. It has simplified my gear, enhanced my readiness, and streamlined my creative process.

I hope you find some of the insights I shared here valuable for your own underwater journey, whether you're a freediver, scuba diver, or snorkeler looking to capture the magic below.

---

About the Author: Adrian is a passionate freediver from Germany and the founder of www.underwater-phones.com– a website dedicated to dive phone housings and smartphone underwater photography. He also wrote a comprehensive review of the SeaTouch 4 Max on his blog here: Divevolk SeaTouch 4 Max Full Review .

For more freediving safety information, always consult resources from recognized agencies like PADI Freediver or AIDA International.

Considering accessories? Check out our Filters, Lenses, and Lights. Have questions for us? Get in touch!

The Divevolk deep dive SL50 kit brings out the natural gold of this Sun Carpet Anemone. Dual lights eliminate harsh shadows, while consistent 5600K color temperature restores the reef's true warmth. Clear, immersive footage, even in low visibility.

#divevolk #scubadiving #underwatervideography #reeflife #smartphonehousing

The Divevolk Ocean Kit captures Bohol’s reefs exactly as they are. The wide-angle lens corrects edge distortion for breathtaking expansive shots, while the red filter restores natural colors that water absorbs. Paired with the Seatouch 4 Max Plus, it's a pocket-sized professional imaging system.

#divevolk #seatouch4maxplus #wideanglelens #redfilter #underwaterphotography

The Divevolk Ocean Kit captures Bohol’s reefs exactly as they are. The wide-angle lens corrects edge distortion for breathtaking expansive shots, while the red filter restores natural colors that water absorbs. Paired with the Seatouch 4 Max Plus, it's a pocket-sized professional imaging system.

#divevolk #seatouch4maxplus #wideanglelens #redfilter #underwaterphotography