FitStill GoPro Underwater Housing

The FitStill GoPro Underwater Housing punches above its $40 price tag — it doubles the depth rating of cheaper alternatives and fits the entire Hero 9 through 13 range, making it the budget pick for divers who want their GoPro at recreational scuba depths.

At this price, the FitStill competes with the TELESIN housing ($22) and the official GoPro Protective Housing ($70-80). It splits the difference neatly: more depth rating and better construction than the TELESIN, less polish than the GoPro-branded option, but at half the cost. For Australian divers who already own a GoPro and want to film everything from Great Barrier Reef wall dives to wreck penetrations on the ex-HMAS Brisbane, $40 gets you surprisingly far.

## Overview

The FitStill housing is a polycarbonate waterproof case rated to 60 metres, designed for GoPro Hero 9, 10, 11, 12, and 13 cameras. It features a flat glass lens port, mechanical buttons for all camera controls, a protective lens cover, and a touch-through back panel for accessing the GoPro's rear touchscreen.

The 60-metre depth rating is the headline specification and the key advantage over cheaper housings that typically max out at 40-45 metres. That extra depth headroom covers virtually every recreational dive site in Australia, including deeper wreck dives like the SS Yongala (sits at 28 metres but often approached from deeper), the Loch Ard Peacock (30+ metres), and the Navy wrecks scattered along the east coast. Operating within a housing's rated depth rather than at its limit provides a genuine safety margin.

The glass lens port is a meaningful upgrade over the acrylic ports found on sub-$30 housings. Glass is harder, resists scratching better, and produces slightly sharper images due to better optical properties. For underwater video where clarity matters — filming reef sharks at Osprey Reef or documenting nudibranch behaviour at Blairgowrie Pier — the glass port makes a visible difference compared to scratched-up plastic alternatives.

The touch-through back panel lets you access the GoPro's touchscreen without opening the housing. In practice, it works about 80% of the time — responsiveness drops underwater compared to surface use, and gloves reduce sensitivity further. It's useful for changing modes between dives on the boat but shouldn't be relied upon mid-dive. Physical buttons for power, shutter, and mode switching are available and more reliable.

Compared to the TELESIN housing, the FitStill offers a deeper rating (60 m versus 45 m), a glass lens port, and slightly more substantial construction. Against the official GoPro Protective Housing, the FitStill gives up some fit-and-finish quality but adds a touch-through back panel and the protective lens cover — features GoPro doesn't include at nearly twice the price.

## Key Features

- Polycarbonate construction rated to 60 metres - Compatible with GoPro Hero 9, 10, 11, 12, and 13 - Flat glass lens port for improved optical clarity - Removable protective lens cover for surface transport - Touch-through rear panel for touchscreen access - Mechanical buttons for power, shutter, and mode - Standard GoPro mount base - Single o-ring perimeter seal - Includes anti-fog inserts (12 pack) - Weight: approximately 90 g empty

## The Good

- **60-metre depth rating covers all recreational diving with margin**: You won't need to worry about exceeding the housing's rating on any standard dive in Australian waters. The safety margin at typical 15-25 metre reef dives is comfortable, and even deeper wreck dives remain well within specification. - **Glass lens port noticeably improves image quality over plastic alternatives**: Side-by-side comparisons show sharper footage with better colour fidelity from the glass port. The coating also resists the fine scratches that degrade plastic ports after a season of use. - **Protective lens cover is a practical inclusion**: The removable cover protects the glass port during transport, boat rides, and surface intervals. Small detail, big impact — a scratched lens port ruins every frame of footage, and this prevents that. - **Broad GoPro compatibility spans five generations**: One housing covers Hero 9 through 13, which means you can upgrade your camera without replacing the housing. Given the pace of GoPro releases, this longevity matters. - **Anti-fog inserts are generously supplied**: Twelve inserts in the box means you're covered for many dive trips before needing replacements. Fogging is the most common image quality issue with budget housings in Australia's humid conditions, and having inserts ready prevents ruined footage.

## The Bad

- **Touch-through panel is inconsistent**: Works well enough on the surface but becomes unreliable underwater, particularly with wet fingers or any kind of glove. Plan to use the physical buttons for mid-dive adjustments rather than relying on touchscreen access. - **Single o-ring seal requires meticulous maintenance**: Like all budget housings, there's one seal between your $500 camera and the ocean. Inspect the o-ring before every dive, remove any debris, and apply silicone grease regularly. One grain of sand is all it takes to flood the housing. - **Flat port creates underwater distortion at edges**: Wide-angle GoPro footage shows noticeable barrel distortion and colour fringing at the frame edges due to refraction through the flat glass port. Centre-frame footage is sharp, but the periphery suffers. A dome port would fix this but doesn't exist at this price point. - **Build quality is functional but not confidence-inspiring**: The latch mechanism works but doesn't have the reassuring click of premium housings. The polycarbonate feels adequate rather than robust. Treating it carefully extends its life; rough handling on dive boats will shorten it.

## Verdict

The FitStill GoPro Housing is the sweet spot for budget-conscious Australian divers who want to film at proper scuba depths. The 60-metre rating, glass lens port, and broad GoPro compatibility make it the best-value housing option for recreational diving. It demands the same o-ring discipline as any budget housing — inspect, clean, grease, inspect again — but divers who maintain that habit will get reliable service across hundreds of dives. It's the right choice for divers filming reef dives, wreck tours, and marine life encounters who don't want to spend more than the absolute minimum on a housing. It's the wrong choice if you need professional-grade reliability for paid underwater cinematography or deep technical diving where equipment failure has serious consequences. At $40, it's practically disposable — but with proper care, it doesn't need to be.

Star Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆ (3.5/5)