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Underwater Cameras – Where, How, Why

Underwater cameras are becoming an increasingly popular addition to boats and yachts of all sizes. Whether you’re into fishing, a ‘go fast’ enthusiast, or simply want to enjoy the marine environment around your vessel, an underwater camera is a brilliant addition.

This article explores why boat owners choose to install underwater cameras, where they are typically mounted, how they are used, and what is involved in installing one.

As always though, if you have any questions after reading the article, feel free to give us a call!

Why Install an Underwater Camera?

The short answer, is it gives you a completely new perspective. Watching live video of what’s going on beneath the waterline gives you a new level of awareness. 

Enjoy the Marine Environment

One of the biggest attractions of an underwater camera is the ability to watch the fish. Fish, dolphins, and other sea life are often drawn to vessels when underwater lights are in use. 

Fishing and Scouting

For sport fishing enthusiasts an underwater cameras provides a unique advantage. They  help you observe activity, monitor bait, and see exactly what is happening below the surface. Some owners even use cameras to capture footage of fish striking or to document their catches. 

Checking Equipment 

Underwater cameras can also allow you to visually inspect your propellers, rudders, and other underwater hardware without entering the water. This can be useful for quickly checking for rope fouling, debris, or other hazards.

Increased Awareness and Security

On larger vessels, underwater cameras can provide additional awareness of what is happening around the hull. Monitoring the underwater area can help identify hazards or unusual activity near the vessel.

Where Are Underwater Cameras Installed?

Underwater cameras are designed to be mounted into the hull of the vessel, sitting flush or almost flush on the running surface.
Common Installation Locations

Transom Mounting

The transom is one of the most popular installation locations. From this position the camera can look aft to capture activity behind the boat, including fish or docking hazards in unknown areas.

Hull Side Mounting

Cameras can also be mounted on the sides of the hull to capture views along the length of the vessel. This is particularly useful for watching marine life but isn’t as common as transom mounting.

Near Propellers or Running Gear

Some owners choose to install cameras where they can view the propellers or stern gear. This allows quick visual checks if vibration or fouling is suspected.

Installation Basics

Underwater cameras are designed to be durable and relatively straightforward to install…

Hull Installation

Most models are installed through the hull using a small cut-out hole. For example, our EYES Leisure Marine Camera requires just a 35 mm (1.4 inch) hole for the body, allowing it to be flush-mounted almost anywhere on the hull. 
The camera housing is sealed and built from corrosion-resistant marine materials to withstand the underwater environment.

Power and Cabling

Typical systems operate on a 12V DC power supply and use a cable run from the camera to the display or video system onboard. 

Depending on the model, video output may be:

  • HD-SDI or composite video

  • HDMI via a converter

  • IP / Ethernet output for networked systems

Viewing the Camera Feed

Once installed, the camera feed can be viewed in several ways:

  • On a dedicated onboard monitor

  • Integrated into the boat’s existing MFD

  • On smartphones, tablets, or computers connected to the vessel’s network (on IP camera systems)

This makes it easy for both crew and guests to enjoy the underwater view.

Are all Underwater Cameras the same?

No, just like anything else, you will find good, great, bad and just plain ugly. You can often tell how good an underwater camera is and what it’s been built for by looking at the spec. 

For example, at OceanLED we have two underwater cameras. One is specifically for the leisure market, everything from centre consoles and Viking Sport Fishing boats, through to sailing yachts with GRP hulls. The other is designed for superyachts. Very high spec, weld-in design and the size of a small fire extinguisher.

To illustrate the point, here is a quick summary of two very different underwater cameras: 

EYES Leisure Marine Camera (Leisure Boats)

  • Full 1080p high-definition video output

  • Ultra-wide field of view for greater coverage

  • Excellent low-light performance

  • Plug-and-play connectivity

  • Compact design requiring only a 35 mm (1.4 inch) hull cut-out 

EYES Superyacht Camera (for superyacht with a metal hull)

  • 4K ultra-high-definition video with a 9.2-megapixel sensor

  • Ultra-wide viewing angle

  • Extreme low-light capability

  • Adjustable internal angling to suit different hull shapes

  • IP PoE network connectivity for viewing anywhere onboard 


With network connectivity, the camera feed can be accessed from smartphones, tablets, or computers connected to the yacht’s Wi-Fi network, allowing guests and crew to watch the underwater environment from anywhere on the vessel. 

Final Thoughts

If you are considering investing in an underwater camera, speak to us. The team are happy to answer any of your questions.
You can find out more about OceanLED underwater cameras here.