The revolutionary waterproof phone case by DIVEVOLK

Say Hello to the most robust waterproof phone case out there! DIVEVOLK has revolutionised the smartphone housing market with the SeaTouch 4 Max case and after more than a year of testing, we have put together a comprehensive product review, answering all your questions!

In the pursuit of adventure and exploration, our smartphones have become indispensable tools, providing us with navigational aids, communication, and the ability to capture cherished memories. However, the fear of water damage has always loomed over these pocket-sized wonders, limiting their use in aquatic environments. With most of the waterproof phone cases merely being plastic pouches, no wonder nobody comes to the idea of actually taking their phone underwater. 

 

How is this waterproof phone case different to any other?

The SeaTouch 4 Max is the first and only full touchscreen smartphone housing. The front of the case has a gel membrane, which is encompassed by a harder bottom film and a very strong and stretchable top film. With this patented technology, you can access all the functions of your phone while it is sealed inside the case. You can place phone calls, send messages and use literally all the apps on your phone.  

This makes the case perfect for taking photos and videos in the water! You can do that with the native camera app of your phone, which you are already familiar with, so there is no need to learn how to use new apps. Alternatively, if you are into photography, you can also use more powerful photo and videos apps underwater such as Filmic Pro and ProMovie. 

 

How waterproof is this phone case?

You would be surprised to find out that the housing is waterproof up to 60m/200ft! It has a triple-layered sealing gasket and a very slim opening structure, which minimise the area of sealing (and the risk of leaking). The fact that there are no buttons on the housing also make the whole construction very secure. Our team has tested the case regularly up to 45 m/147 ft depth!

 

For swimming and snorkelling

The SeaTouch 4 Max is perfect for capturing your happy aquatic moments! It comes with a wrist strap and getting started just takes a minute. Insert your phone, seal it in and plunge in! Best of all, your photos and videos will be saved directly on your phone, ready to be shared with your friends and family!

There is also a dome port, which can be clipped onto the housing, which allows you to take ultra wide-angle shots as well as split photos (above and below water). 

 

 

For scuba diving

You don’t need a big camera anymore to take amazing underwater photos and videos. You actually don’t even need an action camera either. Your smartphone is so powerful and now you can take it on all your dives with you!

DIVEVOLK has complete kits for underwater photography and our personal recommendation is to get your hands on some strong video lights, to really elevate your photos and videos. If you intend to shoot anything below 5m/16ft you need to bear in mind that colour gets very quickly absorbed with depth. This is why, in order to bring out the colours of the reef and have vivid photos and videos, we need to bring our own light. 

For the best light distribution, like in the photo below, two 5000 lumen lights would give amazing results. If you are just starting out, don’t get intimidated by the whole set up! Just start with the housing and take joy in filming. You can always add more accessories, upgrade your rig and get more powerful lights with time, when you see for yourself what the right combination for you is 🙂

A bonus feature for scuba divers is that you can use the phone on the surface for signalling, in case there is an emergency and you need to make a phone call. In addition to that, you can use your phone between dives without taking it out from the case and getting it wet. The special engineering plastic doesn’t block out cell phone signals, so you can also connect to WiFi, Bluetooth and even wirelessly charge your phone!

 

For tec & cave diving 

The DIVEVOLK waterproof phone case is probably one of the best companions for tec and cave divers. You can now make your deco stops more enjoyable by entertaining yourself with your smartphone! Simply clip it to the line or hold it next to your dive computer to easily monitor your depth. All you have to do is download your favourite movie, series, podcast or audiobook and you will pass the waiting time very quickly!

 

Connect your DSLR camera and turn your phone into a video monitor

With the housing’s full touchscreen function, you can now seamlessly access any apps on your phone, including those specific to your DSLR such as Canon Camera Connect, Nikon SnapBridge, Sony Imaging Edge Mobile, and other third-party apps like Monitor+. Additionally, the SeaLink feature overcomes the challenge of underwater Wi-Fi signal transmission, establishing a robust connection between your DSLR and smartphone. As a result, your phone effectively transforms into an underwater monitor or remote control for your DSLR, enabling enhanced use for your underwater videography.

 

Compatibility and convenience

The DIVEVOLK waterproof phone case is designed to cater to a wide range of smartphone brands and models. The housing itself is universal. Inside it, holding the smartphone is position is a small tray. So when you order your case, you just need to select your phone model and you will receive the respective adapter. The beauty of this concept is that if you should switch phones or upgrade to a new model, you can still use your housing. You can easily order a new tray and have the newest phone camera in the same housing!

 

Does it get overheated and exhaust the battery faster?

Because of the full touchscreen technology, the case does not require Bluetooth to connect to the phone. Thus, unlike with other waterproof phone cases, your phone will not overheat in the SeaTouch 4 Max. We have tested the housing on full day dive trips and liveaboards and the battery life of the phone is practically the same irrespective of the housing. 

 

Do I need to take off my screen protector every time I use the waterproof case?

It is highly recommended to remove the screen protector from your phone before inserting it in the case. Because of the slim design of the case, adding a tempered glass protector to some of the thicker phone models might cause it to get stuck inside the housing. Also, thinner, plastic screen protectors, which are soft can very easily stick to the back of the membrane, making it very difficult to pull the phone back out. Luckily, there are reusable, dual-sided screen protectors, such as this protective case.

 

Does the touchscreen work in cold water and with gloves?

The touchscreen does work in cold water, however the phone itself might be an issue rather than the housing. We tested the housing in the glacier lakes of Iceland and the housing worked fine, however the phone froze. The same happened to the 3 action cameras we had. Their batteries either froze and stopped working or the housings leaked, because the O-rings shrank from the cold. We haven’t experienced any leakage with the DIVEVOLK SeaTouch 4 Max in any water conditions 🙂

You will be able to use the housing with wet/neoprene gloves, though bear in mind that the sensitivity of the phone screen itself will be reduced due to the cold. Because of the insulated material of dry gloves you would need to have a conductive cot (or conductive when wet) in order to operate the touchscreen. DIVEVOLK has a really neat solution to that – you can get a little finger cot, which stretches to fit any glove size.

 

Does the DIVEVOLK waterproof phone case ever get foggy?

The housing is designed in such a way, that when the phone and tray are inserted in the case, there is very little space for air. This, reduced the likelihood of any potential fogging. Our tip: Keep your phone case sealed even when not in use so no water can come it. In case humidity should creep into your housing, leave it open in an air-conditioned room so it can dry completely before using it again.

What is more, you do not need to take your phone out of the housing between dives, thus no humidity can come in. You can, of course, use all the functions of your phone even when it’s inside this waterproof case.

 

Are there filters for the case?

There is a red filter for blue water and a purple filter for green water. Those are easily attached to the lens adapter, which is designed to be effortlessly moved in front of and away from the camera lens. In addition to that, the filters are double threaded, so you can use them in combination with any of the wet lenses (wide angle, macro and super macro).

 

Exclusive on Dive into Life

When you order your phone case directly from DIVEVOLK through the Dive into Life affiliate link, you not only get -6% discount, but also a free protective case, perfect for the beach or boat. For orders over 500USD, you get a free travel case and the brand new L-shaped bracket for your tray!