Approaching this too casually?

James809 wrote:

Leave your iPhone on the surface. Get a used Canon or Sony camera, and corresponding waterproof hardshell housing. Yes, you won't be able to send the photos to social media right away, but your phone also won't be lost in case there's a leak in the case. The kit is still fairly small and travels well, too.

The issue for me isn’t social media immediacy. It’s having a small overall kit with minimal niche parts. another major camera does not interest me (on top of the Fuji and Panasonic bodies I already have), and if I have to buy another piece of gear, I’d like it to serve a purpose beyond the few days a year I’m in the ocean.

I’ve decided to get a GoPro Hero 8. I’ve never had an action cam, but I like that it can do super stabilized video and take decent enough pics underwater. It’s super compact/portable as well, so it can serve many random functions (dash-cam, time lapse, etc). And this new model doesn’t need housing or anything.

Like I said: my goal is to find the simplest solution to my basic desire for casual underwater pics - not to actually, properly get into diving or underwater photography. It’s like buying snorkel gear: I’m not gonna do that for the few vacations that might necessitate it, largely because I don’t want to pack and travel with more things. First and foremost I’m a minimalist one-bag carry-on traveler. My camera kit reflects this. I still wish there was a solution with my phone.

Actually I wish there were housings and kits to rent at the water, where I could even just use my SD card!