This article will discuss the best drones for water sport such as kitesurfing, kayaking, boating, sailing, and jetskiing on the market.
Most importantly, we’ll tell you how to fly and film beautiful footage with a drone, go over each sport in detail, walk you through the best practices, and provide you with advice.
The first thing you might want to know is: “do you need a waterproof drone to film water sports?” Well, the truth is, you don’t need a waterproof drone to film water sports. However, having the assurance that a drone would not be lost if it lands in water by accident is quite beneficial.
Table of Contents
Top 5 Best Drones For Water Sports
PowerEgg X Waterproof Drones – Best Drones for Boating
If you want to shoot high-quality images and films in a wet environment, the PowerVision PowerEgg X Wizard Edition waterproof camera drone is ideal.
With this water sports drone, you don’t have to worry about rain, splashing, or even a brief submersion because the drone is completely waterproof.
It also comes with water-landing floats, allowing you to make amazing recordings directly on the water’s surface.
This waterproof quadcopter’s flight performance is quite excellent, and it is sure to please even the most discerning consumers.
The motor drives four strong rotors that provide outstanding horizontal and vertical thrust.
The PowerEgg can reach a top speed of 40 miles per hour and a maximum height of 2.5 miles.
You can alter and tweak the settings on both the drone and the camera placed on it using the smart remote controller.
The system has a maximum of 3.7 miles and employs dual navigation (GPS and GLONASS).
PowerVision also offers the user-friendly Vision+ smartphone app, which works on both Android and iOS, for those who want to fly the drone using their phone.
One of the best features of this quadcopter is that it comes with two batteries.
In this manner, you may easily change the battery and keep flying without waiting for it to recharge.
Each battery has a 3,500 mAh and can fly for up to 30 minutes.
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DJI Mavic 2 Zoom – Best Drone for Kitesurfing
The Mavic 2 Zoom is one of the best drones for water sport. Like its predecessor, it uses a pretty average 1/ 2.3″ CMOS sensor with 12 million pixels (4000 x 3000) while shooting photos.
The optical zoom lens in front of it is unique in that it allows you to change the field of vision from 83 to a considerably narrower 48.
The DJI Mavic 2 Zoom is controlled via a finger wheel on the remote’s shoulder, and the framing is shown in the live view.
The app also has a comprehensive set of photography modes, including exposure bracketing (3 or 5 photos), burst mode, interval shooting, manual control, and raw shooting so that most photographers will be well-equipped.
There is also a slew of well-implemented features that should please post-production fans (particularly those who like to have the post-production done for them).
The DJI software makes the superb panoramas, which turns the drone for you and then stitches the shots together.
Hyperlight (akin to long exposure) and HDR, both processed onboard, are also available with the Mavic 2.
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Swellpro Spry Plus – Best Waterproof Drone for Kayaking
SwellPRO’s Swellpro Spry+ is a well-designed waterproof drone. The Swellpro Spry+ has the world’s first waterproof remote controller, which can be used in the rain, in the sea, and even underwater.
The joysticks, built-in monitor, and all switches are water-resistant and will operate smoothly and precisely.
The Swellpro Spry+ has a 4K rotating camera inside a toughened glass dome that gives great transparency without distortion and allows the drone’s camera to be waterproof, making it unique among drones.
Unlike other drones, you can land on the water’s surface and liftoff precisely with no difficulties.
The Swellpro Spry plus is a fast sports drone with top-quality propellers and motors, making it ideal for anyone searching for a sports waterproof drone with other amazing drone attributes.
The Spry Plus also performs an excellent job of flying steadily in all types of weather, from calm to windy.
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DJI Mavic 2 Pro
The folding design of the Mavic 2 Pro is carried over from its predecessor. As a result, the drone’s travel footprint is nearly halved, making it the most compact drone with a one-inch sensor available.
The front arms must be turned out, and the back arms must be twisted up and into position before folding. One of four propellers resides on each arm.
The gimbal and camera are situated at the front/bottom of the Mavic 2 Pro’s main body, which is tiny and rectangular.
When the drone is sitting on the ground, the camera and gimbal benefit from an elevated posture, which provides more ground clearance for take-off and landing.
Because there isn’t much room, it’s a good idea to use a landing mat while taking off and landing on damp grass, for example, so the camera lens doesn’t get wet when the gimbal automatically calibrates when the drone is turned on.
Simply push and hold the button on the top of the battery that snaps neatly into place at the top of the drone to turn it on.
To turn on the controller, press and hold the power button momentarily before pushing and holding it again.
Don’t forget to link your smartphone to the drone through the DJI Go 4 app, which gives you access to the drone’s settings, camera control, and camera view.
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DJI Mini 2 – Best Mini Portable Drone for Water Sport
It isn’t easy to overstate how much the tweak in the controller improved the Mini 2 packaging.
The first Mini had a plastic fold-out model with a video game feel, but the new Mini 2 version has more heaviness and is more durable.
Aside from the toggles, there’s an RTH/pause button on the front face, as well as a switch for the three flying modes and two small function buttons.
It’s spotless, just like the drone, and gives the operator confidence.
The drone is a copy of the Mavic Mini, featuring fold-out arms. DJI claims that you can get 31 minutes out of this model; however, with a return to home auto feature that kicks in with 25% power remaining, you can only get 23 minutes of flying time per battery.
It’s an excellent reason to acquire the Fly More Combo because it comes with three batteries, giving you well over an hour of total flight time.
When it comes to power, the controller has plenty with a 5,200 mAh battery, albeit it does take a bit to charge.
One more point: the SD card is located on the drone’s back, making it easy to reach.
A USB-C connector is also available for charging while on the move.
Also, while the Mini 2 lacks forward and backward obstacle avoidance sensors, it does feature a pair beneath it that responds to the ground when landing.
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Tips for Kayaking Drone Shot
Flying a drone from a kayak is quite dangerous for your drone, so either fly a waterproof drone that can float or use a smaller, less expensive drone that still performs well.
If you’re alone in a kayak, here’s how to fly a drone:
- Unless you have a really large and level surface in front of you, you must launch the drone from your hand. To get the drone aloft, click the launch button (on DJI drones), then slowly increase the throttle stick once the blades start spinning.
- Please do not attempt to return the drone to its original location because you have most likely relocated. If you can’t see the drone, use the mini-map in the corner of the map to guide it to your location.
- When landing, use a drone with a motor fail system, which means that if you turn it, the motors will stop immediately. Now you must try to grasp the drone firmly in your hands and quickly turn it to one side.
Air-grabbing a drone is only possible on a few drones. Therefore it is recommended to get a smaller drone.
Tips for Boating Drone Shot
If we’re not talking about a gigantic cruise ship, you’ll have to do it from your hand if you’re on a smaller boat. This means that you must perfect the technique before attempting it on a boat.
The following are the steps for flying a drone from a boat (and landing):
- Use a tiny drone or one with legs (like a DJI Phantom).
- Press the launch button while holding the drone parallel to the water in your hand.
The props will begin to revolve. Move the throttle stick up gradually but quickly enough for the drone to take off successfully within a few seconds. - Make sure to get a safe height and distance from the boat as soon as possible.
- If you’re landing, make sure you’re wearing gloves, so you don’t get hurt by the propellers.
- Hover the drone above your head, close enough for you to catch it. Hold it firmly to the side from beneath, trying to avoid the rotating propellers from its main body.
Tipping the drone to the side will halt the motors as a failsafe. Most drones have them, although some of the larger ones, such as the Mavic 2, don’t appear to have them.
Also, please don’t do it with a drone the size of a Phantom. This feature is only available on smaller Mavics, such as the DJI Mini 2, Mavic Air 2, Mavic Pro, and Spark.
Always test this on land first to check whether it works and ensure you’re wearing appropriate safety equipment.
When it comes to flying a drone while boating, there are a few things to keep in mind.
- Make sure the return to home is set to the controller’s location or to hover (so the drone doesn’t crash into the water when it attempts to return home).
- When launching the drone, keep in mind the boat’s motion.
- Make sure there aren’t any seagulls in the area. Drones are known to be bullied by them.
Tips for Kitesurfing Drone Shot
- Get a sunshade for your controller. It will greatly assist you in framing your shots and preventing mishaps.
- Get ND filters. They may make or break your movie, and I strongly advise you to adhere to the 360-degree shutter rule.
- Film at sunset or sunrise. Sun and wind are linked with kitesurfing; however, keep in mind that we’re attempting to capture footage here so that the sun may be a major issue. Capturing footage during the golden hour will dramatically impact the final product.
- Have a spotter. This is a life-saving suggestion. A buddy who keeps track of the drone’s whereabouts at all times while you concentrate on getting those incredible images.
- It’s critical to understand what a water kite is built of. As a drone pilot, the essential thing to remember is the collection of lines known as “flying lines” and the “Kite sail.”
- Fly your drone at least 120 feet above because the lines can range in length from 21 to 90 feet (7 to 27 meters).
When there isn’t enough wind, surfers will do a maneuver known as a “kite lift,” which elevates the surfer from the ocean’s surface and lifts him for a few seconds above the water, boosting the total height attainable by a few meters.
Activate sport mode or get a drone with powerful brushless motors and high maximum speeds to prepare your drone for windy situations.
How To Choose a Waterproof Drone for Kayaking, Water Surfing & Boating?
Waterproof vs. Water-Resistant Drones
Because you’ll see these phrases a lot in product descriptions, it’s crucial to know what they all imply because they provide significantly varying amounts of water protection.
Waterproof drones have their internal components entirely sealed, allowing them to be submerged in water without being damaged.
Water-resistant drones, on the other hand, are not sealed. They instead feature a minimal amount of water resistance that allows them to endure light rain or a splash.
On the other hand, a full submersion will almost likely harm them since the increasing pressure will drive water through the seals.
If you want to fly the drone on clear days over firm ground, a water-resistant model (generally less expensive) is a good choice.
However, if you want to use it for fishing or underwater photography, we recommend looking for the best waterproof drones with cameras (like the Splash Drone 3 Plus or the PowerEgg).
Always examine the specs, item description, and user reviews of a particular model before making a selection to determine if it’s truly waterproof or merely water-resistant.
Check to see if the waterproof quadcopter is meant for freshwater or saltwater and if it can land safely on the water’s surface.
Additional Features
While water resistance is the most important feature, you’ll also want your new water drone to have additional characteristics that make it more pleasant.
These include a waterproof camera for the drone, well-made controls, and innovative features to enhance the flying experience.
If this is your first drone, look for features that make it easier to use (return-to-home, headless flying, or 6-axis gyro).
The drone receives a signal from the return-to-home option on the remote that it needs to return to the starting position, and it does so fully automatically.
Inexperienced users will like the headless flying option, making piloting the drone much easier.
To summarize, regardless of the waterproofing drone’s present position in the air, you may move it in the precise direction you press on the remote. In this regard, a 6-axis gyro greatly simplifies placement and handling.
In addition to the qualities we’ve discussed, experienced drone pilots value GPS functionality, which is why many advanced waterproof drones for water come with dual-navigation compatibility.
If you intend to use your drone for fishing and bait delivery, be sure to carry objects and have a large payload capacity.
For photography and videography, you’ll need a waterproof drone with a camera or an underwater drone that’s GoPro compatible to get high-quality images and films.
Furthermore, certain waterproof drones will let you connect with a bespoke camera that meets your requirements.
Flight Time
Like any other drone, your waterproof quadcopter has to have a good range and flying duration.
This varies a lot from one model to the next and is determined by two factors: battery capacity and controller range.
The flying time might range from 5 to over 30 minutes, depending on the model you pick. Keep in mind, however, that external variables might influence this.
The flying duration of your drone will be substantially decreased if it is carrying weight or has to contend with high wind or rain.
Final Words
If you enjoy filming water sports, owning one of the best waterproof drones for water sports can truly elevate your flying experience.
Because these machines aren’t inexpensive, you should carefully consider the features and specifications of each model to ensure that it meets your needs.
We hope that our instructions and reviews assisted you in doing so, so that you may enjoy your new drone no matter what the circumstances or weather conditions are.
FAQs
Q: How Should I Look After My Drone?
If you want your drone to last a long time, you’ll need to take good care of it. While it’s normal to fly it as soon as possible after receiving it, you must read the directions thoroughly.
This will show you how to put it together properly, so it doesn’t get destroyed, as well as how to get the most out of it while it’s up in the air.
When flying your drone, be sure to follow the manufacturer’s limitations and restrictions on flight circumstances, weather conditions, and terrain.
This will guarantee that you’re properly operating your drone so that it doesn’t get damaged, voiding the warranty.
Take some time before each flying session to examine your drone and make sure the motors and propellers are free of trash and impediments.
Of course, avoid flying near power lines, crowds, airplanes, and restricted places such as airports and national parks, just as you would with any other drone.
Finally, after utilizing the waterproof drones in saltwater, make sure to clean them with fresh water.
As you may be aware, Salt may cause corrosion on delicate metal parts, resulting in the eventual destruction of your drone.
What Can I Do With A Water-Resistant Drone?
The possibilities are unlimited with a water-resistant drone. Waterproof drones are extremely adaptable gadgets that may be used on almost any surface and in any weather. Hobbyists, professionals, and even industrial applications employ them.
In addition, you may shoot your outdoor activities with your rain-proof drone, such as kayaking, boating, surfing, or sailing.
If you purchase a completely waterproof one, you may also use it to investigate, film, and photograph life underwater.
If you enjoy fishing, waterproof drones with cameras may be used to scout for ideal fishing places and hunt for fish, as well as to drop fish bait in difficult-to-reach fishing regions.
Finally, in search and rescue efforts, professional-grade waterproof drones carry life jackets to those in difficulty.