7 Best Waterproof Drones of 2019

1. GPTOYS H2O Aviax RTF Waterproof Drone

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Editor’s Rating: 4.2/5

It’s small, it’s cheap, it’s great fun, and it’s waterproof. Let’s take a look at what else the GPTOYS H2O Aviax 2.4GHz 4CH 6 Axis Gyro waterproof drone has going for it.

• Best feature 1: Takes off from water’s surface
• Best feature 2: Suitable for indoor and outdoor flying
• Plus points: Launch by hand,orientation markers, spare battery, extra props
• Minus points: A little underpowered

One of the great things about this little quadcopter is that you can relaunch it if it crashes into the water. That’s a lot better than having to retrieve your floating craft which may not always be possible anyway. It’s a stable flyer in windy conditions too and even better with the prop guards off. Launching the drone is simple either from the ground, water, or by hand.

There is also a headless mode and orientation markers. This makes light work of knowing where the drone is and which way it’s heading at any given time.

What’s in the Box

• Waterproof quadcopter
• Transmitter
• 2 x 3.7 (1S) 650 mAhLiPo batteries
• USB battery charger
• GB memory card
• SD card reader
• Spare set of propellers (8 pieces total)
• Landing gear
• Screws and screwdriver
• English language user manual

The Not So Good

There’s really not much to complain about considering what you get for the money. If I had to nitpick I would have to say the craft is a little underpowered.There are no other negativesaside from that.

2. GoolskyJJRC H31 Waterproof Drone

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Editor’s Rating: 4.5/5

The GoolskyJJRC H31 waterproof drone is easy to use and great fun to fly. It’s affordable too, and its sporty design is especially attractive to younger pilots. However, the title is a tad misleading.

• Best feature 1: Simple to set up out of the box
• Best feature 2: Easy and safe to fly
• Plus points: Robust, stable flyer, impressive flips, headless mode, one-key return, affordable
• Minus points: Sinks in water with motors off, exaggerated range

The initial set up of this sporty little quad is quick and easy. All you do is fix the tiny screws into place and then attach the blade protectors and landing gear—that’s it. Flying the GoolskyJJRC H31 is easy but if you’re a complete novice you’ll still have a few crashes and collisions. The good news is it’s robust and can withstand a good few bangs without breaking.

You’ll get to see what a stable little flyer this is with some practice. The headless mode and one-key return functions give new pilots confidence as they learn. It’s a great quadcopter for the beach and other places where there’s water. However, it’s more water resistant than waterproof so take heed.

What’s in the Box

Here’s what you get with a new GoolskyJJRC H31 waterproof drone:

• JJRC H31 quadcopter
• Transmitter
• Extra set of props
• Prop guards
• Landing gear
• Screwdriver
• Sunglasses
• 12screws
• English/Chinese user manual

The Not So Good

The GoolskyJJRC H31 has the word “waterproof” in its title but it’s not! It’s more water-resistant than waterproof. If the drone falls into the water there’s a good chance it’ll fill up and sink. Be sure to keep the motors running if it lands on water. This will help to keep it afloat and give you time to retrieve it. The other negative is the exaggerated range. The claim is 70m (230ft) but you can expect nearer to 30m.

3. Braha Aqua Drone 2.4 GHz Waterproof Drone

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Editor’s Rating: 4.3/5

The Braha Aqua Drone is my third 2.4 GHz waterproof RC quadcopter. It’s also an affordable craft selling for less than 50 bucks at the time of writing.

• Best feature 1: Safely fly indoors and out
• Best feature 2: 6-Axis Gyro Stabilization System
• Plus points: Water resistant, reasonable flight time, fast charging time, stable flyer
• Minus points: Very little user feedback yet

I was reluctant to add this waterproof quadcopter simply because of the lack of user feedback. Still, it does seem to check the right boxes. It’s another little quad that’s safe to fly indoors and outdoors. The 6-axis gyro stabilization makes it a flexible and stable flyer with precise hovering and easy control.

Water Resistance

I wouldn’t expect this particular drone to stand up to full submersion for long. It’s another water-resistant—not totally waterproof—quadcopter. That means it’s fun and safe to fly around wet places but not onto and under water. It should be fine in wet weather conditions though.

The flight time is around 10 minutes which is quite good for a quad in its class. The battery recharging time is even more impressive at 60 minutes or less.

The Not So Good

There’s not much user feedback for the Braha Aqua Drone from verified buyers yet. I included it here because of its spec sheet and because Braha is active in radio controlled products more generally.

4. Parrot Hydrofoil MiniDrone

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Editor’s Rating: 4.7/5

The Parrot Hydrofoil MiniDrone really is a fun craft that takes you on land, water, and in the air. Keep reading if being a captain as well as the pilot of your own craft intrigues you.

• Best feature 1: Hydrofoil MiniDrone
• Best feature 2: Embedded VGA mini camera
• Plus points: Moves fast across the water, shock resistant, acrobatic flips & stunts, fast charging
• Minus points: Learning curve, instructions could be better, battery life

You can cruise through the water with speeds of up to 6.5 mph as the captain. And when it’s time to leave for the skies you just take over the pilot controls and away you go. If that isn’t enough fun, well, this puppy even comes equipped with an inbuilt mini VGA camera. This is one of those big boys’ toys so kids will have a battle on their hands trying to get the Hydrofoil MiniDrone away from dad’s control.

It’s as at home in the air as it is in the water but then this is two parts of the same craft. The top airspeed is somewhere in the neighborhood of 11 mph. Once airborne you can perform acrobatic stunts as with any other capable quadcopter. It’s all app controlled and the app is pretty cool.

The Not So Good

There’s a learning curve but it’s not too bad as long as you exercise a little patience. There are a few complaints that the instructions could be clearer, especially for novice users. Also, be aware that the instructions may refer to an older app than the one you actually need to download.

The short 9-minute maximum battery life is going to put a dampener on things. My advice is to make sure you invest in at least one spare battery to extend the fun. The good news is the battery charging time is super-fast taking less than 30 minutes with a 2.6A charger (not included).

5. Goolsky Q353 Triphibian 2 Air-Ground-Water Quad

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Editor’s Rating: 4.8/5

Meet the Goolsky Q353 Triphibian Air-Ground Water quadcopter. We’re now into a new price category but it’s only just over the 100 bucks mark. This is another captain/pilot drone that’s heaps of fun.

• Best feature 1: Air, Land & and Water capable
• Best feature 2: Water recovery feature
• Plus points: 100% waterproof, bright color, control range, headless mode, LED flashing lights
• Minus points: Short flight time, long charging time

If you’ve got the money to spare then this puppy is worth every single penny. It’s just so much fun you won’t want it to end. Believe me, I’ve been there. This drone really is waterproof unlike some of the others that are only water-resistant, despite claims to the contrary. It moves like a hovercraft on the water and flies just like a quadcopter should fly in the air—stunts and all.

Crash Landing on Water

Another cool thing about this versatile quadcopter is its water-recovery feature. If it lands on the water upside down it quickly recovers and flips itself up to the right way. That’s pretty neat. And the bright orange color makes it easy to spot too. The color is one of those small details that can make a big difference. It’s especially handy with the 450 feet control range.

A couple of other features worth a mention include the headless mode and LED flashing lights. There’s also one-key return and a hovering mode. The product arrives with a spare set of propellers, 2.4G transmitter (mode 2), a charger set, and a full English manual.

The Not So Good

The maximum flight time—in ideal conditions—is around seven minutes. That’s quite disappointing but quite typical. The long 90-minute charging time is more of a disappointment though. My advice is to make sure you carry spare batteries around. The fun isn’t going to last very long if you don’t.

6. THE QUADH2O™ Water Safe Drone KIT

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Editor’s Rating: 4.9/5

TheQUADH2O™ is quite different from everything on this page thus far. It’s more expensive for one, but that’s not the only difference. It’s also a kit and a great project for those of you who love to build.

• Best feature 1: Simple to construct, easy to fly
• Best feature 2: Build your own or have experts build it for you
• Plus points: Choose all your own components
• Minus points: None (see end of review for details)

This is an incredible project that comes with everything the enthusiast needs to get started. It couldn’t be further away from Ready-To-Fly (RTF) so skip this review if building your own drone doesn’t appeal. Or, if you really want this craft, there’s another option. It’s also possible to let the company know what you want/need and let their experts put together a custom model for you.

What’s so Special About the QUADH2O™ KIT

Drone enthusiasts get to own a high-end drone that has everything they want and nothing they don’t. There needn’t be any compromises, for example:

• Choose your favorite motors
• Choose your favorite flight controller
• Choose your own FPV gear
• Tweak the QuadH2O waterproof drone so it meets your precise requirements

The company recommends certain components like flight controller and motors. These are just suggestions, though, and the final choices are yours and only yours. The end result will be a high-end drone that’s fast, powerful, agile, and water safe.

The Not So Good

There’s nothing to report. This is because the end result is down to you. Once you decide to go with the QUADH2O™ KIT you get to check your own boxes and end up with the ultimate craft.

7. SPLASH DRONE 3 AUTO

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Editor’s Rating: 4.4/5

Looks are subjective, but the Swellpro Waterproof Splash Drone 3 is a beauty. It’s also a quad with specific uses and characteristics. If it has what you want, then it’s going to make your shortlist.

• Best feature 1: All-weather waterproof drone
• Best feature 2: Modular design
• Plus points: Waterproof 4K HD camera, Durable waterproof frame & motor, all-in-one RC
• Minus points: No prop guards, no obstacle avoidance, tiny access panel, gimbal

This drone is an all-weather waterproof drone. This is perhaps the world’s only waterproof quadcopter than can film 4K video above and below the water. The only problem—and one that’s unavoidable—is when the drone leaves the water droplets form on the lens.

The modular design makes it easy to modify and adapt to different requirements and conditions. It does have a durable waterproof frame and motor, but don’t get complacent. I’d still suggest a thorough cleaning after using the quadcopter in and around salt water in particular.

The Ongoing Updates Saga

There have been some rocky reviews with the first releases of the Swellpro Waterproof Splash Drone. There have been some updates since then and further updates continue to iron out a few shortcomings. This is a fantastic waterproof HD camera drone—in theory at least. If it’s within budget and fits in with your needs and expectations then definitely check out the latest version.

The Not So Good

I was really hoping there wouldn’t be any disadvantages to report. Due to the complexity of this drone, it’s not without a few drawbacks. The absence of prop guards is not a major setback for experienced pilots. Even so, it would have been nice to have the choice. Obstacle avoidance would definitely have been a welcome feature but it doesn’t have any.

Battery life is average at best and that’s a major disappointment (see specs below). A couple of other gripes include the tiny access panel and the unimpressive gimbal response.

The concept is amazing, and the drone and its transmitter are awesome-looking pieces of kit. But this is not a cheap quadcopter. If it interests you, as it did me, check its update status before you part with any hard-earned bucks. I’d say go for it the moment SwellPRO has fixed those teething problems.