The Chasing Dory nails the sweet spot of price, portability, and ease of use. It isn’t a professional inspection ROV, but for family trips, dock checks, and reef scouting it delivers stable 1080p footage and simple controls—all in a bag you can toss in a daypack.

If you want 4K, deeper dives, or accessories (robotic arm/sonar), step up to bigger models. Otherwise, Dory is the easiest way to start filming underwater today.

At-a-Glance

• Depth rating: 49 ft (15 m)
• Camera: 1080p/30fps, f/1.6
• Lights: Dual 250-lumen LEDs
• Tether: ~50 ft (15 m) via Wi-Fi buoy
• Battery: ~1 hour typical use
• Weight: ~2.4 lb (1.1 kg)

Who It’s For

• Families and boaters who want casual underwater video
• First-time ROV pilots learning controls
• Reef scouting, dock checks, small-craft inspections

Key Specs

What We Liked

• Super easy setup: drop the buoy, connect Wi-Fi, go.
• Compact & light: great for travel/daypacks.
• Stable video for the size/price.
• LEDs help close-range subjects in murky water.
• Best value for casual creators and families.

Trade-offs

• 1080p only (no 4K).
• Shallow rating (15 m).
• No accessories like arms/sonar.
• Wi-Fi buoy needs good line-of-sight.