Best Underwater Strobes and Flashes in 2025

The Sea & Sea YS-D3 "Lightning" is one of the world's best strobes for underwater photography. The "Lightning" in its name is well deserved. The YS-D3 is one of the fastest strobes on the market - especially at lower powers. At half power, it has a recylce time of a mere 0.6 seconds and below a quarter power, there is virtually no recycle time! It has lots on improvements from its predecessor, the YS-D2J. This strobe has a high power, professional-grade beam with a max guide number of 33 (on land). The flash tube features an aspherical troidal lens which produces even light dispersion. The strobe is slightly cooler than the YS-D2J, with a nice color temp of 5800K. The YS-D3 has a wide variety of native accessories from snoots to slave prisms. We recommend the YS-D3 as a future proof strobe that is especially effective for photographers shooting quick subjects.

The Sea & Sea YS-D3 Duo delivers a very similar performance to the YS-D3 II, but has the optional RC-Mode which is not found in the YS-D3 II.

Back to Top 

The Scubalamp D-Pro is SUPE's flagship underwater strobe - an affordable strobe that provides underwater photographers with a powerful output option (GN #30), ultra-fast recycle times (0.1s to 1.1s at full power), a more than sufficient wide beam angle of 150 degrees. The SUPE Scubalamp D33 battery pack includes 3 x 18650 Lithium batteries that offer 500 flashes at full power, and 3000 flashes on the lowest power mode, allowing for 5-6 dives without having to change or charge the batteries. It also offers a focus light of 500 lumens to assist with your macro photography.

If you want value for money, there is no better strobe out there.

As the latest addition to Ikelite's DS Strobe line, the Ikelite DS230 is 33% (213W) more powerful than its siblings. The controls are larger and taller for easier ergonomics, even while wearing thick gloves. Click-stops at each power setting and a limited sweep allow you to quickly jump between TTL, full power and the lowest manual power setting without taking your eyes off your subject. The DS230 also uses new circuitry which makes the recycle time ultra fast! A new circular xenon flashtube produces a perfectly gradated beam pattern and warm color temperature. Another awesome feature of the strobe is that it has an integrated 205-lumen modeling light. You can also use your older DS160 and DS161 batteries with the new DS 230 strobe.

Both the Ikelite DS230 and the Ikelite DS232 have the same strobe capabilities, with the only difference being with the video light vs modelling lights options. The Ikelite DS230 has a 205 Lumen LED Spot light, while the Ikelite DS232 has a 2500 lumen video light in the center of the ring flash.

We recommend the Ikelite DS 230 and DS 232 to photographers who need the highest quality beam for wide ange photography, compatable with some the best TTL converters (automatic strobe power) from Ikelite on the market.

The Ikelite DS160 II combines power with wide angle coverage. It has been upgraded from the original DS 160 with a quicker recycle time of .1 to 1 seconds, better ergonomics, and 300 flashes per charge at full power. The quality of light is exceptional due to the round flash tube and a custom powder-coated reflector designed specifically to deliver the softest, most even coverage possible.

Strobes with a straight flashtube may be capable of high power output, but require the addition of a diffuser to spread out their sharp, rectangular beam pattern and reduce harsh hot spots. The DS160 II beam is designed to be perfectly soft thanks to its reflector, and is capable of providing you the coverage and power you want and avoiding the one f/stop loss caused by adding a diffuser.

Both the Ikelite DS160 II and the Ikelite DS162 have the same strobe capabilities, with the only difference being with the video light vs modelling lights options. The Ikelite DS160 II has a 205 Lumen LED Spot light, while the Ikelite DS162 has a 2500 lumen video light in the center of the ring flash. Both strobes are compatible with Ikelite's electrical TTL converters which provide the most accurate TTL (think "automatic") exposured on the market. 

The Marelux Apollo S strobe is made for photographers that need the best possible performance and versatility in a strobe for the best possible price. It's not the best of the best that Marelux has to offer - that would be the Apollo III. But the Marelux S is still capable of a powerful guide number of 36 as well as multiple useful flash modes including high speed sync (HSS), continuous flash (MTL), TTL (automatic strobe power), and RC TTL (auto strobe power for olympus). Moreover, the Apollo S is compatible with Marelux's complete ecosystem of accessories including the Lumilink 2.0 wireless flash trigger system and the Marelux SOFT Lite Snoot. 

The Marelux Apollo III Underwater Strobe is a game changer for underwater photography. This high power behemoth outputs a guide number of 44 - higher than most any other strobe on the market. A 0.6 second recycle time at full power ensures that this strobe is, by far, the fastest strobe on the market. Competing strobes that feature a guide number of 40 have recycle times up to 2 seconds. With its support for TTL, Olympus RC, and HSS modes, the Apollo III offers unparalleled versatility in its modes. It also features a continuous flash mode (MTL) for creative photography during slow shutter shooting. The Apollo III has two fisheye sensor units for the Lumilink 2.0 wireless flash trigger and a fiber port. Finally, the Apollo III has a novel design - three flash tubes in a triangular formtion that is capable of producing soft even light at 110 degrees of coverage. There is no other strobe like it on the market, making the Apollo III Bluewater's favorite strobe of 2025.

Seacam is the "Rolls-Royce" of underwater camera gear. The Seacam Seaflash 160 designer strobe has a sleak silver anodized aluminum body that outputs 160 watt seconds of power with a 130 degree beam angle. Though the strobe is capable of high speed sync with shutter speeds up to 1/8000s of a second. This allows for incredible creative versatility. The Offshore version of the Seaflash 160 is depth rated all the way down to 200meters (650ft) and designed for use while icediving in the most extreme conditions.  

Inon has taken their renowned strobe series to a whole new level with the revolutionary Inon S-220, a worthy successor to the beloved S2000. This cutting-edge strobe boasts an innovative "fly-eye" diffusion surface within its dome port, ensuring unparalleled control over light distribution. The S220 features a wide light dispersion, complemented by an integrated focus light.

The S220 has a boosted Guide Number of 22, akin to the Inon S2000, but in a more compact and high-performance package. The strobe has a large wheel dial and a phosphorescent panel for easy adjustments at night. For protection, the S220 is designed with dual orings which minimizes flooding risks.

If you are looking for an extremely affordable strobe with quick recycle times and TTL capability, the S220 is currently the best option on the market.

The Ikelite DS-51 II 50Ws TTL Strobe is a great strobe for traveling. It is small and compact yet powerful enough to capture stunning photos. It only weighs 443g and since it's small, it makes for a great addition to a lightweight and easy to use underwater system - like the Olympus TG-7 and TG-6. In fact, the DS-51 is the most affordable strobe compatible with the RC flash mode on the Olympus TG-6, using an RC1 TTL converter. In RC mode, you do not need to adjust the strobe power, the camera and strobe "talk" to each other to give you the best results.

The strobe power/exposure mode switch is prominent on the rear of the strobe with bright white details making it easy to see where it's pointing.

For connectivity, the DS-51 II is very flexible, you can use an electronic sync cord or fiber optic cable (with the Ikelite fiber optic converter). Remote triggering is also supported.

The Sea & Sea YS-01 is a small and compact strobe, ideal for compact camera shooters and macro shooters. It is powerful for its size, with a guide number of 20. The strobe has a wide beam angle of 100°. The YS-01 Solis features TTL capability as well as a manual shooting mode where you can adjust the power to your liking. The YS-03 Solis is essentially the same strobe, but it lacks the manual shooting option. The YS-01 is our choice of strobe if you are just starting out and want to learn proper technique for underwater photography. 

The Sea & Sea YS-03 solis has many limitations, but it is at a much lower price point than any other strobe. It is not as powerful as the YS-D3, and only supports firing via TTL - there are no manual settings. It includes a very basic tray, flex arm and a fiber optic cable. The Sea & Sea YS-01 Solis is the same strobe, but offers manual control. The YS-03 Solis is our recommendations for underwater photographers that need a "set it and forget it" strobe. 

The Ikelite DS232 strobe boasts a potent power rating of 213 watt-seconds, making it one of the most powerful underwater strobes available on the market. This impressive power allows the strobe to cut through water effectively, delivering sharp, vibrant images even in challenging lighting conditions. Its quick recycle time ensures you can capture fast-paced underwater action without missing a beat. The Ikelite DS232 features intuitive controls, offering 10 steps in 1/2-stop increments, allowing for precise adjustments to get the desired lighting effect. The strobe connector is an Ikelite Bulkhead, ensuring compatibility with a wide range of underwater camera housings.

The Ikelite DS232 is not just a strobe, it also incorporates a 2500 Lumen video light. This powerful light can significantly enhance your underwater videos, delivering brighter, more vibrant footage.

Look no further than the Weefine WFS07 Strobe 7 video light if you've ever dreamed of owning an all-in-one underwater strobe and video light. This compact device can deliver 60Ws flashes and 3000 lumens of continuous lighting, fulfilling the needs of both underwater photo and video shooters. It's not an easy feat to design a device that can provide both functions in a single housing. After iTorch's popular Symbiosis line of strobe and video light combinations was discontinued, the market lacked an analogous device for a few years. Therefore, we are thrilled to see the Weefine WFS07 reintroduce and redefine the hybrid photo-video lighting market. We recommend this strobe for macro shooters and some wide angle shooters that want a video light and strobe combo on a budget. 

The Kraken KR-S80 is a compact and versatile powerhouse. It is cable of both 80 watt second bursts for photography and 3000 lumens of output for video. Manufacturered with a solid, anodized aluminum shell, it can take any knocks, drops, and scrapes during your dive day ... well, most! The strobe features a circular flash tube for even lighting and has a long battery life of 600 flashes at full power per charge.