Although some cameras promise to be water-resistant, if you're taking pictures near or even under water, a water-resistant camera won't do.

It might cope with splashes and light rain, but for splashing about in the sea something else is required. Underwater housings are available for some cameras but they are often pricey, huge and unwieldy.

This chunky model from Vivitar is hard to mislay in its jaunty yellow body, though some users may feel that the design makes it look more like a toy than a serious camera. It can take pictures safely at depths of up to 10 metres. Snorkelling, then, is an option, and deeper sea exploration as well.

Every button and switch has a rubberised housing and there are locks to make sure the camera is really sealed into place before you jump into the water to capture the life aquatic. The buttons are large, which does make it easier to use underwater.

It has a digital zoom with 4x magnification to allow snappers to get up close to, er, snappers. It’s a shame that this isn’t an optical zoom, in which the zoom effect is made by physically moving the lens, meaning no loss in quality, but presumably this was hard to do in addition to fitting the lens into the waterproof casing. Instead, the digital zoom relies on magnifying the image using software, so there is a drop in picture quality.

It’s a six-megapixel camera, so detail is decent if not outstanding, and the camera's ISO light sensitivity only goes up to a modest 200 rating, so swimming down deep will quickly leave the camera starving for light and exposures will be slower, leading to blurring.

The Vivicam 6200W is not bad, then, for some general aquatic fun, but it’s not proficient enough to stand out as a serious underwater camera, and on dry land the large, yellow casing and clunking buttons may be offputting.

Despite the flaws, though, Vivitar has delivered a camera that, even if it is no more than competent, is very keenly priced and is enjoyable to use in the water.

Vista compatible: Yes