HOVERAir Launches Self-Flying, Waterproof Drone For Skiers and Surfers

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I didn't think this would make my 2025 bingo card, but there's a new camera drone on the market, and it's expressly designed to not just be self-flying, but also completely waterproof. Honestly, not a bad call given the rough environments we like to play in all summer and winter. Today, drone maker HOVERAir launched their newest autonomous flying camera drone, the HOVERAir AQUA–and you guessed it, it's meant to fly around in extremely wet environments. The drone is available to pre-order on IndieGoGo. The fact that it's waterproof is certainly unique, but what really sets these drones apart is their ability to fly autonomously, tracking and following the subject–you–without any sort of remote control input.

We've had one of HOVERAir's original non-waterproof 8K-capable X1 ProMax units in for review for a few months now, and have been impressed with how well its built-in software (yes it's "AI-powered") works to track and follow a skier, mountain biker, or other subject. Just set it to follow mode, launch it from your palm, and go shred your line, trail, or do whatever you're about to do. Bike Mag editor Deven McCoy has been using one to capture mountain bike footage all summer, check out his review of that drone from a rider's perspective here.

The new HOVERAir AQUA takes a similar approach, but completely redesigns the drone body to be extremely rugged–and, you guessed it–waterproof. That means you can drop this into the ocean, a lake, or bury it in deep powder, and the unit should be able to take off and fly immediately. While the drone itself floats and can't actually go underwater, it's "Snorkel Mode" allows the camera to dip below the water's surface and capture sub-surface footage.

HOVERAir AQUA Full Specs

• Video: 4K/100 fps slow motion, H-LOG
• Photo: 12 MP, with HDR
• Sensor: 1/1.28” CMOS
• Lens: self-heating, anti-fog, hydrophobic nanocoating, 2x Digital Zoom
• Weight: <249 grams
• Battery: 23 minutes
• Storage: 128GB built-in
• Max Speed: 34mph
• Control Unit: Fully autonomous tracking, can be controlled with X1 controller or new Lighthouse Beacon