Cheapest reasonable waterproof camera solution

[Amp34]

I'm hopefully going on a couple of trips in the next 9 months where it would be very beneficial to have a waterproof camera (sea kayaking and snorkelling/Diving). Unfortunately the standard waterproof cameras around just seem to be low end point and shoot cameras in waterproof housing, without any manual controls. What's the cheapest option for something small and good waterproof enough to use when kayaking and snorkelling**? I'm wondering if it'll end up being something like a Canon G* with a waterproof housing of some kind but I'm massively out of higher end compact knowledge (don't even know off hand what G* we are up to!)

** I realise diving will be another step up so if the solution was useable there then good but it's not on the list of the needs.

 

[a1ex2001]

If you can live with aperture priority and exposure compensation then the Olympus tg2 is very nice and has a decent lens and sensor beyond that you looking at a high end compact and a water proof housing which will cost more and add bulk. The G series are popular if you want a housed high end compact but the price is pretty high.

 

[Goliath]

I know the Pentax Optio WG-1 allows "some" manual control (focus, sensitivity) so it might be worth a look, there's a GPS option too.

 

[D.P.]

My parents went to Hawaii Big island couple of months back and my mum purchased a $20 waterproof camera bag (transparent plastic bag with airtight locking mechanism, basically a fancy ziplock bag) and took some great photos of turtles with her Canon S100.

Definitely wouldn't go more than a couple of feet underwater with it but in most places that is all you need. I was in Maui last month and the turtles were in water too shallow to swim. I don't have a cheaper compact, was thinking of using my Olympus EPM-2 but thought it was slightly too valuable.