It is kind of ironic that on April 1st my GoPro HERO9 Black died.

I was recording my children in the shallow waters of a Salvadoran beach in Los Cobanos when suddenly an SD card error appeared on the screen, and I wasn’t able to shut down the camera.

I have long known the camera’s limits and recommendations. I always make sure there is no debris in the battery door, that the seals are in good condition, and that it closes tightly. Considering that I use the camera only once or twice per year, I always check that it is in good condition before using it. Most of the time the camera stayed outside the seawater and never exceeded the 33 ft (10 m) depth limit, because I’m not a diver, and you cannot dive in shallow beach water unless you start drilling 🤭 The water was warm but never exceeded the 35°C/95°F limit.

Older GoPro models (e.g., HERO4 and earlier) generally required a separate waterproof housing for any underwater use. However, from the HERO5 Black onward (including the HERO9), the design changed to make the bare camera waterproof up to 10m. GoPro has always advertised their cameras as great for surfing. The founder’s story is about creating a camera to record his surfing adventures, and official advertisements often show the cameras, without a dive case, being used at the beach under the ocean waves.

Many third-party sites and reviews also show the GoPro being used on the beach without a dive case:

Even stock images frequently depict the GoPro without a dive case in shallow beach water:

So, even while strictly following the user guide and advertised limits, the camera failed. It got a couple of drops of salty water inside the battery compartment, that made the camera fail. I wanted to understand how this was possible, so I contacted GoPro via their contact form and offered to mail the camera for inspection. I immediately received a reply requesting photos and proof of purchase, which I provided. This is the response I got:

Hi Rodrigo,

Thank you for reaching out to GoPro Support.

I understand your HERO9 Black stopped working after light use in shallow ocean water, and you are looking for an explanation and a way to have the camera reviewed or replaced.

The HERO9 Black is waterproof up to 33 ft when all doors and seals are fully closed and intact. However, exposure to saltwater can still cause internal damage if moisture enters through the battery door area, even at shallow depths. This can happen due to worn seals, debris such as sand or salt crystals on the gasket, or brief pressure changes from waves. Once saltwater reaches internal components, the camera may fail permanently even after drying.
GoPro does not offer inspection or repair services, and there is no address to send the camera for evaluation. When liquid intrusion occurs, the supported path is to replace the camera rather than repair it.

If the camera is out of warranty, replacement is available through the GoPro Subscription Camera Replacement program. Once a subscription is active, the damaged camera can be replaced for the applicable exchange fee plus tax. The replacement would be processed directly without mailing the camera in advance.

If you would like to proceed, please share the camera’s serial number and confirm whether you have an active GoPro Subscription or plan to enroll in one. The replacement options can then be reviewed.

Shipping Information: Address Verification
Shipping Attention
Shipping Address
Shipping Address 2
Shipping City
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Let us know if you have any questions.

Best regards,

Norby F.
GoPro Support

WTF! Where in all the camera’s documentation is there a clear warning about “brief pressure changes from waves”? This should be stated in bold, large font in the user manual. After receiving that email, I dare to do my own research online and discovered I was far from alone. There are way too many reports of the exact same issue happening in shallow seawater:

As you can see, this is not an isolated case but a trend, so I asked some IA about the issue and how common it is, here are some snippets of the response:

Sorry to hear about the frustrating experience with your HERO9 Black — it sounds like a classic case of saltwater intrusion that many GoPro owners have reported, even in shallow conditions.

This matches dozens of similar reports on GoPro forums and Reddit: cameras failing in shallow beach/pool use with visible water only in the battery compartment afterward.

GoPros are marketed as rugged and waterproof, but in practice, the HERO9’s naked waterproofing (without the dive housing) is reliable for casual pool/beach use for many people — yet it’s not foolproof against saltwater, especially with waves or over repeated uses. Salt is the real enemy here, not depth.

Your disappointment is understandable: a camera that’s supposed to handle “adverse conditions” failed on a light family beach session. GoPro support usually treats water damage as user-induced (voiding warranty), even in shallow water, and repairs can be expensive (often $200–400+ or replacement cost).

There you have it. GoPros are not meant to be used in salty seawater. So why doesn’t GoPro clearly warn its users about it? Well, I got a strong hint from GoPro’s own response:

“If the camera is out of warranty, replacement is available through the GoPro Subscription Camera Replacement program. Once a subscription is active, the damaged camera can be replaced for the applicable exchange fee plus tax.”

I’m not going to enroll in what feels like a subscription scam knowing that the camera will always fail in the salty sea water and the program only covers 2 times per year and all the extra fees and shipping costs, it is moronic. I will never recommend a GoPro to anyone again, even if the next model is a magical $150 ARRI-quality camera that finally performs well in low light.

What I will recommend is that you do your own research using different AIs before any purchase. Ask specifically about well-known reported issues, it’s incredibly useful. And be warned: all other action cameras also require a proper dive case for safe beach and ocean use.

I’m switching brands for good. From now on, I’ll always use a dive case in the ocean. In the end, I consider this GoPro scam experience an expensive but valuable investment.