Hands-On Review of the Aquatica Nikon Z8 Housing
Posted by Anthony Grote on July 14th, 2025
I've been shooting underwater photography for over 30 years and during that time have worked with several different housing brands—including Seacam, Sea & Sea, Light & Motion, Nauticam, and now, Aquatica. Each transition was driven by the need to upgrade or by budget constraints, always with the goal of finding the best tool for the job.
Recently, I decided to make a switch when my Nauticam housing for the Nikon D850 was stolen from my luggage on the way back from the Cayman Islands. After researching available options, considering housings from Marelux, Ikelite, Nauticam, Sea & Sea, Isotta, and Seacam, I chose the Aquatica housing based on quality, reliability, and ergonomics at the price point which Aquatica sells.
Aquatica, a Canadian company founded in 1982, is one of North America's premier underwater housing manufacturers. Their housings are precision-machined from a single solid billet of aluminum using advanced five-axis CNC equipment, ensuring tight tolerances and durability. A specialized powder coating adds abrasion resistance and environmental protection. The result is a rugged, professional-grade housing with stainless steel control shafts and push buttons.
My first Aquatica housing was for the Nikon Z6II. The Aquatica housing was perfect. It was flawless in its workings and handled well underwater, never having any issues in the 2 years that I dived with this housing. However, I continually yearned to have my Z8 underwater, for several reasons including autofocus and file sizes, and one thing was for sure, I was going to stay with Aquatica for the same reasons when I purchased my first housing from them.
Having used so many brands over the years, I can confidently say Aquatica is among the best options availabe for a Nikon Z8 underwater housing . The Aquatica Nikon Z8 housing is sleek, ergonomic, and built to last. The durable powder-coated finish not only looks great but resists wear from constant handling. Buttons are intuitively placed and easy to operate with fingers naturally positioned on the sturdy grips. The large rear window provides a clear view of the camera’s LCD—ideal for live view shooting, image review, or adjusting settings underwater.
The interior of the housing is where Aquatica really shines. The mechanical layout is clean, logical, and meticulously designed to allow full access to camera controls without clutter. Perhaps the biggest bonus is the inclusion of Aquatica’s Surveyor Kit, which comes pre-installed. It includes a vacuum hand pump and a moisture detection board with an LED indicator—giving you peace of mind that the housing is sealed before every dive. This is included in the purchase price.
Also included are strobe bulkheads, with three configuration options available:
- 20098-NK-VC: Dual Nikonos bulkheads
- 20098-KM-VC: Single Ikelite bulkhead
- 20098-OPT-VC: Dual optical bulkheads with LED trigger
Whether you shoot with electronic or fiber-optic strobe triggers, Aquatica offers a compatible option that can be pre-ordered with your housing.
One of the other deciding factors which helped me choose the Aquatica Z8 housing, is that despite Aquatica having their own full line of dome and macro ports, they also offer an adaptor ring which allows you to use Sea & Sea ports as well as Nauticam ports on your Aquatica housing. As I still had several ports from my previous housings, this was an important point for me, as meant I did not need to purchase all new ports for my new housing.
I took my Aquatica Z8 housing on its maiden dives in Sodwana Bay, South Africa. It was a thrill to finally have the Z8 underwater. The camera is a significant upgrade from the Z6II in both functionality and autofocus performance. Paired with the Aquatica housing, I felt fully equipped for the kind of work I want to do.
The Aquatica Z8 housing stands out not only for its build and design but also for its exceptional value. Considering what's included, it's hard to find a better package at this price point.
The accompanying images were captured with the Nikon Z8 and the Nikon 8–15mm fisheye lens, alternating between FX and DX modes for cropping flexibility and tighter framing when needed. The macro shots were taken using the Nikon Z 105mm f/2.8 macro lens.
Aquatica Nikon Z8 Specifications
- Composition: Aerospace grade 6061 T6 Aluminum with MIL-A-8625 Anodized Coating
- HDMI: Large 23.75mm (.950 inch) HDMI Bulkhead Opening
- Depth Rating: 90m ~ 300 ft. Can be upgraded to 130m, ~ 450 ft with a deep spring kit
- Weight: 3.29 kg/ 7.25 lbs without handles
- Dimensions: 204mm x 267mm x 170mm ~ 8.3” x 10.5” x 6.7” w/o handles
- Port System: Compatible with all Aquatica DSLR sized Bayonet Mount Ports
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About the Expert
Anthony Grote
Anthony Grote is a South African-based professional photographer, widely recognized for his work in underwater, wildlife, adventure sports, and hospitality photography. His passion for the craft began in the early 1990s during his studies, where he initially focused on bird photography.
As his interest expanded into underwater photography, Anthony moved to the Cayman Islands, where he spent two years working as an underwater photo pro. He later returned to South Africa to establish his own photography business, specializing primarily in adventure sports and the hospitality industry.
Over the years, Anthony has received numerous accolades for his underwater and wildlife imagery. His work has also included contributions to the National Geographic production The Real Serengeti, filmed in the iconic Serengeti wilderness.
Today, Anthony continues to travel the globe, diving and documenting nature whenever possible. He currently serves as the Website Manager for Bluewater Photo, while still pursuing adventure sports photography in his spare time.
