OUTPUT

GN 36 on land

BEAM

120° underwater, 140° with dome diffuser

RECYCLE

0.9 sec at full power

DEPTH RATING

100m / 330ft

BEST FOR

Traveling underwater photographers who want one compact strobe that can handle macro, close-focus wide angle, and general reef wide-angle work.

MAIN ADVANTAGE

Strong output for its size, fast recycle, and advanced shooting modes in a strobe that stays easier to handle than many larger alternatives.

COMPATIBILITY NOTE

TTL, HSS, and RC are system-dependent. Your housing, flash trigger, fiber path, and camera brand all matter.

DIFFERENTIATOR

The Apollo S stands out by mixing compact size with MTL burst capability, wireless M/MTL/HSS triggering, and wide beam coverage.

TRADEOFF

It does not have built in focus light, or like some other strobes, built in video lights. This is a staright up underwater strobe, NOT a hybrid strobe.

Multiple shooting modes that actually matter underwater

WHY IT MATTERS

What comes through clearly when using these strobes, is that the Marelux Apollo S is not one of those underwater strobes where the extra modes are there just to look good on a spec sheet. Photographers keep coming back to the fact that different modes were genuinely useful in different dive situations: manual for repeatable macro lighting, TTL when subjects or conditions were changing quickly, HSS for freezing motion or darkening backgrounds, and MTL when timing mattered and older strobes could not keep up. Marelux also lists RC support, but that only matters if your camera and trigger path support it (using Olympus cameras)

• Manual mode: best when you want predictable light for macro, snooting, and repeatable exposures.
• TTL mode: useful when fish, divers, or ambient light are changing faster than you want to adjust power manually.
• HSS: lets you work at higher shutter speeds for freezing fast action or controlling bright water backgrounds.
• MTL mode: Marelux publishes continuous-flash support up to 20 FPS at up to GN20, this being useful for burst shooting and peak-action timing. 

SETUP NOTE TTL, HSS, and RC are not universal. If you are using a Marelux housing or another optical-triggered system, check your flash trigger before assuming every mode will work with your camera. 

Wireless control opens up cleaner rigs and more creative lighting

WHY IT MATTERS

In our experience, wireless features only matter if they solve a real underwater problem. While shooting in California, we found it was a huge benefit because it let the strobes move around without cables getting in the way. That is where the Apollo S separates itself from many underwater strobes in the same size class. 

• Dual fisheye wireless sensors: published 160° coverage helps the strobe see the trigger signal from more angles. 
• Lumilink 2.0 compatibility: supports wireless M, MTL, and HSS workflows, with published sync support up to 1/200s. 
• Useful range underwater: Marelux publishes about 2 meters in bright shallow conditions and more than 10 meters in darker, deeper water. 
• Encrypted optical signaling: designed to reduce interference when you are shooting around other lights and other divers. 

THE TRADEOFF Wireless does not remove the need for good positioning. You still need line of sight to the strobe’s wireless sensor, and reviewers noted that close-focus wide-angle can get trickier when that path is blocked. 

Long battery life and easy handling make the strobe easier to live with on real trips

WHY IT MATTERS

A lot of underwater strobe pages focus only on power, but real-world usability matters just as much. During long-term usage the Apollo S was found to be compact enough to almost "disappear" underwater,  and how easy the controls are to use with gloves. That combination is a big part of why the Marelux Apollo S feels more practical than some larger options, including stepping up to the Marelux Apollo III when you do not actually need that extra size and output. 

• Published battery life: around 800 full-power flashes on two 18650 batteries.
• Real-world reviewer experience: It has been documented that getting through roughly two full days of macro diving before recharging is not uncommon, which tells us the strobe is not just efficient on paper. 
• Travel-friendly handling: 813g on land with batteries and only 150g underwater keeps the strobe easier to position than many larger underwater strobes. 
• Control ergonomics: large knobs and a clear rear display are the kind of details that matter more once you are wearing gloves and trying to change settings quickly between shots. 

PRACTICAL ADVICE For most underwater photographers, the best way to stretch battery life is simple: shoot only as much power as you need, recharge before the next dive day, and carry a spare matched set of 18650s if you plan to use more HSS or MTL. Those modes are useful, but they naturally ask more from the strobe.