I’ve had GoPros for over a decade, but the Insta360 AcePro really came onto the underwater videography scene attempting to dethrone the reigning champ.

So, after about 6 months of using the AcePro, I’m gonna share my thoughts and tell you which one I decided to use to capture moments during my BAJA DIVE EXPEDITIONS this year. 

Both the AcePro and GoPro are built tough. Both cameras are waterproof to a certain extent (the GoPro to 10m and the AcePro to 12m), but even if I’m going snorkeling, I put my cameras in a dive housing. Salt water is just too corrosive for such expensive gear. Dive housings for both cameras will take you anywhere you want to go within recreational limits, and even beyond (up to about 200ft or 60 meters).

Now, I have the older versions of both of these cameras, but both have had upgrades so I’ll include new camera information here. The AcePro 2 shoots in 8K at 30fps and 4K up to 120fps while the GoPro Hero 13 offers up to 5.7K resolution at 60fps and 4K 120fps, making it the winner for slo-motion shots.

However, the AcePro shines underwater thanks to its dedicated color correction algorithms designed specifically for blue and green water environments. Plus, it shoots in 4K HDR for a more balanced, natural look—no post-editing required. If you have a GoPro, you will either need proper video lights or filters to get similar color results.

Both cameras have great stabilization software, but I’ve been more pleased with the Ace Pro footage.

The AcePro uses AI to help clean up low light footage so it is my go-to for low visibility or night dives.

I really think ease of use is a personal preference. Because I was such a GoPro girlie, I had a hard time with the Insta360 products at first, but now that I’ve gotten used to them, I prefer their interface and editing tools.

As for battery life, I am mindful when shooting video so I don’t have excess footage to process in post, so I can usually get through 2 dives on one charge with either camera. You can check out specific specs on battery life in other videos because there is a wide range based on the video settings you choose. One thing to keep in mind, if you are shooting longer videos above water, the GoPro can have big issues with overheating. 

Also, over the years, I’ve had a consistent issue with GoPros as they age. After about the two year mark, the cameras start to randomly freeze and the only way you can reboot is by taking out the battery, which you obviously can’t do if it happens during a dive. I’ll be curious to see if the Insta360 products have similar issues as they age.

The Insta360 products do come with a higher price tag and less established accessory ecosystem. However, the more advanced software is worth the price tag and as for accessories, Insta360 offers everything you need to successfully use the camera on dives.

So, which one should you choose? Well, I brought the AcePro to Mexico to capture my divers on the BAJA DIVE EXPEDITIONS and I actually haven’t touched my GoPro in months… So there’s my answer, but it really comes down to the specs that are important to you.

If you want to check out the AcePro for your next dive, check out the rest of the specs here.

See what trips are coming up. I always give my community first dibs on spots, so you can sign up for Patreon (and get trip discounts) or my email list to be the first to know about new expeditions in the future.