There’s a moment, right before a dive, when the world goes quiet — just you, your gear, and the blue waiting below.
In those moments, you need to trust your equipment with your life’s work.
And honestly, that’s why I’m so excited to share my experience with the SeaFrogs Salted Line housing for the Sony A7S III — because it truly earned that trust.
Here’s my honest take on it — what I love, what could be improved, and why I think it’s a seriously smart choice for anyone passionate about underwater photography or videography without selling an organ to afford it. 😉
I’ve been using this setup now for a few weeks, both freediving and scuba diving, and I’ve tested it across different environments, conditions, and depths.
My Setup:
- Housing: SeaFrogs Salted Line for Sony A7S III (Black Version)
- Ports:
• 6″ Optical Glass Dry Dome Port V.10 (for Sony 16-35mm f/4 and 16-35mm f/2.8 GM II)
• 6″ Optical Glass Flat Long Port for Sigma 24-70mm f/2.8 DG DN Art - Vacuum System: SeaFrogs VPS-100 Pre-Dive Leak Check System
- Lenses: Sony 16-35mm f/4 Zeiss + Sigma 24-70mm f/2.8 DG DN Art
- Depth Rating: 40 meters (130 feet)
- Material: Polycarbonate, stainless steel, and anodized aluminum
If you’re thinking about getting your own Salted Line setup, you can use my discount code UWLUNATICS5 at checkout to save a little extra!
A quick note on the Salted Line itself:
This isn’t just a regular SeaFrogs housing with a new sticker. The Salted Line is their upgraded series, made specifically for ocean use — meaning it’s built to handle saltwater, pressure, and long dive days. It’s got better sealing, corrosion-resistant parts, and some smart design tweaks that make it way more reliable underwater. You can tell it was made with freedivers and scuba divers in mind — people who actually use their gear in real-world conditions, not just a pool test. That extra bit of thought goes a long way when you’re deep in the blue.
First Impressions: Unboxing & Build Quality
The first thing I noticed when unboxing the Salted Line housing was how solid it felt — not the typical plasticky feel you might fear with a polycarbonate build.
The metal clamps and stainless-steel latches immediately gave me a good feeling. They click shut with that satisfying, firm resistance you want before submerging your beloved Sony A7S III into saltwater.
One upgrade I immediately loved: the full-opening back door.
Older SeaFrogs models only opened one side, making cleaning and inserting the camera a struggle — this full hinge redesign makes setup way easier and safer. It’s one of those small changes that shows they’re really listening to feedback.
Also, a major bonus for travelers like me:
Compared to my aluminum housing setups that can easily weigh 10 kilos once rigged out, this SeaFrogs system is lightweight enough that I don’t have to sacrifice my wetsuit to make airline baggage limits.
In Use: In the Ocean, Where It Matters
I tested the housing in both freediving sessions and scuba dives.
I shoot with natural light, so clarity, sharpness, and minimal distortion matter a lot to me.
The 6” optical glass dome port performed beautifully.
Wide-angle shots remained crisp, with minimal chromatic aberration even in trickier lighting. It handled reflections well too — always a fear when shooting against the surface.
One thing to note: with the big dome, the setup is slightly buoyant, and the dome tends to tilt upward.
Solution? I attached approximately 0.5 kg of extra weight using a zip tie — a quick fix that solved the problem. In the water, after that adjustment, the rig felt well-balanced and steady in both calm and surgey conditions.
The VPS-100 vacuum system also became part of my pre-dive ritual.
A few minutes of easy pumping, a green light, and I’m all set. It genuinely gives peace of mind that no sneaky leaks are waiting to ruin your day (or your camera).
What Stood Out to Me:
✔ Incredible Value for Money:
It’s honestly wild how much you get for the price.
When you compare it to higher-end housings costing triple the amount, SeaFrogs delivers 90% of the functionality at a fraction of the price.
✔ Build Quality:
The metal components make the whole housing feel reliable. It’s not indestructible like full aluminum, but it’s way sturdier than many plastic housings.
✔ Travel-Friendly:
As a frequent flyer with too much gear, having a durable but lightweight housing makes a huge difference.
✔ User-Friendly Upgrades:
Opening the full back door, thicker O-rings that don’t damage easily, a vacuum leak system, and improved ergonomics — you can tell this housing has gone through thoughtful iteration.
✔ Secure and Confident Feel:
I love the robust latches. No “did I close it right?” moments.
✔ Access to All Important Controls:
All the critical buttons and dials are accessible. (You do lose the joystick — but honestly, for wide-angle work and video, I don’t miss it.)
✔ Optical Glass Dome:
Big win for image quality. Glass > acrylic any day if you care about preserving sharpness.
✔ Customer Service:
I had a few questions before my gear arrived. SeaFrogs responded quickly, kindly, and professionally.
That kind of support means a lot, especially when your camera’s survival depends on it.
✔ Widely Available:
Need a spare part mid-trip? SeaFrogs gear is stocked in many dive shops worldwide, which is a game-changer for traveling shooters.
Things to Be Aware Of:
➖ Slight Buoyancy:
Especially with the dome — fixable with small weights.
➖ Button Reach:
If you have small hands like me, reaching all the buttons can be tricky underwater. But customizing your essential camera functions beforehand works perfectly.
➖ Camera Insertion Takes Practice:
It’s a tight fit. The first few times, I wasn’t sure if I was doing it right. Now it’s second nature.
➖ Changing Ports Is a Bit Cumbersome:
You need to loosen a small screw inside the housing every time you swap ports. It works — but a magnetic screwdriver would seriously improve this.
Who This Setup Is Perfect For:
- Traveling divers who want a lightweight, airline-friendly housing
- Freedivers and scuba divers
- Ocean content creators balancing quality and budget
- Videographers and photographers who need a tough, reliable workhorse
- Anyone who’s tired of the $3,000+ housing club but still wants high-level performance underwater
Final Thoughts:
The SeaFrogs Salted Line for Sony A7S III doesn’t try to pretend it’s a $4000 aluminum housing.
But honestly?
For most freedivers, scuba divers, traveling creators, and emerging pros — it doesn’t need to be.
It’s reliable. It’s affordable. It’s rugged enough for rough surf, careful enough for coral gardens, and lightweight enough to actually bring on planes. And with a few minor tweaks (like adding weight), it performs like a champ.
I’m genuinely grateful to have partnered with SeaFrogs for this gear.
It feels like they designed this housing for people like me: passionate, traveling, water-obsessed storytellers who want to focus on the ocean — not on babysitting their gear.
Would I recommend it? Absolutely.
Especially if you want professional quality underwater footage and still have money left for your next dive trip. 😉
P.S.: If you’re thinking about getting your own setup, you can use my discount code UWLUNATICS5 at checkout to save a little extra!
