By Becky Waring

When it comes time to head for the beach, leave your expensive Digital SLR at home and pick up one of these handy waterproof models instead. You won't have to worry about sand ruining your lenses or water getting into the electronics. Better yet, you can even take them snorkeling!

Three companies with a wide range of point-and-shoot waterproof digicam offerings are Pentax, Olympus and Ricoh; Fujifilm also makes QuickSnap single-use waterproof cameras, a good idea if you don’t frequently participate in water activities.

Pentax's waterproof line is called the Optio W-series. The current model is the 10-megapixel Optio W60 with a 5X zoom lens, although you can still find the older 7MP W20 and W30 versions online. Waterproof down to a depth of 13 ft., Pentax claims the W60 is dustproof and coldproof (to sub-zero temperatures) too, so you can take it skiing as well as swimming.

Olympus's Stylus SW line is called "Shock and waterproof" and is designed to sustain drops from 5 or 6 feet, water depths of 10 or 33 feet and temperatures down to -10°C. Five models are available, ranging from 8 to 10 megapixels.

Ricoh's 10-megapixel G600 is ruggedized to be water, impact and dirt-resistant; plus, it’s designed for outdoor activities such as swimming, skiing and hiking and has a special high-power flash for outdoor night shots. Two 8MP models are also available.

If none of these cameras meet your needs, you should definitely consider a waterproof case for your existing camera. The manufacturer may offer one as an accessory, as Canon does for many models or check out companies like Aquapac, DiCAPac and Otterbox who make both generic and model-specific cases for many popular digicams, typically costing about $20-$50.

While you're at it, snag a waterproof case for your smartphone or camcorder, too.

The wide open ocean awaits!