Technology has come a long way in just a few years. Living near water like we do and teaching swim lessons I was absolutely floored 2 years ago when I realized that there were actually waterproof cameras. Not just the casing but the camera itself. At that time the technology was so new the camera cost $379 plus tax, but it was DEFINATELY worth it! Lets step back a moment and look at the progression of cameras at least in my memory.

Growing up pictures have always been a large part of my life. My mother was the BEST when it came to taking pictures. In those days she actually had to think about every picture she took because it cost money. With 35mm film even if she didn't get charged for the print because she didn't take it she did have to buy the film. I grew up in the old world style of the day I was born my mother quit her "job" (and I use that word in quotes because she started the hardest job of her life that day), and was a stay at home Mom for 11 years with my brother and myself. Still she felt that these memories were vital for our family and our history so I have no idea how much she did without in order for us to have the scrap books (that she also put together in her "free" time) and visual memories.

Today things are a little different yet the desire and need to hold our memories in our hands has not changed. While now we do have online photo albums and we can call long distance without being charged per minute, being a parent changes your view on memories. You no longer trust your memory to hold the precious moments. And now we have digital cameras!

Now when my daughter was born I started to realize that my husband and I didn't have a whole lot of pictures of us from before our wedding. I wanted to make sure I rectified that after our daughter was born. Living in FL and being a swim instructor I was floored when I went into Best Buy and saw a true waterproof digital camera. No case required, just the camera!

Of course I got what I wanted (what husband is going to say no to his wife who just gave birth to their baby daughter?) Now I look online because of course I want to upgrade, and find that you can get a shock proof, freeze proof, water proof, in other words 2 year old proof camera for under $200!!! I cannot tell you how great this is for a parent, not to mention a swim instructor.

I use my camera to take videos and pictures that I put online weekly for the grandparents. I also have pictures on my wall of our daughter jumping in the water, on water slides, in the ocean, fish from our snorkeling adventures, in general pictures that not everyone can have. If you are in the market for a digital camera you have to check these out. They are really only about $25-50 more than a "regular" camera, but the durability pays for itself with one drop of the camera!