like an slr but not

I'll have some money to burn soon and am looking to go to a new level with my cameras, am still using my IXUS 400 and more than happy with its indestrucability.

i want a camera to use both under and above the water

Am looking at the likes of Canons S3 - IS (does anyone know if theres any plans to make a 40m housing for this the ikelite 60 m is just too serious)

Sony H9 (any one know of a housing)

and other similar class of digital camera

in fact the only camera in this catergory with a housing is the olympus sp 550 uz , has anyone used this underwater yet? what is the housing like?

does anyone know of up coming releases between now and november that i should wait on.

I'm working abroad at the momentand will be home in 4 weeks for a brief spell and then again in november, i have plans to go diving in burma in march so want the camera for then.

any tips?

it's hard to fall in love with the oly 550UZ for underwater use. The housing has a huge TV tube (ask your grandpa what that is ;-) ) snout on it to accomodate the lens, it extends pretty far forward on zoom, retracts pretty far when wide. So that means no add-on lenses and a pretty large, bulky, awkward, expensive housing. Oly doesn't make any great compact camera for UW right now, the days of the 5050 and sp350 are over. I think they want to get you into an E410 slr, but with the housing, ports, and lenses, you're probably looking at a $2k buy-in.

I gotta say, though, if you really want to go to a new level, get an SLR. Compacts have improved, but I'm not sure a new one would take you to a new level the way an SLR would.

Just had a interesting idea pointed out to me, that the canon A570IS can have lenses added to it and is GBP200 cheaper, most digitals macro is great anyway its just the wide angle for those hanging over the reef huge shoals shoots.

out the water it can have lenses added to it as well. I'm only looking at amateur stuff, an SLR is just to much money, i'm willing to spend about GBP500 ($1000)

Is anyone using the A570IS underwater????

I haven't used the A570 underater. Right now it's probably the best balance between price, capabilities and quality.