Take Your Apple iPod Underwater

November 19, 2004 By Ian Bell

H20 Audio launches first underwater housing for Apple's iPod mini from surf to snow - H2O Audio enables iPod mini to endure all elements.

The SV-iMini includes a unique waterproof dial and push button assembly providing full access to the iPod mini’s proprietary Click Wheel controls.

Watersports enthusiasts can now take their iPod mini with them while participating in sports such as wakeboarding, surfing, snowboarding, swimming and kayaking. H2O Audio’s patented waterproof headset is lightweight and designed to stay securely fastened through the wipeouts, flips and turns endured by today’s surfers, snowboarders and wakeboarders.

“Having music in the water is simply amazing,” said Peter Mel, professional surfer and world-class big wave rider. “Big props to H2O for creating a product that could be the biggest technological advancement in surfing since the short board.”

H2O Audio SV-Mini Designed for extreme wear and tear, the new H2O Audio SV-iMini includes H2O Audio’s durable waterproof housing featuring easy-to-use controls and a comfortable waterproof headset. Patented technology allows the device and headphones to play clear music both in and out of the water. The H2O Audio SV-iMini is an accessory for Apple’s hugely successful iPod mini, which stores up to 1,000 songs in its 4 GB of memory.

“Apple’s iPod mini has made waves in popular culture,” said Kristian Rauhala, CEO of H2O Audio. “Our SV-iMini lets customers enjoy their iPod mini in places they never before imagined, such as the ocean, ski slopes or swimming pool.”

H2O Audio SV-iMini Key Features

Showing 23 comments

Mary at 11:29am 27th March 2006 I have the latest case and headphones from H20 Audio, with the belt to wear while swimming. I swim a mile in the pool three times a week and it works great. I'm not sure it would hold up to kayaking or waterskiing but it copes fine with lap swimming and 10 minutes in the steam room after. It is kind of annoying because its hard to change the music without stopping, taking the belt off and playing with the Otterbox. I had to reorganize my playlists because you can't just skip past stuff.
Sara at 3:50pm 2nd March 2006 I have an ipod and really wanted a case so I could swim with it. I found a much cheaper solution. I purchased an iriver mp3 player [it only holds about 40 songs] but the mp3 player AND case to swim with only cost $60. Its alot lighter then an ipod would be and I just clip it to the back of my bathsuit and go. The quality of music is amazing.
John at 12:53pm 21st February 2006 Hey, here's my take as a jetskier and a kayaker. Buy the crappiest, cheapest mp3 player you can get. If it gets dunked... take the batteries out as soon as possible and let it dry for atleast a day.

If it gets ruined, you aren't out much money.

Doesn't help the swimmers much... but for the rest of us its close. My current player is a buslink 256 that I paid like $30 for. Its been completely submerged 4 or 5 times. I've been under water with the earphones still in and it keeps playing.

Downside is the screen died on the second time under and I've been thru some cheap headphones. No body likes dirty river water headphones :) This won't be my first dead mp3 player.

They are basically throw-aways and you don't worry much. I'd be freakin' out if my ipod or my nomad went under... even if it was in a waterproof bag.

If it makes you feel better, you could put the cheapie in a waterproof bag and put a small hole through it for your headphones. It'll still get wet, but not as bad. Just take the batteries out as soon as you recover from your fall.

I'm going to heatshrink mine this year. Can't use the screen anyway. It'll prob die and I'll go buy another 256mb buslink.

Oh and this isn't a glowing review for that buslink. Sound quality is good... everything else sucks... Its just cheap and it works.

John
Steve at 8:42pm 28th December 2005 They need to come out with one for scuba, atleast one that can hold up to 70 feet.
bill kortbawi at 5:43am 19th December 2005 could you please tell me where I can purchase an Ipod mini water ressitant, I live in Sydney Australia. my mobile is 0405 478 338.
despearte to buy one
regards
Bill
Lindsey at 8:14pm 14th December 2005 i work as a waterskier and i was wondering if this would with-stand me waterskiing everyday, its not like i am wakeboarding and taking hard falls but i do fall when i am being pulled at about 14 mph and just would like to know if this is worh the investment
John Kenny at 9:40pm 4th November 2005 I did find one of these cases on bay...still available...for $85.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item...
Mike at 9:26pm 3rd October 2005 Podccessories.com currently has it on clearance for $136.

http://www.podccessories.com/advanced_search_resul...
marco at 10:10am 2nd October 2005 I purchased the Oregon Scientific MP3 player to help me from getting bored swimming laps. Have to say that i'm not happy with it, the earpieces do not stay very long. The moment i take off, they fly off. The silicon covers that go on the ear piece are not thick enough for an adult male ear. Buy it at you own risk.
fungku at 4:10pm 27th September 2005 designtechnica doesnt sell anything. you should go to the manufacturer website that produces this product, in this case H20 Audio: http://www.h2oaudio.com/index.php
Lucy Vanstone at 11:42am 26th September 2005 Hi

Can I ask a quick question please. I am realy interested in purchasing a IPOD underwater mini. Does your price include the actual IPOD itself as well as the waterproof housing or is the price just for the waterproof housing on it's own.

Thank-you for answering my question, I hope to hear from you soon.
Henry Wheatley at 11:31pm 24th September 2005 My daughter`s birthday is coming up and she wants an I Pod that she can swim in. I really need to know if this thing works as she spends a lot of time in the pool. Please advise.
Russ at 10:23pm 11th September 2005 I just bought the SwiMP3 (MP3 and Headset)that has the ear phones that vibrate the bones in your jaw rather than using the outer ear. Supposed to give much better sound since the vibration is not affected by water. I just ordered it today. Perfect world would be that headset with an IPod.
jords at 5:24pm 6th August 2005 I know it is waterproof and until they come with an inner ear/sonic vibration type speaker system the audio headphones will have to do and that means maybe falling off during some wipeouts.
Pretty good for the first version technology i would say.

Now the BIG question. Can you tell me when the iPod Shuffle version will be available.
James at 12:18am 15th July 2005 yeah their need to be one for a regular 20 gig ipod
L33tguy at 3:24pm 22nd June 2005 is there on for the regular iPod?
Aisha at 7:47am 10th June 2005 I have been waiting ofr something like this for a long time. I have never been a fan of ipods but now i really want one I hope You mean everything that you are saying.
Tony at 8:52am 23rd May 2005 Got one of these for my son last week and it works great! We've only used it down to 10 feet so far, and it certainly stays dry. Would be great for windsurfing. Doubt the head phones would stay on in a major wipeout. One thing's for sure though - if you aren't good enough to stay up on your board, there would be no damage to your equipment and only a slightly bruised ego.
fungku at 9:52am 17th May 2005 C

Sounds like you are trying to get some poor sap to send you an ipod.

From the article itself (if you read it):
Watersports enthusiasts can now take their iPod mini with them while participating in sports such as wakeboarding, surfing, snowboarding, swimming and kayaking.

Also, and I'll post this twice for ya:
Designed for extreme wear and tear
Designed for extreme wear and tear

And Kristian isn't asking if it will stay on while wakeboarding (I would sure hope you secure it well enough that you dont worry about it falling off, or else you deserve to lose it) but rather if the product works cause he wouldnt want to ruin the ipod. I interpret that as "does it actually keep it watertight?"

i dont understand your comments at all anyways. how would anyone here be biased. I know I dont work for H2 Audio. I dont own any of their products. But I do know that if they claim their product does one thing, and in reality it doesnt, they are opening themselves up for lawsuits.
TechFreak at 9:25am 17th May 2005 To C:

Who are you saying is bias? I am not seeing any bias in any of these posts....Fungku just made a suggestion, and even says he doesn't know for sure.
C at 8:02am 17th May 2005 Stay on while wakeboarding? I highly doubt this unit can take that kind of abuse.

Why don't you give one of these units to the Pat from Wakeboarder.com and let him put it through the paces.

If it holds up, I am sure he will post a positive article about it.

Until then, are we supposed to just believe you and risk our capital? You are a tad bias in this, I say give it to a non-biased third party and then we will see if your claims are true
fungku at 4:34pm 16th May 2005 I'd imagine that they would have to stand by their product. I dont have it though so I couldnt say for sure.
Kristian Sexton at 3:53pm 16th May 2005 Does this thing work? I want to windsurf while listening the Metallica, but don't want to ruin an expensive piece of audio equipment.