Waterproof, hands-free HoverAir Aqua drone launches at $999

Earlier this month, HoverAir teased the Aqua drone, a fully waterproof, self-flying camera designed for use in water environments. The pocketable flying camera is now available to buy through a crowdfunding campaign, with an early-bird price starting at $999

The Aqua continues HoverAir’s approach of building small, hands-free flying cameras that remove piloting from the equation. In our earlier coverage, the big hooks were clear: sub-249 g weight (no FAA registration for recreational flyers), IP-rated water protection, AI tracking, and Level 7 wind resistance with a 34 mph top tracking speed. Today’s launch adds a fuller spec sheet and confirms where Aqua sits on price.

The headline update is the $999 early-bird price for the basic bundle, which is 40% off the regular MSRP of $1,299. Other bundles include the Fly More Combo with extra batteries, priced at $1,199 today instead of $1,676, and the $1,399 Land and Sea Combo, which also features a Beacon and joysticks as well as a landing pad.

HoverAir is again using crowdfunding — the same playbook it used for previous self-flying cameras — to seed early demand and bundle launch perks for backers.

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Specs now published by HoverAir fill in key details:

• Waterproof design: IP67 waterproofing paired with neutral buoyancy, so Aqua can take off and land on water.
• Camera system: 4K/100 fps capture on a 1/1.28-inch CMOS sensor, 12 MP stills, H-LOG and HDR support, plus a self-heating, hydrophobic, anti-fog lens designed for wet, splashy scenes.
• Stabilization and modes: SmoothCapture 3.0 stabilization with 15+ automated flight modes, including new snorkel and gimbal modes for low-angle or semi-submerged framing.
• Weight and endurance: Under 249 g, 23-minute stated flight time, and Level 7 wind resistance (up to 33 knots) with tracking up to 34 mph.
• Storage: Up to 128 GB UFS 2.2 onboard.
• Control and safety: The new Lighthouse wearable accessory lets you start/stop recording, launch, land, change modes, and recall the aircraft. A Virtual Tether triggers auto-return if the drone strays beyond a set distance.
• On-device viewing: A 1.6-inch AMOLED screen on the drone provides a live preview in handheld/snorkel use and quick clip review without a phone.

Those additions round out the use case HoverAir is targeting: creators and families who want third-person shots on lakes, rivers, and near the surf — without handing a controller to someone else or risking a non-waterproof (albeit much cheaper!) DJI drone.

Aqua is not pitched at filmmakers replacing a big-sensor pro rig. It’s for hands-free capture where water is central to the activity: paddleboarding, kayaking, wakeboarding, jet skiing, fishing, or boat days.

The sub-249 g weight keeps compliance simple for recreational flyers in the US, while IP67 and neutral buoyancy remove the “one splash and it’s over” fear that comes with traditional drones. Our earlier look emphasized those pillars; today’s launch confirms Aqua keeps them while adding clarity on imaging and control.

HoverAir typically moves to retail channels after crowdfunding, but timelines for post-campaign availability and shipping windows will come from the campaign page and future company updates.

For now, the Aqua keeps HoverAir’s focus on autonomous, compact flying cameras while shifting the playground to water. With the price set and control/display details added, the pitch is straightforward: a sub-250 g, waterproof, hands-free drone that takes off and lands on water and captures stabilized 4K video — without the usual anxiety of flying near the splash zone.

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