The Galaxy S22 was Samsung's first phone series to use components manufactured from recycled discarded fishing nets. Samsung's efforts to clean the oceans and help marine ecosystems have continued since. And now, the company is joining the US-based nonprofit organization Seatrees to assist in its coral reef restoration actions.

To help these efforts, Samsung is empowering community members working in Fiji, Indonesia, and the USA with innovative Galaxy technologies. One such technology is a proprietary camera mode Samsung has developed specially for the task.

It's called Ocean Mode, and divers use it on Samsung mobile devices like the Galaxy S24 Ultra to take pictures of coral reefs. These underwater photos can be used to analyze the health and growth of coral reefs and develop 3D models.

Samsung has shared a few of those photos captured underwater with the Galaxy S24 Ultra and Ocean Mode (via Newsroom). See the gallery above.

A technology that's not available to consumers

This impressive Ocean Mode camera technology allows divers to take high-quality photos without worrying about the water itself having a lensing effect. However, Ocean Mode is not widely available. It was developed exclusively for these coral reef restoration efforts in collaboration with Seatrees. And there is a good reason why Ocean Mode is not a consumer-grade camera mode.

Namely, none of Samsung's IP-rated Galaxy phones are meant to go into the ocean. Even though Samsung Galaxy flagship phones, like the Galaxy S24 Ultra and Galaxy S25 Ultra, have IP ratings that ensure they are protected from dust and water ingress in most conditions, they are not rated for salt water.

The salt content can degrade the adhesives and seals that make Galaxy devices water-resistant. Should your Galaxy phone drop in salt water, Samsung recommends rinsing it with fresh water and drying it with a soft cloth as quickly as possible.

Samsung overcame this shortcoming by encasing these special ocean-diving Galaxy S24 Ultras in waterproof housings. Divers put their Galaxy phones inside these housings before they swim to the ocean floor to take photos of corals.

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