First place in our ranking. The strongest all-round package for hobbyists and semi-professionals: 6,000 lumens of light, a battery that lasts several hours, slow motion at 240 frames per second and an interface for over 20 tools. For pure holiday videos, though, it is more drone than you need.
- 6,000 lumens of light, the brightest in the comparison
- Large battery (14,400 mAh), up to 5 h dive time according to the manufacturer
- Slow motion at 240 fps, photos also as RAW (DNG)
- Q-IF interface for gripper arm, sonar, laser and sensors
- 4K only at 30 frames (V-EVO: 60)
- From €2,899 excl. VAT, with gripper arm from €3,899 excl. VAT
- 4.6 kg and a large transport package
- Who it is for: Advanced pilots, divers, clubs, boat owners and anyone who wants to retrofit accessories such as a gripper arm or sonar later.
- Strengths: Light, runtime, expandability and free movement in all directions with attitude and depth hold.
- Weaknesses: Price, weight and only 30 frames per second in 4K.
- Alternative: If you mainly want to film and spend less, take the FIFISH V-EVO from €1,599 excl. VAT.
Rating in detail
How the grade comes about: we rate technical data, features and price using our grading scheme and evaluate published user reports. A hands-on test in the water is planned. Once it is done, we will add our own footage and measurements to this review.
Introduction: what is the FIFISH V6 Expert?
QYSEA from Shenzhen sells its underwater drones under the name FIFISH. The V6 Expert is the new edition of the well-known V6 and sits in the range between the hobby drone V-EVO and the industrial models such as the E-GO. It is aimed at pilots for whom a filming drone is no longer enough: divers who scout their dive site in advance, boat owners who check hull and anchor, and clubs, fire brigades and researchers who need measuring instruments or a gripper arm.
It shares its trademark with the whole V series: the drone can move and tilt in all directions. That means it can drive sideways, lie on its side or look straight down while holding its attitude. For inspecting a boat propeller or a sheet-pile wall, that is a big advantage over drones that only drive forwards, backwards, up and down like a small submarine.
Technical data
| Dive depth | up to 100 m |
| Tether | 100 m (M100) or 200 m (M200) |
| Camera | 1/2.3" Sony sensor, 12 megapixels, aperture f/2.5, 166° field of view |
| Video | 4K at 30/25 frames per second, slow motion at 240 frames per second |
| Photo | 12 MP, also as RAW (DNG) |
| Storage | 128 GB, memory card replaceable from the outside |
| Light | 2 LED lights with 6,000 lumens in total |
| Battery | 14,400 mAh (about 156 Wh), 90% charged in approx. 1 h |
| Dive time | up to 5 h according to the manufacturer; optional continuous operation on shore power (OPSS) |
| Movement | 360°, 6 degrees of freedom, attitude and depth hold (Posture Lock, Depth Lock) |
| Speed | up to 3 knots (1.5 m/s) |
| Size and weight | 383 × 331 × 143 mm, 4.6 kg |
| Expansion | Q-IF interface, over 20 tools, compatible with V6 and V6s accessories |
| Gripper arm | 100 N gripping force, neutrally buoyant in water (in the A packages) |
| Control | Remote control with smartphone holder, FIFISH app, VR headset with head tracking |
| Price Germany | €2,899 to €4,198 excl. VAT depending on package (QYSEA shop); with 19% VAT approx. €3,450 to €5,000 |
| Price Switzerland | CHF 3,050 incl. VAT for the M100 set, CHF 3,750 for the M200 set (tauchshop.ch) |
Camera and image quality
The camera uses a 1/2.3-inch Sony sensor with 12 megapixels. That is the same sensor size as in most hobby drones, but the V6 Expert gets more out of it: if you wish, it saves photos as a RAW file (DNG). That lets you correct white balance and colours afterwards on a computer. Underwater this is especially valuable, because red and orange disappear after just a few metres of depth. You can read more in our practice article Colours underwater.
It records video in 4K at 30 or 25 frames per second. For calm shots of wrecks, rock walls or boat hulls, that is perfectly adequate. If you want to film fast fish or fast camera pans, you are better served by the 60 frames per second of the cheaper V-EVO. In return, the V6 Expert has genuine slow motion at 240 frames per second, which makes a school of fish or swirling sand look very impressive.
QYSEA quotes the field of view as 166°. Underwater every lens looks narrower, because the light is refracted at the camera glass. In practice you still get a wide picture, which helps you keep your bearings in poor visibility. The image stabilisation (Q-Steady 2.0) compensates for small movements of the drone, so footage stays steady even in light swell.
Light: 6,000 lumens
When it comes to light, the V6 Expert is number one in our comparison. Two LED lights deliver 6,000 lumens together, the V-EVO manages 5,000, and the Chasing Gladius Mini S considerably less. In the lakes of the Alpine region that is no luxury: below 20 to 30 metres it gets dark even on sunny days, and in murky waters such as many gravel-pit lakes you cannot see anything after just a few metres without light.
A practical tip: in murky water it helps not to set the light to full strength. Otherwise floating particles reflect the light back into the camera and the picture turns milky. It is better to start at half power and turn it up.
Battery and runtime
The battery has 14,400 mAh, which equals about 156 watt-hours. That is considerably more than the V-EVO (97 Wh). QYSEA quotes up to 5 hours of dive time. This figure applies to calm hovering. If you drive a lot, work against current or turn the light up fully, expect less. A report from a research project in Florida speaks of almost 6 hours of use on the reef, although without precise details of how much driving was involved.
Fast charging is handy: according to the manufacturer, the battery is 90% full after about an hour. The battery is, however, built in. If you need to work all day without a break, you can add the optional shore power system (OPSS). It supplies the drone with power through the tether and charges the battery at the same time. For hobby pilots that is usually not necessary. How to keep your battery healthy for a long time is covered in our guide Battery care.
Movement and control
The V6 Expert moves in all six directions and can rotate about every axis. Two functions make the difference in everyday use:
- Posture Lock (attitude hold): The drone keeps its angle even when driving forwards or backwards. That lets you, for example, drive along a rock wall with the camera tilted 45° downwards.
- Depth Lock (depth hold): The drone holds its depth automatically. That takes some load off while filming, because you only have to worry about direction.
At up to 3 knots (1.5 m/s), the V6 Expert is fast enough for light current in rivers or at lake outlets. In strong current, though, every drone of this size reaches its limits, not least because the tether adds drag. We explain how to go about it in the article Flying in currents.
Control is by remote control and a smartphone or tablet on which the FIFISH app shows the live picture. With the VR headset you steer the camera through head movements. That is fun but tiring on longer missions. One user report calls the learning curve steeper than with simple beginner drones. That matches our assessment: moving freely in all directions takes a few missions of practice before it feels natural.
Accessories and the Q-IF interface
What really sets the V6 Expert apart from the V-EVO is the Q-IF interface. According to QYSEA, more than 20 tools can be connected through it, including older parts for the V6 and V6s. For hobby pilots and clubs, these are the most interesting:
| Accessory | What for |
|---|---|
| Gripper arm (100 N) | Retrieving lost objects such as phones, keys or anchors from the bottom |
| Recovery hook | Hooking on loads of up to 100 kg and pulling them up with a rope |
| Laser scale, rangefinder, altimeter | Measuring sizes and distances underwater, for example damage to a jetty or hull |
| 2D sonar | Seeing what lies ahead of the drone, even in murky water |
| Second camera, action-cam mount, extra light | More angles and more light for filming projects |
| Water sampler, sensors for oxygen, salinity, turbidity, pH | Water science, schools, fishing and conservation clubs |
| U-QPS, DVL, USBL | Determining position underwater and holding the drone in place (more of a professional area) |
Important: almost all of this costs extra, and some modules several hundred euros. If you know for certain that you need a gripper arm, one of the A packages works out cheaper than buying it later.
Packages and prices
| Package | Contents | Price (DE) |
|---|---|---|
| M100 | 100 m tether, foam case | €2,899 excl. VAT |
| M200 | 200 m tether, rugged industrial case | €3,499 excl. VAT |
| M100A | Gripper arm, 100 m tether, industrial case | €3,899 excl. VAT |
| M200A | Gripper arm, 200 m tether, industrial case | €4,198 excl. VAT |
All packages include the drone, tether reel, remote control, VR headset and chargers. For most lakes in Germany, Austria and Switzerland, the M100 package is enough: with 100 metres of tether you reach the drone's maximum dive depth, as long as you do not have to go far from the shore. The 200-metre tether is worthwhile if you want to go far out from the shore or work from a boat in current. Prices according to the QYSEA shop Germany, as of October 2026. In the shops they fluctuate, and you can often find used V6 models considerably cheaper. What to look out for when buying second-hand is covered in our guide Buying second-hand without getting soaked.
V6 Expert compared
| FIFISH V6 Expert | FIFISH V-EVO | Chasing M2 S | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grade | 1.5 | 1.8 | 1.9 |
| Dive depth | 100 m | 100 m | 100 m |
| Video | 4K/30, slow motion 240 fps | 4K/60 | 4K |
| Light | 6,000 lm | 5,000 lm | 4,000 lm |
| Battery | approx. 156 Wh, built in | 97 Wh, built in | replaceable |
| Movement | 360°, 6 degrees of freedom | 360°, 6 degrees of freedom | 360°, 8 thrusters |
| Accessories | Q-IF, over 20 tools | Gripper arm, VR, HDMI box | wide range of accessories |
| Price | from €2,899 excl. VAT | from €1,599 excl. VAT | from €2,799 incl. VAT (DE) |
V6 Expert or V-EVO? If you mainly want to film, take the V-EVO: smoother 4K video and €1,300 saved. The V6 Expert is worthwhile if you want to stay underwater for a long time at a stretch, work in deep, dark lakes, or need accessories such as sonar or measuring tools.
V6 Expert or Chasing M2 S? Both are accessory platforms. The M2 S has a replaceable battery, the V6 Expert more light, slow motion and RAW photos. We compare the two brands in detail in FIFISH vs Chasing.
Use on lakes in Germany, Austria and Switzerland
The V6 Expert plays to its strengths in deep, clear Alpine lakes, where light and runtime count:
- Walchensee (German) (up to 190 m): You can follow the rock walls down to the 100 m limit using attitude hold and a tilted camera.
- Attersee (German) (up to 169 m): Clear water and great depths, ideal for long missions with the large battery.
- Bodensee (German) (up to 251 m): Wrecks and rock walls; for long distances from the shore, the 200 m tether is worthwhile.
- Kreidesee Hemmoor (German) (up to approx. 60 m): Around 40 sunken objects. Be sure to ask the dive centre for permission first.
Whether and where underwater drones are allowed differs from lake to lake. The rules are on each lake's page in our dive sites (German).
Pros and cons
- 6,000 lumens, the brightest light in our comparison
- Large battery with fast charging (90% in approx. 1 h)
- Slow motion at 240 fps and RAW photos
- Movement in all directions with attitude and depth hold
- Q-IF interface with over 20 tools
- Memory card replaceable from the outside, 128 GB included
- German QYSEA shop
- 4K only at 30 frames per second
- Expensive, especially with the gripper arm
- Battery built in
- 4.6 kg plus tether reel and case
- Longer learning curve than with beginner drones
In the video
QYSEA's official introduction of the V6 Expert:
Frequently asked questions
How deep can the FIFISH V6 Expert dive?
Down to 100 metres. The tether comes in 100 or 200 metres. For maximum depth directly below the shore or boat, 100 metres of tether is enough.
How long does the battery last?
QYSEA quotes up to 5 hours. That applies to calm hovering. With a lot of driving, current and full lighting, it is considerably less. After about an hour the battery is back to 90%.
What is the difference between the V6 Expert and the V-EVO?
The V6 Expert has more light (6,000 instead of 5,000 lumens), a larger battery, slow motion at 240 fps, RAW photos and the Q-IF interface for accessories. The V-EVO films 4K at 60 instead of 30 frames per second, is lighter and costs €1,300 less.
Is the package with the gripper arm worth it?
Yes, if you want to recover objects. The gripper arm has 100 N of gripping force, and in the package it is cheaper than buying it separately later. For pure filming you do not need it.
Is the V6 Expert suitable for beginners?
In principle yes, depth and attitude hold even help. But moving freely in all directions takes practice. If you only want to film now and then on holiday, a cheaper drone suits you better, see Underwater drones under 1,000 euros.
Do I need a permit?
You do not need a licence. Whether underwater drones are allowed on a lake, however, is decided by each lake. You can find the rules on our dive site pages (German).
Verdict
The FIFISH V6 Expert is the best underwater drone in our comparison, but not the best for everyone. Light, runtime and expandability are unmatched in this price class. If you want to work for a long time, deep down and with accessories, this is the strongest all-round package.
If you mainly want to shoot beautiful videos, the FIFISH V-EVO saves you €1,300 and even gives you smoother 4K footage. You will find all the models at a glance in our ranking.
You can find reactions and comments on this article in the Unterwasserpilot forum (in German, English posts welcome).
Lost something important underwater that a hobby drone can no longer recover? UDRA offers professional recovery missions in Austria.
