Take Underwater Video Of Humpback Whales With Your iPhone Using The Waterproof Catalyst Case

Not that you would use your iPhone to go snorkeling with humpback whales, but with a waterproof case from Catalyst Lifestyle, you could. Catalyst customer Aldric Augustin-Cheri recently took this video of a mother humpback whale with her youngster with an iPhone 5 and a Catalyst waterproof case. This case is no bulky monstrosity of a waterproof mobile phone case, but a slim version you’d feel comfortable having on your phone all the time, whether you’re diving with whales or just carrying your phone around in your pocket. While other waterproof mobile phone cases might make credible claims to be the most extreme, how many of us need or want to increase the size and weight of our phones until it feels like a brick? That’s what motivated Catalyst to go to great lengths to craft a case that provides minimum bulk and the maximum protection for everyday use, as well as the occasional extreme use.

Still from video taken by Aldric Augustin ­Cerie using his iPhone with the Catalyst waterproof case.

Catalyst is a Hong Kong based startup targeting the $2B worldwide market for waterproof mobile phone cases alongside competitors like OtterBox, LifeProof, and Griffin. It was started in 2011 by June Lai and Josh Wright, both avid outdoor adventurers, who fell in love with the iPhone but worried about keeping their phones safe while hiking, rock climbing, and spending time in or near water. After searching for a solution and finding nothing satisfactory on the market, they started Catalyst in Hong Kong in 2011 to create a waterproof, adventure-ready iPhone case so they could use their iPhones on all of their adventures.
The task of making a waterproof case that provided adequate protection and allowed for full functionality of the iPhone turned out to be more of a challenge than either Wright or Lai were expecting. The two founders went through many rounds of design, prototyping and testing to arrive at a final design direction. By August 2011 Wright and Lai had tested out 14 designs and prototypes and had their first generation waterproof case ready for production. They launched a 30-­day Kickstarter campaign which ultimately raised $54,943 from 586 backers. Catalyst is now selling their 3rd generation iPhone case that is waterproof to 5 meters. Throughout the development of each product, they continually tested and re­tested their product to ensure it would work far beyond what they advertise to consumers. Through a number of lab and field tests they’ve taken their cases far beyond the depth limits the company advertises. As well as launching new waterproof cases with industry leading performance, they have also launched a host of accessories for their cases and new line of waterproof sleeves for laptops and tablets.
People aren’t just using Catalyst cases to film humpback whales. Customers have submitted stories, photos, and video using the cases to freedive in the Red Sea, swim with sharks in Japan, hike in the Adirondacks and play in backyard pools.
Catalyst is working on their 4th generation cases for the iPhone 6 (yes, both sizes). Expect them on retail shelves and online worldwide soon.

Joshua Steimle is the CEO of MWI, a digital marketing agency with offices in the U.S. and Hong Kong.