Going skiing this weekend? Slip one of these weather- and waterproof cameras in your pocket.

A recent e-mail from a reader reminded me of waterproof cameras. I love the idea and just wish Canon would come out with a great waterproof PowerShot SD870 IS! You'd think that waterproof cameras are all about summer, but in my family at least, the second favorite winter sport after skiing would have to be snorkeling (yup, we're fans of the winter warm weather getaway).

Unless you want to get a scuba-diving-worthy camera that will be waterproof down to well under 100 feet like one of these from Sealife--or a waterproof housing for your camera like the one I included in a recent gift guide--these three cameras are essentially your only options:

Olympus Stylus 790 SW This is my top pick. Not only is the Stylus 790 SW waterproof to 10 feet, shockproof for up to 5-foot drops, and freezeproof down to 14 degrees Fahrenheit, but it also sports a slick design that doesn't scream waterproof and it comes in five vibrant colors (I like the orange!). The 7-megapixel camera includes a 3x optical zoom lens and has all the point-and-shoot features you'd want including new Face Detection technology. You can get a camera with better image quality for the same price (about $250) but you won't be as happy if you drop it in a snowbank this weekend.

Olympus Stylus 770 SW This slightly more expensive (about $300) predecessor to the 790 SW has similar specifications to its younger sibling (7 megapixels, 3x optical zoom, etc., but no Face Detection). It's not quite as compact or slick looking, but it is waterproof down to 33 feet, which would be better for snorkeling if you like to dive down. Like the 790 SW, it's freezeproof and shockproof, and because of its more rugged construction--with a stainless steel body and reinforced LCD--the 770 SW is also "crushproof" and able to withstand pressure of up to 220 pounds. Pentax Optio W30 For a slightly cheaper option, check out the Pentax Optio w30, which you can get for closer to $200 with a rebate from Pentax. The 7-megapixel W30 is waterproof down to 10 feet, sports a 3x optical zoom.