Sony has introduced its first swim-friendly Cyber-shot - a gadget, it claimed, is "the world’s thinnest and smallest waterproof digital still camera".

Diving belle: Sony's Cyber-shot TX55 is ready to snap marine life

The 10.2Mp DSC-TX5 is waterproof to a depth of 3m. The slimline case - it's 94 x 57 x 18mm - packs in a 3in LCD, 25mm wide-angle lens, 4x optical zoom, 45MB of storage, Memory Stick and SDHC card slots, and a rechargeable battery good for 250 shots.

In addition to all the customary photography features, the TX5 will let you shoot marine life in 720p HD at 30f/s. The optical image stabilisation will counter your motion as you flail about in the water.

Waterproof to a depth of 3m

The TX5 also sports a pan-to-shoot panoramic mode that will take shots as you go and smartly stitch them together afterwards.

Sony didn't say how much this travel treat will set you back, but we'll all find out when it goes on sale at the end of March. ®