Is DJI Mini 3 Pro Waterproof? (How to Protect It)

You try to plan your drone flights away from bodies of water and inclement weather, but sometimes, life happens. The last thing you want to do is shell out for a new drone after accidentally soaking yours, especially if you bought a pricy DJI drone.

Is the DJI Mini 3 Pro waterproof?

The DJI Mini 3 Pro is not waterproof right out of the box. You can protect yours by covering it in conformal coating (goodbye warranty), buying a drone wetsuit or float that fits your make and model, or avoiding water when flying as best you can.

If you’re interested in learning more about safeguarding your drone from water, this article will be chock full of handy information. Be sure to check it out!

Is the DJI Mini 3 Pro Waterproof? #

Waterproofing a drone is quite a task, and as such, many drone manufacturers don’t even attempt to do so. The DJI Mini 3 Pro is no exception.

As a matter of fact, DJI warns drone users to not only avoid flying a DJI drone in the rain but also in high humidity and foggy weather. Even a small amount of precipitation can cause a short circuit.

I’m not even sure how you could waterproof the Mini 3 Pro. There are so many ways that water could insidiously make its way into the interior.

The interior components of a drone system can get rather toasty, if I do say so myself. When the Mini 3 Pro is in hover mode or just sitting idle on the ground powered on, it can run really hot.

When it’s in motion, it runs much cooler. This is due to the vents it has built-in that send air through the drone as it’s moving and therefore cool the inner components.

Blocking the vents could very well lead to the interior components overheating or even burning up. Due to the small size of the Mini 3 Pro, this heat buildup within the craft is a bit more pronounced than if it was a larger drone like the Mavic 2 or 3.

Waterproofing the Mini 3 Pro would be a major problem, as you can see!

How to Protect the DJI Mini 3 Pro from Water #

Are you bummed out that the DJI Mini 3 Pro isn’t waterproof?

As I briefly talked about in the intro, you do have some methods for safeguarding the drone from water, some of which are more worthwhile than others.

That said, I want you to know the full extent of your options, so let’s go over them now.

Floats #

Your first option is to equip your drone with a set of floats. They kind of look like two pool noodles on the underside of your drone.

Floats can be a bit tricky to use, and they are not foolproof by any means. Please keep that in mind.

The idea behind them is easy enough to follow. Floats attach to your drone and should allow the aircraft to land or take off from the water. What they do especially well is keep the UAV from sinking.

Drone pilots have met with mixed results when using floats. Some floats work better for users than others, depending on the quality of what you buy.

One of the big issues with floats is that the action of taking off sometimes tips or even submerges your drone.

The very act of a drone landing or taking off requires a solid surface for the UAV to push against. We all know water is far from solid unless it’s frozen, hence the problem.

If one motor spins more than another, tipping the drone is very possible as the water will give way.

Floats can be a lifesaver to get the drone from the water in the event of a crash, as most, if not all, care programs or insurance policies will want to see the damaged UAV.

Beyond that, l would say use floats at your own risk.

Wetsuit #

Another product available for some DJI Mini models is a drone wetsuit.

Keep in mind that a wetsuit is not going to waterproof the drone completely, but it will provide additional protection if caught in a surprise rainstorm or when capturing a waterfall.

The wetsuit achieves this by protecting some key areas, such as the SD slot and the battery cover.

The added benefit of this product is that it allows for some customization of your Mini 3 Pro, as you can change its exterior appearance. Drone wetsuits are usually available in a huge variety of colors.

Conformal Coating #

With some isopropyl alcohol, a UV torch, and some conformal coating, you can create a mostly waterproof coating on your drone that’s sure to make being caught in the rain less unbearable.

Conformal coating can protect both the interior and exterior components of your Mini 3 Pro. You will have to take the drone apart to apply the coating, and there’s a lot of room for error here.

That’s why I’d caution you to think over this option carefully. The conformal coating won’t completely waterproof your drone, and applying it will void the warranty.

Avoid Exposure to Rain/Water #

Ultimately, the best protection for your DJI Mini 3 Pro or any consumer drone is not to fly it near water, be that rain, fog, or high-humidity areas.

If you’re worried you may be caught in a crazy pop-up summer storm while flying, then a drone wetsuit might put your mind more at ease.

Just be aware that no electronic device is waterproof. The closest you can get is water-resistant, and that is not the same as waterproof.

If you need superior water protection, you will want to look at specialty waterproof drones such as those offered by Swellpro and see what they have going on.

» MORE: Are Drones Waterproof? (5 Best Waterproof Drones)

They are currently the market leader in waterproof drones and have had very good success with getting nearly there.

Fly Safe, Fly Always, Always Fly Safe!