Let’s take a trip down memory lane to a sandy beach on a hot summer’s day where you’d find a suitable area halfway between the shore and the ice-cream van, not too close to that noisy family; erect your umbrella, lay out the deck chairs and place the cooler strategically in the shade. Once that was done it was either go straight into the sea or sunbathe listening to the accompanying beach sounds of chatting, laughing and the waves lapping on the shore. At a certain time you’d get out your small radio to listen to the Sunday football results – the only gadget that you needed to take with you.

Fast forward to today’s beach trips where the hand-held radio has seen its demise to be replaced by mobile phones, iPods and laptops (yes, even where there’s sand!) Gadgets are our constant companion as we want to be connected, we want to capture the moments, and we want to be entertained by technology.

Beaches, boats and the sea can hardly be considered a gadget’s best friend but if being away from technology has you stuttering and breaking out in a rash at merely the thought of it, there’s no need to worry anymore as technology has become summer-proofed!

Here’s a list to help you keep up with all the latest tech gadgets while taking in the rays.

1. Kodak Playsport Video Camera – This particular video camera comes with the following specifications: waterproof up to 10ft, 1080p video recording, 5.0 MP still photos, 16:9 widescreen capture and playback. So no amount of jumping into the sea is going to keep you safe from a camera this summer!
2. If you prefer your snapshots to your video then there’s something for you too… the Casio Exilim EX-G1. With 12.1 megapixels it’s waterproof up to 10 feet, shock resistant from up to 7 foot drop and has 38 MB of internal storage. With this baby you’ll never miss another action shot again.
3. You’ve already got an iPod and/or iPhone but you don’t want to stuff in your earphones and lose out on the conversation around you? Well, that’s not a problem anymore with Logitech’s Pure-Fi Anywhere 2 speaker dock. Compatible with both the iPhone and iPod it has a 10-hour battery life, charges your iPod or iPhone, has one-touch shuffle and repeat controls. It’s good for the beach, but don’t try swimming with it.
4. We all know about the dangers of prolonged sun exposure; however, how do you know when prolonged is too long? The Oregon Scientific EB612 UV Monitor calculates the recommended exposure time based on skin type, sun block SPF level and comes with countdown timer to alert you to move into the shade.
5. If it’s practicality that you’re after then the Juice Bag Solar Beach Tote could be the thing for you (assuming cost is no option as this retails for a juicy $230). Comprising durable cotton and nylon construction, this stylish tote has a solar panel with which you can charge your gadgets using your bag! The solar panel is removable so the bag can be cleaned as needed.
6. Looking, and feeling, cool on the beach is the prerogative of many so the Rolling Cooler/Audio System will help you do just that. The outside has an AM/FM radio with two 3-watt speakers that fit into a removable nylon sleeve; meanwhile, the Igloo cooler holds up to 58 tall cans (yes, that’s a lot of beer!) and the whole thing is on wheels for hassle-free portability.
7. Let’s capture some more beach images using the Digital Hero 3 which is a 3.0 megapixel camera that is worn on the wrist and can submerge to depths of 100 feet and can take up to 54 minutes of video and last for over three hours of continuous use.
8. Although you love your iPod you know that it’s not waterproof so perhaps you need something like the Freestyle Audio Sport 1GB MP3 player that for $130 lets you dive down to 10 feet while staying charged for 30 hours. It comes with waterproof ear buds and even floats.
9. Of course if you’re absolutely attached to your iPod and would never cheat on it with another MP3 player like the one above then you could always opt for the Ego iPod Waterproof Sound Case. Complete with battery-powered speakers, the $150 Ego is shatterproof, waterproof and has a rubber membrane that lets you control the player.
10. You wouldn’t go to the beach without a beach towel, so why not get the Hi-Sun Beach Towel with built-in speakers? This towel has a 3.5mm universal jack for your iPhone, iPod or any other type of MP3 player out there.
11. Relaxing on the beach with a good book is like heaven on earth for some, but, which book? Funny, serious, fiction, fantasy, biography? With the Kindle you can have a whole library at your fingertips without the risk of wetting the pages.
12. Whatever gadget you decide to take with you to the beach it’s important to keep it protected from the sea and sun, and Aquapac’s 100% waterproof cases do just that. Available for your camera, be it a point and shoot or an SLR; your iPod, whether you’re a shuffle or a classic-type; your mobile phone, iPhone or Blackberry it doesn’t care and various other gadgets.
13. Another great device for music-lovers out there is the Elima waterproof Bluetooth speaker. All you need to do is keep your MP3 player close by and the speaker will start belting out tunes. Completely waterproof this is ideal for pools or even the sea as waves won’t affect it… unless it floats away!
14. A somewhat pricey gadget but sure to provide hours of fun is the Reef Rider underwater scooter that can go 3.5 kilometers per hour, dive down to 3 meters deep and work for 50 minutes. The Reef Rider can be charged on your car or boat and weighs a trivial 5kg. This bullet of fun will set you back €189.95.
15. Want to keep your hands free while diving? Then an underwater digital camera mask is just what you need; there are several brands available with their own specifications ranging from about 3 to 5 megapixels able to reach depths from 15 feet to 130 feet. As a diver and someone who enjoys snapping pics this is definitely something that I would seriously consider.
16. Finally, if you’re after something that doesn’t actually do anything apart from providing some fun and relaxation then the Floatable Sofa is just the thing! Choose between single, double or big and forget about deck chairs and lilos, this sofa does it all!

Enjoy the technology of summer; just don’t forget to actually swim every now and again!

Published in TECHNOLOGY SUPPLEMENT, The Sunday Times – July 25, 2010