Thinking "out loud" here...
I am considering adding some sort of floatation device (pontoons made from either foam pipe insulation or pool "noodles") as a safety measure. I have my drone insured against crash damage (including water damage) as long as there is no negligent flying, the aircraft is recovered, and the water damage isn't salt water. The pontoons I would put on the aircraft would ensure that if I had a water crash that the P3 would float long enough for a recovery. I have no aspirations of landing on the water. Rotor wing effects near the surface of the water are scary and might cause damage to the aircraft, camera or gimbal--very low flight is out of the question.
I will be videoing a crew (rowing) practice here shortly, and although I am confident in my ability to fly safely and trust my aircraft's reliability, I still want an extra measure of safety, if the worst should happen. I don't even care if the thing floats upright (although, that would be an added bonus if there were an uncommanded landing on the water). Any pontoons I add can't interfere with the camera movement or field of view, since shooting video is the reason I'm doing this flight in the first place.
I'd be pleased to hear of any ideas, or (even better) some experience. I'm going to do the over water flight anyway. I recognize the added risk of over water flight--I'd just like to know that I could get the airframe back for an insurance claim, if that ever came to be.
Thanks for any perspectives on this.
---H