Memory cards tougher than we thought?
 

BBC News - South African owners of camera found in sea traced
Original story link BBC News - Cruise photos intact after camera hauled from seabed

Hmmm. that's pretty amazing. Makes me wonder what brand of card...

Yeah, it really depends... I accidentally walked into the ocean with a flash drive in my swimpants pocket and it was gone forever. Some are probably better made...

I've put many a flash drive through the washer and dryer accidentally. They were all fine so long as I let them dry out good before I tried them.

Theoretically, so long as nothing was corroded, there shouldn't be any damage if there was no electrical current to be shorted out by the water in the first place.

Greg

It's not unheard of for a flash memory card to be attached to sensors on a bridge that is being demolished. After the detonation, the gear is dug out of the mud on the bank of the river, with the data still readable when plugged back in.

Pretty impressive technology. Wish I had a URL to link to for you.

Andrew