Abstract: Embodiments are provided for enabling a user of an electronic device to select functions and facilitate operations while the electronic device is partially or fully submerged in a conductive material. According to certain aspects, the electronic device can analyze (934) contact data to determine that it is submerged in a conductive material. In some cases, the electronic device can initiate (938) various operating modes such as an imaging mode (940), an audio mode (949), a scrollable menu (954), or an illumination mode (968). The electronic device detects (944, 950, 956, 966) an actuation of a hardware button and performs (948, 952, 958, 968) a specified function according to the operating mode.