The gas diffusion layer (GDL) plays an important role in the removal of product water from the catalyst layer to the flow plate in a fuel cell. Numerous studies have reported water management, especially in the GDL, as the limiting factor hindering convective and diffusive transport of reactants which results in lowering power density. In this paper, an experimental technique is presented to study the GDL water transport properties associated with the breakthrough conditions which are critical to overall water management. Fluorescence microscopy technique is used to measure the pressure and time required for water to penetrate and break through the surface of the GDL. The results obtained for GDLs produced by different manufacturers confirm that the breakthrough time and pressure are larger for PTFE treated hydrophobic GDLs. The results are analyzed in terms of the contact angle, thickness, and SEM images to see the effects of different structural properties. The changes in morphology due to compression are also presented. In addition, the changes in breakthrough conditions when samples are reused are presented. The results provide basic insights into the water transport properties of the GDL, leading to the design of new materials with enhanced water management.