underwater videographer course | equipment | avoiding disaster

Avoiding Underwater Video Disasters

How to avoid disaster with underwater video equipment

(Precautions)

Check screws on arrival and regularly

Test dive new or modified housing

Work all controls at depth

Regular O-ring maintenance

Use lanyard and unclip late

Be very careful where you put your housing on the boat

Lay housing on lowest level and across the boat so it doesn't roll. Defeat gravity before it defeats you. Ice box story

Lay cameras sideways so they don't roll with the boat

Expect everyone to be stupid and clumsy and trip over your gear. So keep it out of the way.

Vibrations from engine shake housings off tables

Eyepiece cover

Avoid melting by sun

Replace at surface, or only take off if you need to use eyepiece

Don't point camera at sun at surface

Replace lens caps

Annual service

Air conditioning is the enemy of cameras and housings

When a cold is taken water vapour in the air condenses on it's cold surfaces

Morning dew is for grass, not electronic cameras

I have seen cameras become dripping wet in the morning when they were brought straight out of an air-conditioned liveaboard bedroom into warm, humid air

Keep it at air temperature if possible or perhaps an en-suite bathroom

If you have to keep the camera in an air-conditioned room for security reasons then at least keep it in case to make temperature changes slow

Do not leave cameras and electronic equipment under air conditioning units. They drip!

Drew's removable ballast

Do not leave housing in rinse bucket for long. O-rings seep when they have no pressure, and others will abuse equipment and chip your port of break controls.

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