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Generally, the drug cartels haven't purposefully targeted people engaged in tourism activities. Risk factors can substantially be reduced by steering clear of places that you probably shouldn't be anyway. Caution and situational awareness are good things with all international travel. -AZTinman

As a DSLR user rather than a mirrorless, I'm not an expert on Nikon Z lenses. I do believe there's an advantage to having a wide range of focal length available for use underwater. The 14-30mm has the largest zoom range of the lenses you've listed. Obviously, opinions will vary. I very seldom...

Yes, as already noted, the swim through is on Isla La Jama (south end of the island). It's a decent sized arch type swim through. I've been told a species of frogfish can be found in the area of the swim through, but I haven't found any yet. The photo from the Planet Scuba trip that you found is...

There are some good beach diving areas in San Carlos. I think the El Mar Shop in San Carlos was renting kayaks. It might be worth making a call if you're interested in beach diving or diving from a kayak. Weekends are the best times to do Isla San Pedro Nolasco trips. The shops in San Carlos...

I think you missed the point I was trying to make. You don't need to send the housing back to Ikelite; you can put a little bend on the end of the spring yourself. My shutter spring actually broke a little over a year ago and I sent the housing to Ikelite for service work for the second time...

Some years back, I sent my Ikelite housing to Ikelite Underwater Systems to have some upgrade work done on it. The shutter lever spring had developed a habit of slipping off. While it wasn't a huge problem and I hadn't requested any work be done on it, their tech people simply bent the end of...

The TG-6 is an aperture priority camera and as you've noted, it doesn't have a full manual mode. Most of those I dive with who use TG-6 cameras do really well without having full manual mode. A couple have decided to move to DSLR cameras because they feel that the aperture priority stuff was...

Around twelve years ago, I assembled my first housed DSLR system. When I was ordering the components, the guy who was mentoring me told me to just purchase a couple of 6" stobe arms. He told me the 6" arms would be a good place to start with learning how to position my strobes. Within a year, I...

Over the past couple of years, I've helped several underwater photographers get started with Nikon D850 cameras and put together underwater housing systems. One of these photographers chose an Aquatica housing. The others opted for Nauticam. Personally, I was looking at pulling the trigger on...

There's some interesting commentary and perspectives here. Keep in mind that despite the rise in popularity of mirrorless cameras, DSLR's will be around for a long time. I don't see movement from DSLR's to mirrorless as the same kind of change as we saw with the movement from film to digital...

You won't need a focus gear on any of the zooms on my list. The auto focus works very well. Nikon no longer makes the 17-35mm f/2.8 and this is why it's not listed on the current Sea & Sea Port Chart. I've got an old Sea & Sea Port Chart that lists it. The requirements are very similar to the...

You'll need a zoom gear to change focal lengths on a wide angle zoom lens during dives. Housing manufacturers' list which zoom gears are needed on their Port Charts. So, in addition to a wide angle zoom lens, you need a dome port, port extension and zoom gear. Technically, you could skip the...

Actually, you have a lot more choices for lenses to use with your D850 than the ones you have listed. I've helped a bunch of photographers assemble underwater camera systems. The last three were putting together Nikon D850 systems. They've done very well. First, I suggest that you eliminate all...

Or, maybe the new guy on the boat didn't get relief and simply went to bed. There's really nothing convenient about some of the really dumb decisions people make. Does anyone remember the 2016 incident where a large male white shark penetrated through the top of a shark cage at Isla Guadalupe...

Of course, you can do what you want, but it may be more practical to simply send your housing to the Ikelite Service Center to have it checked if you're concerned about the integrity of O-rings and control glans. They can check it to see if everything is performing to factory specs. Turn around...

I used to do dunk tests or dive the housings without a camera to check for O-ring seal integrity on my Ikelite housings. Now, I simply use a vacuum valve and pump to make sure nothing is leaking. -Tinman

I've used SeaVision prescription masks for many years. Their bi-focal lenses work incredibly well for me. -AZTinman

I can't speak for the area around Cabo San Lucas in July. I did some dives there years ago in December and managed in a 5 mil wetsuit with a hood. I got a bit chilled during those dives, but it was December. Cabo San Lucas's water temperatures are impacted by the Pacific Ocean. Water temps in...

Doc, Please check your messages. Thanks! -AZTinman

"Sure I see that but hit the rocks at "cruising speed"...how did she know that?" Simple answer... the autopilot was engaged and the boat was moving at cruising speed. Was anyone at the helm to disengage the autopilot and throttle back before the boat hit the island? Since none of the crew were...