Changing batteries on a 2nd boat dive - yes or no?

[arenny]

I have an Oly 5050 with Tetra housing and my BF has a PT 015. We are going on several boat dives in Brazil where the boats aren't set up for U/W photography. I would like to change batteries in between dives so that I don't miss out on anything. What is the best way to do this? Rinse it a bit with freshwater and dry it out then carefully open the housing? I heard some people say never to open your housing on a boat and go with the same set of batteries for the whole dive. I use 2400 to 2600 mAH NiMH rechargeables.

Do you change batteries between dives on a boat? What precautions do you use?

Thanks!

 

[Charlie99]

I only change batteries in my condo or hotel room, except when doing more than 2 dives on a boat trip. And after each battery change / opening of the housing I submerge it in fresh water to test the seal. (What works best for my small PT016 housing is a lemonade pitcher). So far I haven't had any leaks in about 200 dives with the camera.

This works because the lithium battery in my Stylus 400 works for two dives. Well, most of the time -- sometimes dies towards the end of a second long dive if I leave the LCD monitor on all the time.

My suggestion is to try going without battery change a few times and see if they will last for the duration of the boat trip.

If forced to change batteries on a boat, try
1. fresh water rinse.
2. dry housing with a towel. Dry your face and hair with a towel.
3. Open, change batteries, inspect seal surface and close immediately

 

[Monkey Knife-fight]

I dive off a small personal boat a lot on Montery and dove off a small boat in Cozumel that wasn't set up for photography. I change my batteries between all dives. I tend to just dry off the housing with a towel, find a quiet corner of the boat, put the housing on the towel and open err up. I keep my extra batteries in a little pelican case thing. I've yet to have any problems. I do have a clear ikelite case so i can see the oring and make sure it's seated properly. Just be careful not to drip in/around the camera or housing.

Chris

 

[dbh]

I have no qualms about opening my housing on any boat...I am just very cautious. I shot a 5050 in both a PT & Tetra and easily got 2 dives out of a set of batteries. I don't think that you need to change them.


Dave

 

[alcina]

On my Oly 5050 I used either 2100 or 2300 rechargeables. I could easily get three dives off of them. Dive times from 45 - 100 minutes each. I never turn off my display.

With the new camera I don't have to change batteries but on the odd ocassion I will change cards - still have to open everything. Get dry dry dry. Go somewhere dry dry dry AND away from people...they want to see what you are doing and will accidentally drip on you or in the housing.

 

[Tom Winters]

You start opening that housing on a boat and sooner or later, you're going to have some major problemos. I hate opening my housing when I'm in the house. Better to take care of your power requirements before you get near the boat. And, if your camera does fizzle between dives and you leave it in the boat, then you're guaranteed to see something really cool.

 

[lamont]

i tried using the 1600s or 1800s that came with my C-5050 on two successive dives and they didn't make it. Replaced them with 2400s, but i haven't been boat diving to test them lately...

 

[arenny]

Alcina,
how many pictures a dive do you estimate you took? Did you have your flash on or off?

I have the same camera. I was averaging 120 pictures per 45 minute dive with the flash on.

You mentioned that:

On my Oly 5050 I used either 2100 or 2300 rechargeables. I could easily get three dives off of them. Dive times from 45 - 100 minutes each. I never turn off my display.

Thanks!

 

[alcina]

I'd often fill my 1GB card on a three dive day. And I'd review between dives and if needed, delete anything OOF if I needed the space near the end of a dive!

Flash always on, but in slave mode (1, I think) to fire external strobe. If you are using internal flash only you will eat batteries faster.

120 photos in 45 minutes is a lot!

 

[Warren_L]

Alcina,
how many pictures a dive do you estimate you took? Did you have your flash on or off?

I have the same camera. I was averaging 120 pictures per 45 minute dive with the flash on.

You mentioned that:

On my Oly 5050 I used either 2100 or 2300 rechargeables. I could easily get three dives off of them. Dive times from 45 - 100 minutes each. I never turn off my display.

Thanks!

I usually ran with 2300s or 2500s in my 5050 and the problem was never really the batteries running down on the camera. I'd always get 2 full dives in snapping 70+ shots per dive, using the internal flash to trigger the strobes. The strobes, I found, would run down quicker depending on the output I use on the strobes and whether I am using the modeling lights on the strobes. So with a decent set of batteries, I don't think you'd have to worry too much about the batteries over a few dives. Just make sure your memory card has enough storage and you should be good.