If you've got a first generation SeaLife Universal Strobe then read this

[idocsteve]

I lost my camera, housing and strobe on a dive in the Cayman's last week. I figure it's floating around in the Atlantic somewhere...not a huge loss, the combined total value was about $80 for the camera, $110 for the housing, and I recall I paid about $100 bucks or so for the Sealife Universal strobe. The worst part was losing the pictures and the ability to take more for the rest of the trip..I still can't figure out how the loop came out of the housing, unless the tab was cracked and it slipped out.

Anyway, I got a replacement Coolpix camera, Fantasia Housing, and the newer model SeaLife strobe, which was about 3x more than the first strobe, at about $325.

It was expensive, but I see why..although I haven't used it during a dive yet and probably won't for quite some time..they seem to have fixed all the problems that I had with the first one:

1- On the original strobe the 4 AA batteries go into a little box that has to slide and click into place, and it has a cover that pops on. The cover clip is a plastic tab and it broke and I had to use tape which of course is not a secure fit, and the battery box can loosen up and not make good contact, causing the strobe to intermittently be unable to charge. None of this will be fixable during a dive. The new strobe has a compartment that the batteries slide in, with a much better snap cover..no separate battery box.

2- The new strobe appears to charge almost instantaneously even will less than fully charged batteries..the older one took up to a minute or two.

3- The new strobe head has a more compact "conical" design with a "hood" which will surely help direct the light on the subject as compared to the flat round head of the first generation strobe.

4- It's got a smart "auto flash" adjust feature which can sense an over exposure and reduce the flash output right in the middle of a picture being taken.

5- That problematic fiberoptic cable is now much more easily attached in front of the cameras internal flash using a secure mounting adapter and velcro tabs. No more of that waterproof tape that isn't really waterproof and lets the cable move around or pop off usually right in the middle of a great dive with lots of photo opportunities. Two velcro strips are supplied which hold the fiberoptic cable to the strobe in a much more flexible and adjustable manner.

Cool.

Old Strobe:

New Strobe:

 

[phillybob]

I lost my camera, housing and strobe on a dive in the Cayman's last week...

I've read about it, but I've never understood how that happens.

 

[idocsteve]

I've read about it, but I've never understood how that happens.

I will probably never know how it happened because I don't expect to ever see the camera again. Even if it's found no one will know who it belongs to unless they happen to be on ScubaBoard and they are VERY honest.

Regardless of the reason, the loss would have been avoided if I double checked the housing and strap before I jumped in. I blame no one but myself. My best guess is that what I thought was a knot in the loop was not really a knot.

 

[phillybob]

Scuba Diving - New Jersey & Long Island New York - dive Wreck Valley - Gear & Training - Miscellaneous Items


I use a lanyard rig like this on my camera set-up Snaps on to a d-ring at my waist and near my shoulder. Line is my arms length. When I want to take pics, I unsnap the snap on my shoulder. Camera is still tethered to me at the waist with a length of nylon cord. Works good for me on deco hangs, especially in current.



P.S. If you've never seen this site before, N.J. Scuba is a great site. The author, Rich Galiano is a genius. O.K. maybe not a genius, but he's got some great ideas and has put a ton of work into the site. I dive with Rich a few times a year up here off Jersey. Good guy.

 

[phillybob]

I screwed up....... O.K. it's fixed.