Leak in my Housing

[ivakdiver]

Well I almost flooded my Canon housing for my S100. Late night dive followed by an early morning dive and I didn't do a good cleaning between the two dives. The first dive was in current with sediment. 20 minutes into the morning dive and I noticed fogging. Then looking closely a small pool of water in the lower left corner. I carefully held the camera in such a way that the tiny pool of water did not move and noticed another droplet moving along from the top right hand corner. I carefully surfaced, swam to shore and exited. (All after signaling the other divers)
I was able to keep the water in the corner of the Housing and the camera was still working. After opening up the case, I could easily see several sand grains in the top right corner.
After a good cleaning and inspection, have done two more dives and all ok.
Have to admit I got a little careless. Lesson learned.

 

[Scuba_Noob]

Good lesson without any permanent and extreme consequences. Very lucky that you spotted the small pool of water and prevented it from doing damage.

I usually am extra paranoid about my camera, only doing maximum two dives per day with it, then opening everything only when I'm in a dry and flat area. Then I charge all the batteries and check all the o-rings and o-ring grooves thoroughly, lubing as necessary. It's a little obsessive.

 

[Gilligan]

I purchased a leak detector from Jeff Mullins that fits my G10 and G12 Canon housings. It cost $36. including worldwide shipping. You can contact him too see if he has one that fits in your housing. It has a changeable battery and the tiny light blinks if it detects any moisture in your housing. A lot of piece of mind for a small price.
His website is HERE

 

[diveprof]

Electronics and water.... it is not a question of if, more a question of when.......

 

[emoreira]

I've been thinking to carry a small strong plastic bag, like those for milk, opened in one end. With a harness like a SMB. If I see that my housing is getting water inside, I would put the camera inside and inflate it with the reg, just like a SMB, so the housing is out of the water inside the bag, and go to the surface. The bag with the camera and housing should not have a lot of added air so as to compromise your buoyancy.

 

[ivakdiver]

I think Gilligan's suggestion regarding Jeff Mullins' leak detector is a great idea. If you go to the web site there is also a great tip on using an absorbent pad to soak up potential leaks. And I fully agree with SCUBA Noob about being obsessive about inspection and cleaning.

 

[lmorin]

I purchased a leak detector from Jeff Mullins that fits my G10 and G12 Canon housings. It cost $36. including worldwide shipping. You can contact him too see if he has one that fits in your housing. It has a changeable battery and the tiny light blinks if it detects any moisture in your housing. A lot of piece of mind for a small price.
His website is HERE

Out of curiousity and a history of a wet camera, how do you know the leak detector actually works, especially on very small leaks that might only show up over time at 100 ft depth?

 

[IyaDiver]

Out of curiousity and a history of a wet camera, how do you know the leak detector actually works, especially on very small leaks that might only show up over time at 100 ft depth?

Use wet fingers to test the leak sensor probes which is like two needles, it will trigger.
However, 2mm water depth in housing is usually the minimum to trigger such alarm unit.
Depending on how u hold you camera, if it stays horizontal a lot of the time, it is safer. If you take 1 photo and run around with camera dangling around and not horizontal, water may slosh around to do damage. Overall it is always good to have leak sensor and more so when the housing uses raised mount for camera butt or like a mini tray, at least higher position.

Sand is number 1 problem usually. When you do diving in areas with Volcanic sand like Lembeh ( Sulawesi ) or Tulamben Bali, the sand is so fine...........my my my, do becareful. 2nd one is hair.

Have fun