Opinions on DIVEVOLK for Smartphone Setup

[Zane]

you're supposed to remove any screen protector and use the virtual home button (called AssistiveTouch).

if your case was purchased under a year ago it's still under warranty. Contact DiveVolk support

it@divevolk.com

 

[riceowls]

Hijacking the thread as it is currently on sale, and I am tempted to try. Currently I use a two-arm tray and a light with my hero9 gopro. Questions:
1)Anyone used both Gopro and this - what are the pros and cons?
2) How do I attach DiveVolk to the tray - any extra hardware required?
3) How is macro without an extra kit? Any impressions on the kit?

 

[kimh]

"Woody Alpern is with Mike Young at DEMA Show." Nov. 2023

 

[Wibble]

"Woody Alpern is with Mike Young at DEMA Show." Nov. 2023

And for people who aren't a product or dislike tracking, we see this...

 

[kimh]

And for people who aren't a product or dislike tracking, we see this...

That's quite odd. I'm not a product, and I dislike tracking.

And yet … I have no problem disallowing Facebook, and watching the video anyway (see below).

I've always assumed that Scubaboard members are capable of managing web security on their own platforms, but in the future, I'll try to keep this issue in mind.

 

[kimh]

Oceanic+ Dive Case (and Apple Watch Ultra) app update. Looks like the biggest update since v2.0

v 2.0.11

• High-Resolution Photography: iPhone 14 and 15 users, get ready to snap pictures like never before! You can now take photos with a stunning 48 MP resolution using the main camera, a big jump from the usual 12 MP offered by other cameras. This feature will be accessible and manageable right from the user interface, but keep in mind, it’s only available on compatible devices and lenses.
• Advanced Video Stabilization: We’ve stepped up our game with new video stabilization systems. The standard one cuts out those pesky micro-vibrations without any lag in the preview during shooting. Plus, we’ve added a ‘cinematic stabilization’ that mimics a dolly-cam or gimbal effect, smoothing out shakes and fast movements for a movie-like feel. When using this mode, you might notice a slight delay, but that is normal for this type of shooting. Now, you’ve got the power to choose the best shooting system for your needs.
  We recommend giving these new features a dry run on land to get the hang of them before diving into any aquatic adventures.
• Cloud Sync Update: Cloud sync, in some circumstances, may encounter connection problems. We have implemented not only the Apple Watch Ultra>iPhone>Cloud communication, but also the Apple Watch Ultra>Cloud communication. This allows the devices to send information redundantly, ensuring greater reliability of the data transfer.
• Storage Space Check: Before and during diving, the available memory amount is displayed. This prevents usage issues during the dive and shows the actions to be taken.
• Smart Capture: Resolution of a bug within the Smart Capture function.
• No Fly Widget: This widget now removes itself from the iPhone home screen once the countdown has elapsed.
• Users can now select a specific folder for saving photographs, addressing privacy concerns.
• Viewing the gallery while diving is temporarily disabled for users who do not grant full folder access.
• Bug fixes and performance improvements to enhance your diving experience.

Oceanic+ App Updates - Oceanic Worldwide

www.oceanicworldwide.com

 

[MinimalMayhem]

This was taken on a DiveVolk (3 I think). Deffo an iPhone in a DiveVolk housing at 65m/215ft on the Empire Heritage in Malin, north west Ireland.View attachment 788918

It was indeed a seatouch 3 housing with the wide angle lens attachment, with an iphone X and natural light

 

[lairdb]

Tangent DiveVolk+iPhone question: Does the iPhone record location information in the photos/videos? My old Nikon W300 has a nice feature where it tags the submerged photos with the last known position.

(Tagging a few folks from the thread for attention: @Rick Brant @David Haas @rmorgan @Quikster )

 

[Rick Brant]

The phone records location info when it is above water -- when it knows where you are in other words.

Be careful, the current DV housing will not fit the iPhone 16. The housing itself is too thin so even with a different insert it will not work. DV has a new model out, be sure that is the only one you buy unless you want to stop upgrading at iPhone 15. They have been (much) less than up-front about this issue.

 

[TostitoBandito]

I've seen a few people using these (or similar cheaper/flimsier housings) on recent trips. I totally get the appeal given the convenience and minimal cost of entry, but if it were me I would be extremely hesitant to put my cell phone in the water on an overseas trip, much more so than my multi-thousand dollar camera setup. If you screw up (flooding is usually user error of some sort) or something breaks and you flood/kill your phone you're now travelling with no phone. If I flood my big expensive camera there's no impact to the rest of the trip (other than the photography), and I make an insurance claim when I get home. Nowadays everything is digital. Itineraries, tickets, banking, contact info, etc... For a lot of people it could be their only means of internet connection. I suppose one could use a laptop or tablet for this purpose (if they had one with them), but it's certainly much less convenient. Seems not worth the risk in my opinion.

I will note that one of the guys I saw using one of these this year in Fiji had a second phone with him explicitly for underwater use, but at that point I'd question why not a gopro or something else cheaper and purpose built. Curious what everyone else thinks. Maybe it's just me since these seem to be very popular.

Note, this is not criticism of these housings in particular, which appear to be higher quality than many others I've seen.