Securing housing, tray & strobe.

[TeqP]

I was wondering what most experienced people on the board use to secure your housing to your BCD underwater.
I have a PT020 with Ikelite single handle tray and strobe (similar to this - http://www.ikelite.com/web_pages/oly_5060.html).
I was thinking about drilling and tapping a hole into the tray and thread on an eyebolt on so I can attached a lanyard to it and my BCD. The small wrist strap that came with the pt020 is not sufficient.
Any other ideas or suggestions is greatly appreciated.

Thanks,
Phil

 

[herman]

I use 2 attachments with my PT-15. On the standard wrist strap I have added a stap with quick releases that is about 10 in long. I have attached this to my BC's right shoulder strap, the tag end. The combonation of the shoulder strap, added strap and the wrist strap allows me to keep it attached at all times just in case I have to drop the camera but at the same time gives me enough length shoot most any shot. I also have a double ended snap that I keep connected to the opposite shoulder D ring. My strobe arm has holes in it that allow me to clip the arm to my BC. The eyebolt is not a bad idea, I may add one to mine.

 

[10X]

Here is what I use with my PT-015.

http://shop.diversdirect.com/item/Innovative All Metal Snappy Coil_ID19006

It attaches to my BC using the small loop. This leaves both metal clips free. The clip at the very end of the lanyard attaches to my camera housing, to a metal key ring I added to a spot provided on the housing (lower right hand corner looking from the back). The second clip (closest to the BC) is used to snap onto the small spare D ring near the other clip, when I need both hands free. This keeps the camera from dangling, holding it close to my body. However, 99.9% of the time, I'm holding onto the camera.

I also use a rope with a clip attached to have the camera lowered to me in the water (justleesa gave me this idea). Once the camera is lowered, I clip it to the lanyard, then unclip the rope. No chance of losing the camera in this manner.

In Tahiti, where boat manpower was short, I tied the rope (10' long) securely to the boat and lowered the camera over the side myself. Once in the water, I clipped the camera to the lanyard, then unclipped the rope. When reboarding, I clipped the camera to the rope (which was still dangling in the water), unclipped it from my BC, and boarded the boat. I simply brought the camera aboard myself once I had shed my gear.

I'm thinking of removing the metal key ring from the housing though and adding something similar to the tray. I'm afraid of the wear and tear on the housing that could eventually cause the current connection to break.

 

[getwet2]

I asked this same question not too long ago, take a look at this thread and the photos Warren L sent me.

http://www.scubaboard.com/t86528-ike-housing.html

I just got back from my trip and used this method and it worked great for me.