Because I love check-lists, and because I am pushing off getting some actual work done, I thought I'd draft up a little "to do list" for diving with my DSLR so I don't overlook anything important. I was supposed to have some instruction before leaving, but the fellow got very sick. So this kind of exercise is also helping me visualize getting ready.
So here's my attempt at a "step-by-step, idiot-proof getting ready checklist."
Is there anything missing? Also, do people rinse off their cameras at home after the dunk tanks? I would imagine most dunk tanks have lots of salt water in them at the end of the day, no? And what do you dry your cameras with? I would assume letting a port drip dry would leave water drop stains.
Here's what I've come up with. Curious for everyone's thoughts.
NIGHT BEFORE:
GETTING INTO THE H2O:
So here's my attempt at a "step-by-step, idiot-proof getting ready checklist."
Is there anything missing? Also, do people rinse off their cameras at home after the dunk tanks? I would imagine most dunk tanks have lots of salt water in them at the end of the day, no? And what do you dry your cameras with? I would assume letting a port drip dry would leave water drop stains.
Here's what I've come up with. Curious for everyone's thoughts.
NIGHT BEFORE:
- Offload/back-up any existing photos on card
- Check to make sure you have enough room on cards
- Charge camera batteries
- Charge strobe batteries
- Put camera on settings general to next day's dive.
- Double check the usual settings. (RAW, etc.) Set to local time if need be.
- Clean your ports and lenses. Watch out for lens paper leftovers
- Remove o-rings, inspect, clean. Replace if needed.
- NINE O-RINGS IN ALL
- Main housing o-ring
- TWO SETS of o-rings inside fibre optic connectors
- O-rings on strobe housings
- Port o-ring
- Port extension o-ring
- NINE O-RINGS IN ALL
- Relube o-rings.
- Pea size for housing o-ring
- Rice grain sized for strobe o-rings.
- Clean o-ring grooves.
- Blow out housing w/air-puff thingy.
- Ensure the o-rings are in properly and nothing is caught in there like pet hair.
- Install batteries in camera and strobes
- Install memory card
- Connect cables to housing and strobes
- Take a test photo with the strobes on. Make sure they fire.
- Pack it on up in your cooler bag. Go eat breakfast.
- Do a dunk test and check that there are no bubbles or water. Have the port facing down, so if it does leak it'll go into the port rather than the camera.
- DOUBLE CHECK THAT YOUR STROBES ARE CONNECTED BEFORE YOU GET IN THE H2O
GETTING INTO THE H2O:
- Have the port cover thing on (Yes? No?)
- Have it handed to you, don't dive with it.
- Check the camera right away at the surface before you descend.
- DO NOT LEAVE ANYTHING UNATTENDED IN RINSE TANK
- Rinse in the dunk tank to remove salt deposits
- Be sure to press all buttons and turn all dials during the dunk
- Dry the equipment and your hands BEFORE OPENING IT.
- (Rinse at home again in tap water? Necessary?)
- TURN CAMERA / STROBES OFF.
- Remove camera, dry it, remove battery, remove card... let sit.
- Don't turn it on. Let it dry.
- You can blow warm air onto it from a hair dryer w/ battery compartment open, but keep it at a distance.
- Don't try to turn the camera on until the thing is 100% dry.