water immersion test before divng with cam

[CLA]

Hello all!

Is it necessary to do a water immersion test (in a fresh water tank) before each dive? I have a new 5060 with PT-020 housing and the housing manual recommends it. I've dived the housing (without the cam) to the max depth of 40m and it seemed to be water tight. However, I'm still a bit nervous about finally putting the camera in-- I read some posts saying the housing is more likely to flood in shallow water or a rinse bucket?? So does this mean doing the test before each dive might just be courting trouble? Please correct me if I misunderstood the posts.

Oh btw, the test described in the manual involves immersing the housing (with cam) in a tank of fresh water initially for 3 seconds, then 30 secs then 3 mins.

 

[Dee]

Basically, yes. You always want to submerge it and watch for any unusual bubbles. For instance, my PT-15 will show a few bubbles coming from the hinges as the airspaces fill with water. This is normal. I do this initial dip in the camera rince tank or in the water as I get in. Also, watch your housing closely for the first 15-20 ft. The depth pressure is what actually seals your housing. This pressure will/can reveal any leaks that weren't evident in a simple rinse bucket dip.

A suggestion about rinse buckets...NEVER leave you camera rig in a rince bucket with other camera rigs and especially not on a boat. I'd venture to say that 90% of all damage don't to cameras happens in the bumping and grinding that goes on in the tanks and the vibration can loosen screws over time. Even if it's in there by itself, the water sloshing around will knock it against the sides. The water in those tanks can get very hot, causing condensation on subsequent dives. The best thing to do is to either wrap it in a damp towel to keep the water from drying or use a collapsable beer cooler to protect it not only from bumps and bruises but also from the heat.

 

[CLA]

Thanks for the advice, Dee. I greatly appreciate it. The PT-020 looked very sturdy to me and I didn't realize how easily it could be damaged. I guess it needs even more tlc than the camera. Will follow all your useful suggestions-- so glad to have learned them before taking my beloved camera down.

Best regards,

Cathy

 

[Christopher Camelot]

To keep my camera wet between dives on the boat, I use a small waterproof bag (the type of bag that keep your clothes dry on a kayak or canoe). I fill it up with air for the first dive and the bag provides air cushion. At the end of the dive, I feel it up with water (salt or fresh) and leave the camera in the bag.

The camera stays very wet and is protected. When doing shore dives, I bring the bag with me on the dive (rolled-up and attached with rubber bands to the side of the tank). At the end of the dive, I slip the camera inside with some water and I can safely exit. I can then put the camera safely on the ground without being scared of banging it or getting some durt in it.

 

[sdwho]

I'll second both of Dee's suggestions: I always dunk my camera/housing in a fresh water tank before going in. Better to find out you didn't close it right in fresh water before a dive
than while you're on your descent!

And Dee is so right about rinse buckets on boats. My wife
had Nikon N90 in an ikelite housing that she left in a rinse bucket on a relatively small boat. The seas got a bit rough, everything started bumping, and because of a design defect (later fixed by ikelite), the housing flooded.

sdwho

Basically, yes. You always want to submerge it and watch for any unusual bubbles. (SNIP).

A suggestion about rinse buckets...NEVER leave you camera rig in a rince bucket with other camera rigs and especially not on a boat. (SNIP).

 

[fdog]

I use housed cameras. There's enough bubbles that come off their nooks and crannies when they first get into the water, that I can't tell if it's a problem or just the usual.

So I stopped doing the "predive dunk" quite a while ago. I count on o-ring maintenence, being careful during the assembly, and moisture alarms. I just look it over at the begining of the dive.

All my problems have been in the dunk tank; scratched domes, my worst flood, sync cords torn out of the connectors. The only time my housings are in the dunk tank now, there's a hand attached.

Just like Dee says, I shudder every time I see someone just tosses their camera rig into the tank and leaves it there...

All the best, James