Working underwater with HVX

A

anothermember

Active member
I'm about to leave for an underwater shoot in Florida next week. We're using my HVX in a Gates underwater housing, but I'm AC'ing instead of operating. I've never assisted an underwater unit before and I was wondering if anybody has any invaluable wisdom they're willing to bestow.

I talked with the guys at Hydroflex when I did the equipment checkout/orientation and it didn't seem to be too complicated honestly, but you never know what you'll run into in the field...
 
Keep yer O-rings clean

Keep yer O-rings clean

One thing I was surprised to hear when I started shooting underwater was how easy it was for the smallest grain of sand or even a hair on the O-ring to cause a housing to flood.

Because the O-ring is usually coated with a very thin layer of silicon grease they tend to want to pick up crud. Over-greasing the O-ring increases the risk. Just make sure that no lint from a towel or other debris has gotten stuck there before you close the housing.

Gates is one of the best housings made, but the seal is always important.

Also have the camera handed gently down from the boat once you've made your entry. The shock of hitting the water is not a good thing for a housing - in fact I think shooting in the surf is more risky to equipment than diving.

Also AFAIK silicon cannot be cleaned from a coated lens once it gets on it, so be careful with your fingers if you've just touched the O-ring.

Another thing I discovered on humid days in Fiji was that if I prepped the camera in the dry environment of an air conditioned room it was less likely to fog when we got out in the sun, but one doesn't often have that luxury. Usually keeping it protected from direct sun was enough. I threw a silica gel pack in there but I suppose that could create its own jamming hazard if the camera was inverted at any point.

Most importantly, in the unlikely event that you ever experience a flooded housing do NOT race to the surface. The damage is probably done and giving yourself an embolism will not bring the camera back. What you CAN do is turn the housing lens down so any water can collect in the area of the port, where there is usually the most space. If flooding was slight it may not have reached the camera. Instruct the person you are handing the camera to to keep it pointed lens down until it can be drained.

Lastly - opening a housing containing a high-amperage battery that has been flooded can be dangerous as it could explode once exposed to fresh air. Be careful and chase onlookers away.

It is very unlikely you will need any of this advice other than keeping the O-ring spotless and not jumping in with the camera in your hands, so have fun.

I'm sure I'm forgetting something, but that's all for now!

Cheers,
Glen
 
Thanks Glen. I knew about the O-Ring, but those safety measures will certainly be employed as well. (If the **** hits the fan).
 
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