Underwater Housing

[Silvershark]

Has anyone tried using underwater housing for their camera? I have the Canon Powershot S2 IS, and have seen the underwater housing for the S1. What type of results do you get with the underwater housing, and how high is the risk that the housing leaks and damages the camera?

[Dave Adshead]

I did a lot of underwater photography, for about 15 years actually. I used the Nikonos V camera.
We have a saying "it's going to leak sometime"
But, to put things into perspective in that time I only had one leak, to my Nikon SB102 flashgun. A tiny amount of water got through a seal around the flash cable, shorted the flash gun and cost me £200 to repair. At the time I knew I'd got a flood because the flash kept firing, recyling and fired again continuosly. I aborted the dive as quick as possible.

You must look after the seals, examine them before every dive, wash the kit in fresh water. I even use to carry a 5 litre container of water in the boot, just to wash the camera with.
A common mistake some people make, is the belief that the O ring seals must have plenty of silicone grease on. This is not true, put too much on and the O rings collect grit, sand and dust particles and you will not get a water tight seal.
The O ring should just glisten with grease. The grease does not form the seal, the O ring does that, the grease allows the O ring to move in its seat when water pressure is applied.
The most dangerous place for a leak is just at the water/air interface, you see there's not much water pressure. If you bang the camera that could dislodge the O ring. Do not do a jump entry with you camera, if you have to jump in, get somebody to pass the camera in to you, after you've made your entry.
Last but not least. Go for it.
Dave

[Silvershark]

Thanks Dave, I think I'll see if I can get underwater housing for my camera. ;)