A diver needs to master some basic technical skills to combine diving with taking pictures underwater.
Moving Underwater With a Camera
A diver rarely remains still in one spot during a dive. But with a camera, a diver has to stop to shoot and if there is a slight current or swell a firm handhold is a must.
However, using a camera underwater requires sensitive feel to adjust camera controls. A glove on one hand can be useful to grab hold of solid objects to steady for a shot, using the bare hand for the camera.
This can be taken a step further by having covering on arms and legs. Sometimes a diver might need to wrap legs around a piece of wreck or anchor line freeing both hands to manipulate the camera. Also, buoyancy control takes on more importance when diving with a camera.
When first diving with a camera, a diver may find they use more air than normal. This is from the diver finning around underwater like an overactive turtle setting up that perfect shot. Before the camera, the diver may have calmly observed the fish life from a distance without running an underwater sprint.
Underwater Camera Servicing
The service a camera gives depends on the service it gets. Most causes of cameras flooding can be attributed to bad maintenance. Divers don’t take time to check the user serviceable ‘O’ rings or don’t rinse it out after a dive. Some try to save money by not having the camera serviced regularly by a qualified technician.
To keep the camera in good working condition, the manufacturer’s instructions for care and maintenance should be followed closely.
Some camera experts recommend soaking the closed camera in lukewarm water for about an hour after the dive, occasionally moving the controls. Apparently the warm water dissolves the salt crystals.
Travelling With an Underwater Camera
When travelling in a plane, the camera should be carried as hand luggage. Apart from taking a unique shot of the dive site from the air, the reduced pressure at altitude can result in a higher pressure inside the camera than outside. An underwater camera is designed to operate with the higher pressure outside the camera when underwater.
This can also happen when leaving a camera in the hot sun as the air inside heats up and pushes against the ‘O’ rings in a way the camera was not designed for.
Underwater Camera and Boat Diving
A diver should always be aware of who is holding their camera. Leaving it lying around is tempting someone to pick it up and start fiddling. Boat dives are a place for cameras to get damaged as they bounce around in the swells or as divers move in a crowded area.
When entering the water from a boat, a diver shouldn’t take the camera as they do a stride entry or backward roll. The rush of water can force past the ‘O’ rings. Also the lens could smash against the weight-belt, the straps can get tangled amongst regulator hoses, or the camera may be dropped.
A trustworthy person in the boat should hand the camera over the side after the entry.
Another useful hint is to put a clear filter on the front of the main lens to provide protection for the main lens. It’s better to have a cheap filter smashed than the main lens.
A camera can bring a new aspect to sportdiving. But the camera should never affect the safety of a dive.
 |
