JimG

I have several patches of corrosion on a three year old aluminium housing. I am fastidious about washing my housing after use and giving it a long soak after weekends or trips away but all to no avail. I am on my fourth housing by this manufacturer and never before had such a problem so I think my regime of caring for my housing is well tried and tested. Here's the story:

I first noted corrosion when the housing was 2.5 yrs old but the spots were so tiny I couldn't make out what they were. Stupidly I then forgot about them for nine months and then suddenly realised they had expanded. A detailed look with a 10X magnifier confirmed the worst. This affects the housing back only and is at both ends where the hasps are screwed on. Strangely the front is perfect . Both front and back have anodes. The really worrying thing is that is creeping towards the o-ring groove and I assume once it gets in there, the housing is useless. At this point the housing was 3.25 years old and had done 281 dives. I took photos and reported it to the manufacturer. (see photo 1 below)

They wanted to know what strobes and accessories I used and then asked me to send it in for a diagnosis. Later they said they were going to “coat the affected areas to minimise their contact with sea water”. This was done at no cost and the main o-ring was replaced, also the rubber feet, hasps and anodes. I paid shipping at £170 approx.

When I got it back, they had done more than coating and had gouged out the corrosion and then coated the patches with black industrial strength enamel. I use the word “gouged” advisedly as, frankly, the job was crude and rough and the coating looked as though it had not been applied evenly with white areas clearly showing through the black enamel. Inexplicably, two small areas had not been touched at all. I was told they suspected the cause was water being trapped between the hasps and the housing. I responded that this was ridiculous - what about the other half of the housing and moreover, what about all other users of their housings from whom I have never heard a hint of such problems? I also complained about what they had done to the housing but to no avail and it was merely suggested I let them quote for a full strip down, re-anodise, re-coat and rebuild. See sample of work done below @ photo 2

I had no choice but to hope for the best as a few days after I got the housing back, I was to go to the Maldives. I am now back and after just 21 dives, it is very obvious the coating is breaking down generally and corrosion is erupting from one repaired area. See sample after 21 dives @ photo 3 below.

I have sent photos to the manufacturer and formally complained to the company and also personally to the CEO. There has been no response at all from which I assume they think I am being unreasonable.

Am I being unreasonable? Is it normal to expect such corrosion after this length of time?

I don't know what to do next - I had intended to upgrade my system later this year but will have to forget that as my housing is now unsellable so I need to prolong its life. Has anybody successfully repaired damage of this nature? Is there any material I can buy to stop the corrosion advancing?

All advice welcome

Taken in Cebu, Philippines on the tail of a Rigilius Goby. Is it some sort of parasitic copepod?

I saw quite a few of these at one site in Cebu. Nothing in the recognized books seems to help. The nearest I can find is the Tonga damsel, Pomacentrus spilotoceps, in Reef Fish of the Tropical Pacific but like Fishbase, it says it is found in Tonga only.
The ear spot and the spot at the base of the pectoral are distictive and I found two good matches via a Google search and both say it is found in the Philippines. Also other references to it (but no photos) in Fiji. I'm wary of just accepting all this and wonder if anybody can help please?

Taken in Cebu, Philippines. Looks like it should be in the genus Trimma but can't find a match

Taken in Ari Atoll, Maldives