Tim Digger

Just found this thread and pleased to see that for once I'm ahead of the pack. I just fitted and used on a trip to the Northern Red Sea, a Housing Sentry from Bill Libecap. This is a two part electronic version, Bill kindly tailored a valve assembly for me to fit in the threaded housing hole of my Ikelite D300s housing. Now I know that Ikelite are not the most ergonomic housings, I try to set the camera up as far as possible and not alter settings underwater, and so I seldom if ever use the control for DOF and the F button on the D300s also the push rod used for those controls is the single thing making camera installation difficult so it was obvious to me that sacrificing this control was a minimum risk installation strategy. It took about an hour to install worked first time and has given a huge increase in confidence in use after a serious flood 3months ago. This flood was not I think user error but occurred in a fast current on the surface while descending a shot line, I believe the long macro  port attached got knocked and the current flow forced water past the oring that on the surface was not pressure sealed. The vacuum device should and has on 18 dives so far prevented a flood this has included backward roll RIB entries and occasional giant stride of the back deck.

 Re releasing vacuum and opening housing causing a few drops of water to enter, yes I have noted this and it is important to rinse and dry the outside prior to opening but not a major problem.

 I would echo the sentiments about Bill being easy to work with and get what you want to install in your camera, thanks Bill

Tim Digger

There was a POTW winner 279 Kona Mantas, that seemed to have it preetty good.
Tim Digger

There seem to be two issues here.
One is a solo diving (call it what you will) certification a good idea, IE will it improve your safety as a photographer U/W. For which the answer is undoubtably yes unless you are already mega experienced.
The second is will you be allowed to dive in a given geographical location without a buddy if you have one of these qualifications. This will undoubtably depend on the social and legal constraints operating in that area, and how they are perceived by those having admittance rights to a given patch of water. On a dive boat skipper and chief guide rule, they will be aware of their likelihood of financial problems if the worst happens. Hence, Red Sea, Indonesia, little chance of financial penalty finding it's way through the legal system, only those moral imperatives (not letting a complete numpty kill himself on a dive obviously beyond him, or the thoughts of the better organised and qualified boats) are likely to be enforced, or UK inland waters where it is perceived that the owners have responsibility for the use of their land with all sorts of paperwork and costs if there is a problem, or somewhere in between, Mexico, much but not all of the Carribean where the USA hedgemony has influence where it is unpredictable even in the presence of local law what will be applied. One other hidden constraint is the ownership of the boat which may well be in a jurisdiction that will influence behaviour.
Thus it is difficult to predict where one will be allowed to make use of the second aspect of such a certification, Caveat Emptor is the watch word here. Ask before you book. Any sticky thread should include the date at which diving took place as this will undoubtably be a fluid situation for sometime to come.
Tim Digger

Hi Tim,
Like the Whip Coral Gobies had a great deal of fun with them in Philippines earlier this year and with this little chap. The red big eyes are very striking against the blue. Also due to go to Sudan in November. Were you on Royal Evolution?[IMG]http://i1127.photobucket.com/albums/l625/TimDigger/DSC_0052.jpg[/img]
Cheers Tim Digger