Dive housing & surf?

[Dakine 0]

I'm trying to figure out if I can get away with using one housing for my dive photos as well as my watersports photos.

 

I've been looking at the available sports housings and I just can't see myself spending thousands on something that looks like it was made in someone's backyard and that only works to 30 feet.

 

So can anyone tell me why dive housings are not suitable for surf? I know ike's housings would be too heavy and I hear the ports can wobble (a little) on the surface but I'm wondering why an alu aquatica wouldn't work for such a thing. Is it the port system again? (bayonet)

 

I don't plan on getting it banged on the reef I't's just the force of the water the housing will have to deal with. The technology between dive and sports housings seem so similar to me, the dive housings just look much nicer and probably have better optics.

 

Example of a sports housing: http://www.aquatech.com.au/products/D-35/D-35.htm

 

Thanks for the help,

 

Ryan

[Paul Kay 65]

I use my housings in the 'surf zone' no problem except that they are heavy. I am asked this question quite a lot as many photographers want something thoroughly watertight but that supports decent optics which excludes many of the 'plastic bag systems'. Although I use mine in what I call the 'interface' (above/below the surface) the base problem is weight as most metal housings are designed to be reasonably neutral underwater and so weigh a fair amount above. I tend to use mine at the end of a dive to photograph divers at the surface, dive boats, etc. The optics are brilliant for this kind of shot but you also need to consider viewfinders which (with exceptions such as Seacam's S180) are not designed for use within a bouncy environment - many give a reduced image and you'd risk battering your face with a weighty housing!

 

Here's an example (I've posted it here somewher before) taken with a Canon 24/1.4 behind a dome.

[Poliwog 4]

Nice shot Paul.

 

I like the drama that it implies. Excellent use of Black and White on what looks to be an overcast day.

[Dakine 0]

Thanks Paul, that's a nice photo.

 

I just looked at the specs and it looks like the difference would be about 2-3 pounds vs a sports housing for a 20d. The aqautica weighs about six pounds. I don't really see that as a problem though since I'm saving some weight by using a 20d vs 1 series.

 

Is there any other reason; could the port seals handle some serious water movement?

[Paul Kay 65]

Most housings use clamps which 'pre-pressure' the 'O' ring seal so they will take a reasonable amount of sudden pressure change - due to waves, etc.. I can't think of any real problems, but you should ensure that flash connection caps are thoroughly tightened and preferably use those with two 'O' rings rather than single 'O' rings. Same goes for the shaft seals - I'd go for a housing with two rather than one if you are using it in surf. I'd also look very carefully at dome port/len options and go for a combination which is not over large as sudden pressure on the rear plate of a very large port could put a lot of stess on the bayonet and seal. My own preference is for 20 or 24mm fixed lens with the smaller port (which should work fine above water).