Is it safe to jump in the water with camera housing in the hand?

[UKDiver 0]

I jumped in twice today with my camera, off a jetty, whilst drysuit diving (Nikon D200 in a Sea & Sea housing with twin strobes) drop was approx 2m (OK, maybe 1.5) but the point was that an inflated BCD and flat fins meant that the housing didn't enter the water during the jump. Two hands needed to hold it above my head though!

 

If it's easy to get back to the jetty / hardboat / RIB, then having the camera handed down is first choice, but there are so many dives where either the conditions / current means "go - gone", or there's nobody available to hand down the camera, that a practical means of entering the water with camera is pretty high on the "needs" list.

 

I've jumped in / rolled off the rib with a Nikonos (IVa and V), various compact digitals, and now the DSLR. In every case the procedure is the same: use the diver's body to break the fall, and have the camera either not enter the water, or be tucked in close to the body. So far no floods!

 

Of course, the next dive may change my viewpoint somewhat, depending on the continued success, or not, of diver-camera entries...

[peterbkk 110]

I think that I have suddenly become a convert to the "never jump with camera if you can avoid it". On a night dive last week, I tested both video lights just before entering the water. The boat boys were busy so I just picked up the camera, hooked the clips to my BCD and did a "giant stride" into the water. I held it high but not completely above my head because I had connected the retaining clips to my BC. One of the HID lights would not switch on and now has to go back to the manufacturer for repair, an expensive round trip from Bangkok to California. I suspect that something came loose inside when it hit the water.

 

It may have been a coincidence but ...

 

No more jumping with camera for me!

 

Regards

Peter

[aczyzyk 1]

One of the HID lights would not switch on and now has to go back to the manufacturer for repair, an expensive round trip from Bangkok to California.

 

I broke the bulb in my HID and had to buy new one for $150.

Then I broke the new one while trying to replace the old. They are way too fragile for me. I sold my broken HID asap and got myself a LED light instead.

[fdog 3]

Somewhat OT, but those with HID "issues" or considering one should at least give Barry's stuff at Salvo Diving a look. His HID lights are superbly built, prized like Jimmy Choo shoes by the technical community, and the lightheads are routinely demonstrated by beating them on the floor.

 

All the best, James

[CSPhoto 0]

Depends. I had one hardboat with a big drop to the water, 6 ft plus, and asked them to lower the camera to me. They lowered the camera as I went in and would then let go of the rope holding it as soon as the camera hit the water. I had to be very quick to catch it. I tried to tie the rope to the boat and they untied it to drop it. Not photography friendly!

 

In rough seas have lowered the camera first and dropped in nest to it, but most of the time roll in backwards holding the camera and strobes particularly if the boat is low. No floods.

 

Charles

[Paul Kay 65]

Found an old slide the other day - thought it might prove entertaining!!!This was taken before Photoshop existed in case anyone thinks that it is in any way a made up image - it is exactly as shot!

[peterbkk 110]

Found an old slide the other day - thought it might prove entertaining!!! This was taken before Photoshop existed in case anyone thinks that it is in any way a made up image - it is exactly as shot!

 

Oh What Fun!

 

In my crazy younger days, we used to do "giant stride" entries from some of the jettys that are found around Australia's southern coastline. Some where a gentle 3 meter drop. The highest I ever did was 8 meters. You absolutely had to stay vertical so that your fins and legs took the impact away from your equipment and face. The fall seemed like forever.

 

Wouldn't dare do it now. It was only peer pressure that got me to do it then.

 

If you took such a jump with a camera, you would have to hold the camera vertically above your head to avoid the water smackdown impact on the camera. The camera would probably clonk you on the head as your body slowed on impact. No, no, no, not a good idea....

 

Regards

Peter

[danielandrewclem 3]

You also risk tearing your Achilles tendons if you giant stride into the water from a great height. I saw some guy do this from the prow of a sailboat on TV (with just fins, mask, and snorkel) and one of his Achilles promptly popped. The risk of this depends on the length, surface area, and stiffness of the fin, but you can certainly imagine how such a sudden and extreme stretch of the calves could do some serious damage. Ouch.

[Drew 0]

... prized like Jimmy Choo shoes by the technical community, and the lightheads are routinely demonstrated by beating them on the floor.

Wow, I think Wetpixel has finally arrived ... I never thought I hear Jimmy Choo mentioned with tech equipment. However since I had to drive my lady to work for 3 weeks because her JC heels snapped and she rolled an ankle, I'll have to say that Manolo Blahnik is still the best, and Jimmy Choo the wannabe, made famous by bling artists.

 

The highest I ever did was 8 meters. You absolutely had to stay vertical so that your fins and legs took the impact away from your equipment and face. The fall seemed like forever.

I'm just shocked. The highest I've done is a maybe 2.5m off a pier with a double tank BUT the camera had to be lowered to me. My housing will at most go from 2 ft above water...that is housing to water... not the height of the jump.

 

You also risk tearing your Achilles tendons if you giant stride into the water from a great height. I saw some guy do this from the prow of a sailboat on TV (with just fins, mask, and snorkel) and one of his Achilles promptly popped. The risk of this depends on the length, surface area, and stiffness of the fin, but you can certainly imagine how such a sudden and extreme stretch of the calves could do some serious damage. Ouch.

Now wouldn't that make a good clip to sell to tv.

[Paul Kay 65]

"The risk of this depends on the length, surface area, and stiffness of the fin"

 

Ahhh. Could be another topic approaching - on the best fins for the higher entry diver!

 

Never found this a problem myself (tendon's intact so far), but not sure I'd repeat the heady days of diving youth in many other ways either! All I CAN say is that a very high entry gives you a long, long time to think about its foolishness as you approach the water. And in case anyone's wondering, yes I did get my camera (Nikonos then) handed to me in the water after such an entry. Paradoxically, in this particular shore diving spot, it was a choice of scrambling down and over some very sharp rocks or jumping - neither was that pleasant - good south Irish coast divesite though, well worth it.

[Drew 0]

Ahhh. Could be another topic approaching - on the best fins for the higher entry diver!

Well if Prada or Jimmy Choo start making fins, that's when I quit scuba.

[Alex_Mustard 0]

Well if Prada or Jimmy Choo start making fins, that's when I quit scuba.

 

Gucci made a facemask and snorkel a few years ago.

 

Alex

[Drew 0]

Nooooooo?!? Are you kidding? How come I didn't see it in the catalog? Was this aprés tom ford?

[philmayer 0]

I normally jump in first and have my camera passed down to me. I've jumped with it maybe 10% of the time.

 

On my last dive -- January in the Keys -- I jumped in and had my camera passed down. The seas were running 6-8 feet and I somehow caught the dive ladder with my ribs while trying to reach my camera.

 

3 cracked ribs are helping me reconsider my approach.

Edited March 27, 2007 by philmayer

[peterbkk 110]

I normally jump in first and have my camera passed down to me. I've jumped with it maybe 10% of the time.

 

On my last dive -- January in the Keys -- I jumped in and had my camera passed down. The seas were running 6-8 feet and I somehow caught the dive ladder with my ribs while trying to reach my camera.

 

3 cracked ribs are helping me reconsider my approach.

 

Wow, cracking your ribs to protect your camera - now that is dedication ...

 

Nothing as dramatic but, since I started my new policy of NEVER jumping with camera (after a damaged HID light on my video setup last month), I did a dive last week in a raging current. I had to jump from the side of the boat, firmly holding a rope attached to the buoy line that ran down to the ship wreck. Then, I had to have the camera passed to me and I had to attach it to the 2 d-rings on my BCD, while holding the rope. I had to have it firmly connected to me before heading down the line as I knew I would need both hands just to pull against the current. I really needed 3 hands. As I bounced against the side of the boat, one hand gripping the rope, one hand holding the camera and using a couple of spare fingers to attach the carabiners to the d-clips, I was starting to wonder if there isn't a better way for entries in big waves or strong currents.

 

Any ideas?

 

Regards

Peter

[ralphy 1]

I now always jump in with mine; both RIB & hard boat. I find the disadvantages of camera retreival after entry (finning against the current, dodging other divers, inexperienced handler) far outweigh any potential problem of taking it with me.

 

Off the RIB: backwards roll, camera at arms length & negative entry (gets you away from the others, less chance of collision).

 

Hard boat: giant stride, positive buoyancy, camera held high.

 

I've done over 200 dives like this & no problems to report (D100/DX100 & strobes).

 

IMHO the bigger risk is to be found in the rinse tank!!!

[loftus 42]

I cannot understand how holding a camera away from you or above your head softens the impact or slows the speed of camera entering the water. The technique I learned for holding the camera while entering the water I observed from another diver/photographer, involved wrapping my arms around my folded rig against my chest, and rolling backwards, rotating to one side a little (usually my left), as I fall into the water, thus protecting my rig from impact with my body. With very high jumps like 6-8 feet or more, I have it lowered with a rope.

Edited March 27, 2007 by loftus

[Scuba_SI 39]

holding above your head breaks the surface tension of the water, and also slows down the impact when you hit the water as your whole body is in there by this point. Some people can inflate their BC enough so their camera doesnt even get wet.

[smash 0]

Wow, cracking your ribs to protect your camera - now that is dedication ...

 

Nothing as dramatic but, since I started my new policy of NEVER jumping with camera (after a damaged HID light on my video setup last month), I did a dive last week in a raging current. I had to jump from the side of the boat, firmly holding a rope attached to the buoy line that ran down to the ship wreck. Then, I had to have the camera passed to me and I had to attach it to the 2 d-rings on my BCD, while holding the rope. I had to have it firmly connected to me before heading down the line as I knew I would need both hands just to pull against the current. I really needed 3 hands. As I bounced against the side of the boat, one hand gripping the rope, one hand holding the camera and using a couple of spare fingers to attach the carabiners to the d-clips, I was starting to wonder if there isn't a better way for entries in big waves or strong currents.

 

Any ideas?

 

Regards

Peter

 

That sounds familiar. I did a couple of dives last year where the only way to make any progress against the current was to pull myself down the rope as mightily as I could. Like you, having 3 hands would have been quite a help. Since kicking made no difference against the current, I clipped the housing to a lanyard that was attached to my harness, clamped the camera between my legs, and pulled my way down that rope as fast as I could. Glad the current was so nasty no one was taking pictures! Anyway, after 2 dives, I was so beat up I sat out the 3rd dive at that site, and luckily there was little or no current at the remaining sites for that trip.

 

Of course, that was with my P&S with a single strobe. I seriously doubt I could have pulled it off with a DSLR and 2 strobes.

[Scuba_SI 39]

Wow, cracking your ribs to protect your camera - now that is dedication ... wink.gif

 

Nothing as dramatic but, since I started my new policy of NEVER jumping with camera (after a damaged HID light on my video setup last month), I did a dive last week in a raging current. I had to jump from the side of the boat, firmly holding a rope attached to the buoy line that ran down to the ship wreck. Then, I had to have the camera passed to me and I had to attach it to the 2 d-rings on my BCD, while holding the rope. I had to have it firmly connected to me before heading down the line as I knew I would need both hands just to pull against the current. I really needed 3 hands. As I bounced against the side of the boat, one hand gripping the rope, one hand holding the camera and using a couple of spare fingers to attach the carabiners to the d-clips, I was starting to wonder if there isn't a better way for entries in big waves or strong currents.

 

Any ideas?

 

Regards

Peter

That sounds familiar. I did a couple of dives last year where the only way to make any progress against the current was to pull myself down the rope as mightily as I could. Like you, having 3 hands would have been quite a help. Since kicking made no difference against the current, I clipped the housing to a lanyard that was attached to my harness, clamped the camera between my legs, and pulled my way down that rope as fast as I could. Glad the current was so nasty no one was taking pictures! Anyway, after 2 dives, I was so beat up I sat out the 3rd dive at that site, and luckily there was little or no current at the remaining sites for that trip.

 

Of course, that was with my P&S with a single strobe. I seriously doubt I could have pulled it off with a DSLR and 2 strobes.

 

 

Are you lot wearing those silly split fin thingies???

[loftus 42]

The surface tension thing sounds a bit iffy to me, especially if you are holding the camera with arms outstretched in front of you. Now the inflated BC makes more sense, though I still think arms wrapped around the rig is going to provide your rig with the most protection.

holding above your head breaks the surface tension of the water, and also slows down the impact when you hit the water as your whole body is in there by this point. Some people can inflate their BC enough so their camera doesnt even get wet.

[peterbkk 110]

Are you lot wearing those silly split fin thingies???

 

No fin will help against some of the currents we dive. Up to 8 knots on some days. Fortunately, once you get down to the wreck, it provides a natural current barrier and you can have a reasonable dive if you stay in the wreck or just down current. But those first 20 meters of the descent are a bugger. Hand over hand is the only way down. And the ascent requires a vice-like grip on the line so that your don't get pushed to the surface up the line.

 

I have a double harness on both my video and DSLR housings so I can clip it to both D-rings on my BCD, allowing hands-free when required. It hangs near my stomach out of the way. The challenging is clipping the carabiners on to the D-rings before the descent...

 

Regards

Peter

[3@5 0]

The surface tension thing sounds a bit iffy to me, especially if you are holding the camera with arms outstretched in front of you. Now the inflated BC makes more sense, though I still think arms wrapped around the rig is going to provide your rig with the most protection.

 

when doing a giant stride, holding camera above the head, if you do a scissor kick as you enter the water you will slow yourself down enough such your head should not go underwater, and hence neither will the camera. this technique is similar to what you would do if you were entering the water to try and go after someone in difficulty and don't want to lose sight of them by going below water.

I used this way of entering the water for a number of trips, jumping of the dive platform with getting the camera wet. having the bc somewhat inflated helps as well.

 

obviously if your giant stride is from a very high platform it will be quite difficult to slow your entry with a scissor kick

hth/paul

[peterbkk 110]

when doing a giant stride, holding camera above the head, if you do a scissor kick as you enter the water you will slow yourself down enough such your head should not go underwater, and hence neither will the camera.

 

How heavy is your camera? I am sure if I did that with my monster, as my body slowed with the water resistance and the scissor kick, my camera would come crashing into my head.

 

Regards

Peter

[3@5 0]

How heavy is your camera? I am sure if I did that with my monster, as my body slowed with the water resistance and the scissor kick, my camera would come crashing into my head.

 

Regards

Peter

i have to admit that i never weighed it but a canon 1dmkii, seacam alu housing, s45 viewfinder + a pair of inon z220s and whatever port/lens combo i am using is not exactly light:)

i do however expect to bash my head in one day with the rig

 

also this is not my preferred entry method, i just use when i have to on boats where we either do live entries or where there's no deck hand to pass the camera to me.

 

/paul