WWL-1B hard cap - attachment

[OwenF 4]

I have the above and find that:

1) it’s really hard to remove with big dry gloves

2) there is no attachment for clipping off. Goes in drysuit pocket atm, but that’s a pain

 

Has anyone ‘modified’ their hard cap and can share ideas before I take a drill to it?

 

Thinking a hole through the rounded edge with a loop of cord through will solve both problems.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Phil Rudin 454]

The hard cap for the WWL-1B is not intended for use while diving, it is for storage and protection during travel. If you read the PDF manual for the lens it basically tells you to soak the lens in fresh water after use in saltwater, dry then install both the front and rear covers.   

[ChrisRoss 150]

Some discussion on this topic here: 

 

 

[keesbl 4]

Hey Owen, mine is a pain too. I've drilled a small attachment point for a boltsnap (at the suggestion of Natalie Gibb and Adam Hanlon) which is definitely a must-do modification. The boltsnap is hard to operate in dry gloves though so I'll probably replace it with a bungee loop and a double ender. I think we're both diving similar conditions. 

I've also drilled several vent holes in the hard cap in an effort to make it easier to get off underwater. I haven't actually dove it with the vent holes yet, so I'll let you know how it goes if you like!

[OwenF 4]

The hard cap for the WWL-1B is not intended for use while diving, it is for storage and protection during travel. If you read the PDF manual for the lens it basically tells you to soak the lens in fresh water after use in saltwater, dry then install both the front and rear covers.   

Interesting. But the type of diving I do, I’m not getting in without a cover on the lens.

I assume they give a hard cap with the -1B because the neoprene doesn’t work with permanent bouyancy collar. Strange to design a lens that can’t be protected in the water


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[OwenF 4]

Some discussion on this topic here: 
 
 

Thanks.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[OwenF 4]

Hey Owen, mine is a pain too. I've drilled a small attachment point for a boltsnap (at the suggestion of Natalie Gibb and Adam Hanlon) which is definitely a must-do modification. The boltsnap is hard to operate in dry gloves though so I'll probably replace it with a bungee loop and a double ender. I think we're both diving similar conditions. 
I've also drilled several vent holes in the hard cap in an effort to make it easier to get off underwater. I haven't actually dove it with the vent holes yet, so I'll let you know how it goes if you like!

Awesome Kees, that’s exactly what I was looking for!

Yes, let me know how you get on with the vent holes. If you remember next time you are with your lens, do you mind sending me a pic of where you drilled the attachment hole?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[ChrisRoss 150]

4 hours ago, OwenF said:

Interesting. But the type of diving I do, I’m not getting in without a cover on the lens.

I assume they give a hard cap with the -1B because the neoprene doesn’t work with permanent bouyancy collar. Strange to design a lens that can’t be protected in the water


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I suspect they probably did design it that way for that reason.  I would think you could readily adapt a small neoprene dome cover that is held on with bungee and/or velcro.  One advantage of neoprene is keeps the front element wet until you can get it onto fresh water soak.

[keesbl 4]

9 hours ago, OwenF said:

Awesome Kees, that’s exactly what I was looking for!

Yes, let me know how you get on with the vent holes. If you remember next time you are with your lens, do you mind sending me a pic of where you drilled the attachment hole?

I've dropped you a picture on Facebook, but in case anyone stumbles on this thread in the future, I'll post it here too.

[Phil Rudin 454]

12 hours ago, OwenF said:

Interesting. But the type of diving I do, I’m not getting in without a cover on the lens.

I assume they give a hard cap with the -1B because the neoprene doesn’t work with permanent bouyancy collar. Strange to design a lens that can’t be protected in the water


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Hi Owen,

We all want to protect our expensive glass while in the water. When the WWL-1 was developed the buoyancy collar was not part of the original design that was added later so the 140mm neoprene dome cover worked well. Nauticam's WACP was the first wet optic offered with the hard cap and that was later offered for WWL-1 when the type "B" was introduced. 

This does not seem like rocket science to me at least not if you are using a port with a zoom/focus wheel like the one for the Sony 28-60mm zoom. The photos show a 180mm neoprene port cover looped over the zoom wheel on one end and a velcro closer on the other end. I am sure some of you do-it-yourself guys can make this work.

 

[OwenF 4]

Hi Owen,
We all want to protect our expensive glass while in the water. When the WWL-1 was developed the buoyancy collar was not part of the original design that was added later so the 140mm neoprene dome cover worked well. Nauticam's WACP was the first wet optic offered with the hard cap and that was later offered for WWL-1 when the type "B" was introduced. 
This does not seem like rocket science to me at least not if you are using a port with a zoom/focus wheel like the one for the Sony 28-60mm zoom. The photos show a 180mm neoprene port cover looped over the zoom wheel on one end and a velcro closer on the other end. I am sure some of you do-it-yourself guys can make this work.
 

Thanks Phil. I have the hard cap because that came with the lens. I have no interest in buying an extra lens cover, when the lens already comes with one. I want to make the one they supply work - hence my original specific question. I also do not have a port with a knob.

Kees has given the exact answer I was looking for though, so that’s me sorted. Thanks


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[TmxDiver 41]

I've done something similar with a bolt snap but also a little different. My bolt snap is on a small piece of cave line that is attached through a hole I drilled. I also have the WWL-C and not the -1 or -1B.

Given the amount of gear, bailout bottles, etc. I dive with, I also feel better having the hard cap on for the dive. 

The reason I have the extra line is that I keep the bolt snap attached to my Nauticam housing setup. There are a few small brackets with holes and I attach the bolt snap to that. 

When I get to the bottom, I take off the cap and then just "let it go" knowing that it is attached to the housing and won't get "lost."

Two additional thoughts:

1) I have had a really hard time removing the cap at depth due to the vacuum effect I believe. While I don't cherish the idea of drilling more holes into the cap, I do like the idea from @keesbl since it will make it a LOT easier to remove at depth.

2) The length of my cave line is such that the cap can be on the wet lens and also connected to the housing. The downside is that it "floats" and sometimes gets in the way. I've thought about weighting it a little bit with tire weights so that it always is negative and below the GoPro I mount on top of my housing.

In addition, I also wear dry gloves on all my dives and have no problems operating the small bolt snap, but I also have plenty of practice given all the gear I carry on my dives.

 

- brett

 

[JayceeB 54]

I lost my original cap as I didn't have it quite seated when applied.  Forked out $113 for a new overpriced cap.  Modified the new cap with a bolt snap similar to images shown earlier in this thread.  I just lost that one hanging off my BC the first day of a recent trip.  I won't be purchasing another one.  I have never lost a neoprene dome cover.  Neoprene stuffs easily into a BC pocket and works just fine.  It's also much more convenient when doing offshore snorkel trips where you're not wearing a BC to clip it to.  Not sure why Nauticam went with an overpriced awkward solution like this.  I've been using a wetsuit hood to cover the WWL1-B when entering/exiting the water until I can find a proper neoprene cover that fits. 

Phil Rudin's dome cover photos look to be the best I've seen.  Phil, would you mind sharing what brand of 180 mm cover you have?

[TmxDiver 41]

7 minutes ago, JayceeB said:

I lost my original cap as I didn't have it quite seated when applied.  Forked out $113 for a new overpriced cap.  Modified the new cap with a bolt snap similar to images shown earlier in this thread.  I just lost that one hanging off my BC the first day of a recent trip.  I won't be purchasing another one.  I have never lost a neoprene dome cover.  Neoprene stuffs easily into a BC pocket and works just fine.  It's also much more convenient when doing offshore snorkel trips where you're not wearing a BC to clip it to.  Not sure why Nauticam went with an overpriced awkward solution like this.  I've been using a wetsuit hood to cover the WWL1-B when entering/exiting the water until I can find a proper neoprene cover that fits. 

Phil Rudin's dome cover photos look to be the best I've seen.  Phil, would you mind sharing what brand of 180 mm cover you have?

Sorry to hear. That definitely sucks.

That is one reason I put my bolt snap on the camera housing so that when I detach it from the lens, it isn't going anywhere (and I don't have to attach and detach it from me). If you had the bolt snap tight against the cap and not on a bungee or piece of cave line (similar to what @keesbl did), then I'm guessing the hard cap got wedged and the bolt snap opened. This is something that is very common when people put double enders on spools and don't do it "the right way." It is really easy for a bolt snap or double ender to get wedged in the right way and "pop off."

There are definitely advantages to using a neoprene cover. I personally like the hard cover due to the type of diving I do, but it does have downsides. Plus, as somebody else mentioned, I guess Nauticam only intended it to be used during transport/travel and not during diving.

 

- brett

[Davide DB 483]

I do rebreather dives with 3/4 stages and scooter and I leave the hard cap on the boat. It sucks. I have big hands (gloves size 11) and it's impossible to open with dry gloves. I really do not understand Nauticam solution.

Anyway I clip my setup (GH5 WWL-1B, two Keldan Luna, four float arms and monitor)  to my right chest D ring through a 25 cm bungee and bolt snap. When I swim or ride with the scooter the housing sit perfectly on my side behind my armpit with the precious WWL facing up. I used the same conf. with the plastic 6" dome and I never had a scratch while diving.

In order for this setup to work, the whole gear needs to be nearly neutral, and simple friction with the water while swimming brings it into perfect position. Unfortunately I don't have a picture of it in the water, but it's enough to have a bungee and a bolt snap of this length:

When I move a little between shots I slip my arm over the cord that acts as a handle between the two arms and carry it like a shopping bag. This way.

Edited January 3, 2022 by Davide DB

[JayceeB 54]

I spoke with Reef Photo.  They pointed this out.  Has anyone tried it on a mounted WWL-1B in the water?

https://www.nauticam.com/products/neoprene-cover-for-wwl-1b

[Mark Green 4]

On 1/4/2022 at 11:50 AM, JayceeB said:

I spoke with Reef Photo.  They pointed this out.  Has anyone tried it on a mounted WWL-1B in the water?

https://www.nauticam.com/products/neoprene-cover-for-wwl-1b

I will be using this on a trip in two weeks time. I will let you know how it works.

[Davide DB 483]

On 1/6/2022 at 3:58 AM, Mark Green said:

I will be using this on a trip in two weeks time. I will let you know how it works.

Did it work as intended? Could you show the rear part of the cover, has it a velcro?

About its weight in water...

Anyone know if there is a buoyancy difference between the original WWL-1 (with the foam collar) and the new alu one?

Thanks

[ChrisRoss 150]

42 minutes ago, Davide DB said:

Did it work as intended? Could you show the rear part of the cover, has it a velcro?

About its weight in water...

Anyone know if there is a buoyancy difference between the original WWL-1 (with the foam collar) and the new alu one?

Thanks

a small difference, WWL-1B is 120gr -ve and WWL-1 with collar is 160gr -ve 

[Davide DB 483]

Thank you Chris

[Mark Green 4]

On 4/13/2022 at 3:06 AM, Davide DB said:

Did it work as intended? Could you show the rear part of the cover, has it a velcro?

About its weight in water...

Anyone know if there is a buoyancy difference between the original WWL-1 (with the foam collar) and the new alu one?

Thanks

It worked great. The rear has 4 parts that stay together with velcro. Once in the water I tucked the cover inside my wetsuit as I don't have a pocket. Putting it back on was a challenge at first until I learned not to unfasten the top part and just stretch it over the lens like a regular cover, the fasten the lower part. May be difficult with gloves.

[JayceeB 54]

I have been using one of these dome covers for a month or so on my WWL-1B.  I have a focus light mounted on the hotshoe mount on the top of the lens which gets in the way of the velcro straps somewhat.  Also, the velcro straps are a bit short and could use another 1-1.5" added to them.

[Pomacentridae 22]

The hard cap for the WWL-1B is not intended for use while diving, it is for storage and protection during travel. If you read the PDF manual for the lens it basically tells you to soak the lens in fresh water after use in saltwater, dry then install both the front and rear covers.   

As I was curious and have been using the hard cap a lot, I did check with Nauticam on this and they said: “Yes, you can absolutely use the hard cap for protection while in water.“

But agree that you do need to rinse it and not let it dry with saltwater.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Pomacentridae 22]

Interesting. But the type of diving I do, I’m not getting in without a cover on the lens.

I assume they give a hard cap with the -1B because the neoprene doesn’t work with permanent bouyancy collar. Strange to design a lens that can’t be protected in the water


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Hi Owen,

Having the same concerns. I did talk with Nauticam and they said “Yes, you can absolutely use the hard cap for protection while in water.” So I will definitely be taking a drill and adding a clip to my hard cap. It’ll give me options.

But as for the neoprene cover. I have bought the WWL-1B neoprene cover (https://www.nauticam.com/products/neoprene-cover-for-wwl-1b) and sewn on a bungee cord to the top velcro clasp.



This allows me to undo and loosen the top clasp while keeping the cover securely on the lens.



Having loosened it, i can now pull the neoprene cover under the lens and out of the way.




Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Davide DB 483]

On 6/24/2022 at 1:13 AM, Pomacentridae said:

Hi Owen,

Having the same concerns. I did talk with Nauticam and they said “Yes, you can absolutely use the hard cap for protection while in water.” So I will definitely be taking a drill and adding a clip to my hard cap. It’ll give me options.

But as for the neoprene cover. I have bought the WWL-1B neoprene cover (https://www.nauticam.com/products/neoprene-cover-for-wwl-1b) and sewn on a bungee cord to the top velcro clasp.



This allows me to undo and loosen the top clasp while keeping the cover securely on the lens.



Having loosened it, i can now pull the neoprene cover under the lens and out of the way.




Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

This could be a good solution. i have to try if I'm able to remove and put it back easily with one hand...