Waterproof Cameras

Paul Mallon · Post by **Paul Mallon** » Wed Nov 08, 2006 11:00 pm

Hello There,

My wife and I are going to Tobago next february on our honeymoon, I'm sure she's mentioned it on here already!

I was just wondering about cameras for under water use.
We plan on doing a diving course while there, can we get disposible water proof cameras on Tobago?

Or should we look for them her ebefore we go?

We can't wait!!
it's going to be the best holiday EVER!!

excellent site by the way, very very useful!

Thanks,

Paul.

Mikael A · Post by **Mikael A** » Thu Nov 09, 2006 7:06 am

Im not a diver, but a big fan off snorkling.

And i usaly use a regular kodak underwater disposible camra "cheap once that u turn in when u taken all the pictures" Dont know how good it will look at deeper waters tho, as i at most go down at 3 meters. Maybe abit more but often shallower.

The quality is not to great tho i got to say, u really need to have good sight in the water for the picture to turn out allright. But i usaly buy them at the airports before i travel.

That is the cheap way to deal with it. Tho i think i seen some off the dive operators said they also have camrea to borrow / use. "on their webpages".

Micke

Kevin Hampson · Post by **Kevin Hampson** » Thu Nov 09, 2006 7:30 am

Hi Paul,
Disposable waterproof cameras are only much good for a few meters down after that the O rings start to squeeze and the shutter sticks. It should be fine for the confined water training bit of your dive course but you will be going a bit deeper after that and I would not count on it working once you get past 5m. The other issue can be light levels as you get deeper you loose colour and it gets darker (don't worry you'll do this on your course) and the film in disposable cameras is not that fast. If you want to take them your best bet is to get a couple in the duty free at the airport when you leave. They will be fine for the beach and snorkelling around the reefs anyway.

Once you get a few dives under your belt you may decide to get into underwater photography. You'll find the many of the digital camera makers have underwater housings for their compact cameras and these are a much better bet than the disposable ones.

To be honest when you start you'll have enough to think about without taking photos and if you are lucky you may find one of the divers in your group is already using a digital camera underwater and if you ask them nicely they'll take a few of you and let you have copies of their other shots. Then your only problem will be avoiding them in the bar when he's trying to show you all his holiday snaps on the laptop.

Have a great time
Kevin

Post by **Steve Wooler** » Thu Nov 09, 2006 9:11 am

Hi Paul

Looks like you question is fully answered, but just wanted to welcome you aboard the forum and thanks for the nice comments about the board.

Jill M · Post by **Jill M** » Thu Nov 09, 2006 5:56 pm

Hi Paul,

Kevin is right - the disposible cameras are only suitable for snorkling - they have a depth of about 1 metre. I have an underwater housing for my Sony Cybershot that goes to 3m which again is only suitable for snorkling. If taking a camera diving, you really need the deep water housing that you can take to 30m depth.

My husband has just done the PADI Underwater Photography course in the Maldives and there was alot of information about the white balance and the colours disappearing as you go deeper, so having to adjust the camera settings as you go deeper. He has taken some amazing pictures, so it is well worth hiring or buying one. However, to try and get some good pictures whilst you are learning to dive would not be recommended - as Kevin said - you will have enough to think about.

Jill.

Kevin Hampson · Post by **Kevin Hampson** » Thu Nov 09, 2006 8:13 pm

Hi Jill,
Sorry Steve, non Tobago question, but where did you go in the Maldives. We are off to Lily Beach in Febuary.

Regards
Kevin

Kevin Hampson · Post by **Kevin Hampson** » Thu Nov 09, 2006 8:24 pm

Hi Paul,
I've done a bit of checking for you. Most of the underwater disposables have 200 or 400 iso film and are rated to 3 m (9 ft) the only two I can find that don't fit this are are the Kodac Max Soprt and the Fuji 800 Marine both have 800 iso film and rated to 5m (15ft).

The last two should be OK for the confined water training. But still not deep enough for the dives after that. Once the confined water stuff is complete you could be on dives down to 18m and no disposable will be go that deep.

Regards
Kevin

Jill M · Post by **Jill M** » Thu Nov 09, 2006 9:21 pm

Kevin,

We went to Kuredu this year and Lohifushi last year. The diving (for my husband) was good on Kuredu, but the snorkling was excellent at Loifushi being just off the jetty.

I have heard that at Lily Beach they have a turtle hatchery - that sounds brilliant.

Jill

Kevin Hampson · Post by **Kevin Hampson** » Fri Nov 10, 2006 7:00 am

Hi Jill,
We did Lily Beach in 2001 for our 25th before I dicovered Tobago. Great house reef and free Nitrox.

Regards
Kevin

Paul Mallon · Post by **Paul Mallon** » Fri Nov 10, 2006 9:54 pm

WOW! thanks guys!!
much appreciated!

I might look into a proper housing for our digital camera.

thanks again.

Paul.

Merlin · Post by **Merlin** » Sun Sep 09, 2007 2:01 pm

[quote="Jill M"]Hi Paul,

Kevin is right - the disposible cameras are only suitable for snorkling - they have a depth of about 1 metre. I have an underwater housing for my Sony Cybershot that goes to 3m which again is only suitable for snorkling. If taking a camera diving, you really need the deep water housing that you can take to 30m depth.

Hey Jilll where did you get the housing for you cybershot! I dont have time for this trip to get one...but sure would have liked one... just have a cheapo to take for underwater right now... thanks,

Kevin Hampson · Post by **Kevin Hampson** » Sun Sep 09, 2007 2:51 pm

Hi Merlin,
A lot depends on which Sony Cybershot it is. Sony do housings for most of the Cybershot range and now they are rated to 4Om but (and it's big but) as soon as the camera is updated they stop producing the housings. So if your camera is over a year old the chances are they may have discontinued the housing.

you can usualy pick up a housings on Ebay but make sure the O rings are OK and its a good idea to do a couple of test dives before putting your camera in.

Regards
Kevin

Steve P · Post by **Steve P** » Sun Sep 09, 2007 4:25 pm

Hi
Just got one of these, http://www.amazon.co.uk/Vivitar-ViviCam ... 824&sr=8-2[/url]
Look really good. Also got the memory card from here,
http://www.play.com/Electronics/Electro ... type=genre
Regards
Steve

Jill M · Post by **Jill M** » Sun Sep 09, 2007 5:10 pm

Merlin,

I got mine from Amazon a while ago. I have the T7 which they don't make any more and therefore, it's difficult to get the underwater cover now.

By the way, the 'not so deep' type are called Sports Pack for the Sony and are obviously cheaper than the diving underwater housing, Although still about GBP £60 - 70 !! But we found it worth it as we never had got one decent photo from the disposable underwater cameras and now we can use the flash and change the settings of the camera.

Jill