Hi all,

I know this is off topic but I've noticed there are a few divers on this board. I was just wondering about details: Diver organisations represented? Dive level? Equipment used etc...

I'll start.

I'm a member of the SAA and as such a member of CMAS. I'm an Open Water Diver / CMAS 2*. I'm also a member of PADI and Advanced Openwater with them.

I dive mostly around North Wales which is cold but the visibility is sometimes very good, and there's plenty to see. Ofcourse I holiday in Egypt! ;-)

I'm a firm believer that if you go diving the equipment could save your life so don't go cheap as such I used Aquatek Dry Suits, Poseidon Xtream Duration Regulators and Greenforce Torches, also, my computer is a Mares Nemo.

I have done some diving at night, which could help with the current UWOL challenge but I don't own any particular good underwater camera gear. Just my Panasonic GS75 and an Epic Housing, which isn't weighted so I need to invest in some roofing lead to help get it down! If anyone is ever planning to visit North Wales the two inland dive sites I have to recommend are Vivian Quarry in Llanberis and Dorothea Quarry in Caernarfon. Dorothea has been in the media alot due to quite a few casualties there, but at the end of the day, it's only water and in itself not inherently dangerous, it just happens to be very deep. Dont let the medias depiction of the "Quarry of DEATH!!!!" put you off. Typical tabloid sensationalism.

Anyway that's me as a diver hope to hear from more of you guys soon.

Tata

Dave

Hi Dave and everyone else…

I’m a PADI Dive Master and IANTD adv. EANx diver. I worked as a diveguide and videographer in Thailand during two years and it was there I found my passion; to educate people about the environment and wildlife. Me divegear is tech oriented ‘cause I do also dive caves (this is a Swedish divegroup ( http://www.baggbodykarna.org/) that I dive and video with, sorry the website are in Swedish but this is the link ( http://www.baggbodykarna.org/links/browselinks.php?c=7) to our video archive, the last three are my productions). So the gear I’m using is twintank and Apeaks regs(Interesting that you Dave use Swedish gear and I use English…), Ursuit redQ drysuit and some times stage tanks/deco tank too (cavediving).
The video gear I use are XL2 (3xWide or 20xStock), Gates housing, 2x35W Xenon light (homemade).
Because I dive in cave I’m pretty calm about nightdive, the thing I would suggest before any one goes in the water in night are; 1 Know the spot, don’t go diving is a spot that you don’t know in daylight. 2 don’t go deep (if it is not the only way of getting the shots you what). 3 If it is a divespot that have lots of current, make sure that you know the way back and know more that one exit point if go get lost from the primary exit point. 4 (most important) IF it dose NOT feel go in any way, DO NOT GO DIVING! For safety, always keep some one on the surface as a lookout.
Nightdives are really cool, the sea change totally compare to day. Everything gets really spooky, I love it!

This is me… and my thoughts about diving at night in cold conditions (I love when the ice cold water bites in to your cheeks).

Markus Nord

Hello,

PADI Instructor. Diving since 1992 (originally certified NAUI when living in Texas). Lots of underwater video. Currently use a L&M Mako housing (with all the trimmings) for a Sony DCR SC-100 miniDV camcorder.

Feel very fortunate moving from the UK to North Carolina 10 years ago. Now I am just 3 hours from some of the best wreck diving in the world with fantastic visibility and sea life. I especially love the Sand Tiger sharks that like to come within a couple of feet - more so when the video lights are on!

Lo-res sample on youtube: http://youtube.com/watch?v=tnOuDMFQe20

John.

I'm a BSAC member and 1 day away from Sports Diver. I've been diving for about 18 months and done about 25 open water dives. I've done a few hours with the club UW rig, its only a Hi8 rig but it's given me a good taster to UW video.....and definitely want more !

I've never done a night dive however about a month ago we dived off New Haven and the weather hadn't been great for a week before. We got to 23M and it was ZERO vis....and I mean pitch black zero, not even the torch helped much because the light just bounces off all the crud! It was certainly an experience....but as we said at the time it can only get better :-)

Nice footage John..you must have been excited....and nervous!

John!

Wow, Wow, Wow, Wow, WOW!

My name is Cat Russell and I am landlocked here in Colorado, USA. That footage was amazing! I have, all tolled, logged maybe less than 6 hours of snorkeling all my life, but I sure appreciate footage like that (the You Tube one)! The closest I've come to a shark is several years ago I worked as an atmosperic scientist at NOAA and did several "scientific ship cruises" with work. We would be out at sea for 6 weeks at a shot and we always begged for a "swim call". It never happened, on all the cruises I've been on because on a previous cruise, at the end of a study, crystal clear day, mirror water... they allowed a swim call and immediately after everyone jumped in the water, a shark honed in... all got back to safety but before pulling in one girl into a patrolling raft they had a tug of war with her and the shark... they pulled her in, but the shark got her leg from the hip.

Why do the fish swim with the shark? Everywhere it went, so did the fish?

Just wondering, and thanks!

Cat

P.S. Mat: Leave it to you to be so multi dimensional! ;-)! How many other subjects are you master of?

hi Dave,
I've been diving since 1965 in lakes & oceans. Lakes are relatively straight forward whereas the ocean, boy, that's another caper. Where I am there are very strong currents & that requires some thinking especially for solo diving. I know I'm gonna get flak here but I prefer to dive without a buoyancy compensator because of the drag. Equilibrium is no problem as I use the same equipment every time which causes me absolutely no problems with buoyancy.
I usually start the dive 15 minutes before Slack Tide which gives me pretty well no current during the dive. If the current is a little strong I use a ski rope attached to the anchor chain. If the current is very strong I have a cold beer instead. This requires some planning also when the strong currents are on for several days.
happy diving

Anyone here ever dived in Iceland? My girlfriend and I are interested in checking out the Silfra crack.

Ther is a film on divefilm.com for the all ho love nature.DivefilmHD by
Chuck Niclin`s episode 11.It´s realy a impressive film and so colorful.
And some fantastic macros.



VV.

Weblink:http://divefilm.com/


Download free iTunes for Ipod TV

_______________

Click this link.

You will understand why I want to film the Silfra.

http://www.dive.is/Diving_Iceland.php?page=Silfra

hi Dave,
I've been diving since 1965 in lakes & oceans. Lakes are relatively straight forward whereas the ocean, boy, that's another caper. Where I am there are very strong currents & that requires some thinking especially for solo diving. I know I'm gonna get flak here but I prefer to dive without a buoyancy compensator because of the drag. Equilibrium is no problem as I use the same equipment every time which causes me absolutely no problems with buoyancy.
I usually start the dive 15 minutes before Slack Tide which gives me pretty well no current during the dive. If the current is a little strong I use a ski rope attached to the anchor chain. If the current is very strong I have a cold beer instead. This requires some planning also when the strong currents are on for several days.
happy diving

To be honest I've never heard of anyone diving without a BC. How do you attach the cylinder to yourself? Do you use some kind of wing design without the bladder fitted?

To be honest although it is frowned upon I do enjoy diving solo too. Although when I'm filming I tend to dive with a buddy to help carry some gear, and also hold on to me so I can remain stationary and still have two hands free.

Hello,

PADI Instructor. Diving since 1992 (originally certified NAUI when living in Texas). Lots of underwater video. Currently use a L&M Mako housing (with all the trimmings) for a Sony DCR SC-100 miniDV camcorder.

Feel very fortunate moving from the UK to North Carolina 10 years ago. Now I am just 3 hours from some of the best wreck diving in the world with fantastic visibility and sea life. I especially love the Sand Tiger sharks that like to come within a couple of feet - more so when the video lights are on!

Lo-res sample on youtube: http://youtube.com/watch?v=tnOuDMFQe20

John.

Hey John, how close are you to Pensacola? (sp?)

I was watching a tv show about the Oriskany (sp?) Looks like a brilliant dive for the techies. Definitely something I want to investigate in the future.

I'm a diver doing about 3 trips a year, mostly in the Caribbean.

I have a Sony FX7, Gates housing and halogen lights for night and macro shooting.

Low resolution sample videos on youtube:
http://www.youtube.com/view_play_list?p=499E1AB5C89781CB

http://www.youtube.com/view_play_list?p=0B12AFC6D5A84235



High resolution videos on divx stage6:
http://www.stage6.com/Belize-Scuba

http://www.stage6.com/Cocoview-Roatan


Would love to get some feedback and/or critiques.

I'm probably the exception to the rule for you bubble blowers.

I freedive while shooting video - in essence - I dive to about 10-15 meters on a single breath and shoot. I was doing this with a pair of TRV950's with a Light & Motion Bluefin 950 housing but I just transitioned over to a pair of HC7's and will be accepting delivery of an L&M Bluefin HC7 with wide angle port.

Train 5-6 days a week for shooting video while freediving using many of the techniques from Umberto Pelizzari's "Manual of Freediving" as well as practice a modified primary Ashtanga yoga series for added flexibility and breath control. I'm an IAFD Level III Freedive Instructor as well, although I haven't taught much since the demise of the organization I trained through.

Hoping to get a chance to dive and shoot footage of whale sharks and mantas next year. Did some shooting of Manatee's while in Florida first week of last month - very memorable experience.

Hello All,

I'm a trimix diver with Sony Z1 in an Amphibico Phenom housing, L&M HID lights, etc. My favorite dive spots are North Carolina and Truk/Chuuk lagoon. Sharks, shipwrecks and the Blackbeard/Queen Anne's Revenge shipwreck are my specialties.

www.nautilusproductions.com

PADI Dive Master

I have some of my local Southern California dive videos (shot with the Sony HC7) here: www.mydivinglife.com/ScubaBob

PADI Cert. 12 logged dives both in West Palm Beach and in Abaco, Bahamas

The lack of experience is due to college loans, lets face it, diving is expensive and so is DV. I must have good taste :D

I am a true Floridian and have been snorkeling and been involved in other various water sports since I was a small child. I have no experience filming and hope to change that very soon.

Dreaming of the blue...

Awesome Mary! Good to see another true Floridian in the mix. Rick - how is that housing for the Z1? Would you recommend it?

I've only filmed underwater once (well, a few times, over the course of one trip) and it was a ton of fun. Crazy show to work on, though. I prettymuch got handed an A1, an ewa-marine bag, and a snorkel and dropped offshore in Bimini and told to make the best of it. ;)

It seems rather addictive, I wish I had the proper housing for my Z1. I'm planning on getting my scuba cert this spring/summer. :)

C

A bit of advice wearing both my instructor hat and underwater videographer hat:

Perfect your buoyancy skills! The sooner, the better.

It isn't a very glamorous specialty but one of the most important. I never cease to be amazed of the number of seasoned divers who simply can't control their buoyancy.

Whenever I watch other people's underwater video, I can tell immediately whether they have good buoyancy skills or not. Shaky video due to arms and legs flapping about destroys it! Shooting video underwater requires mental focus on the shooting - especially control of the equipment. Buoyancy control should be second nature.

I always go beyond the training requirements for entry level certification by providing extra - and free - buoyancy skills development.

Also, allow yourself some camera-free dives otherwise you will miss out on much of what you are there to see!

Finally, diving with a video camera can make entry and exit a bit more challenging - be prepared for that.

John.

Perfect your buoyancy skills!

I appreciate the advice! My one attempt at underwater videography earlier described was insanely challenging, and that was with a wee A1 and a snorkel. I'll definitely make sure to get some practice in before renting housings, traveling too far, or other such expenses!

C

Finally, diving with a video camera can make entry and exit a bit more challenging - be prepared for that.


I hear that! I'd prefer boat diving when shooting video, but I have captured some great footage from shore dives, and have at least one scar to prove it! Aluminum housings pack quite a punch when propelled by mother nature!

I hear that! I'd prefer boat diving when shooting video, but I have captured some great footage from shore dives, and have at least one scar to prove it! Aluminum housings pack quite a punch when propelled by mother nature!

Indeed! As do aluminum ladders on the backs of the larger 16+ dive pack boats.

I regularly dive out of Beaufort, NC. The diveshop I use has three boats - two 16+ dive pack and a small 6 pack. The larger ones are a nightmare for many reasons including trying to get back on board with camera in hand in a very modest sea (2 - 3') and crew that don't understand....

The 6 pack is a delight and the skipper understands the peculiarities of video divers. I only use this boat now. And it handles rougher seas much better.

BTW - the hardest dive of my life was a shore dive!

To be honest I've never heard of anyone diving without a BC. How do you attach the cylinder to yourself? Do you use some kind of wing design without the bladder fitted?
Hi Dave,
Sorry about the late reply, just haven't looked at this for a while.
In the late 60's early 70's we had inflatable collars such as the renowned "Fenzy'. they were worn separately from the tank. The tanks were fitted to a Back pack exactly the same as a modern buoyancy compensator but without the bladder. I wouldn't go without a buoyancy device in still water but in current it's a totally different scenario. All that gear causes immense drag and it wouldn't surprise me at all if it was the cause of fatalities due to exhaustion.
Many won't agree with that but it's the way I feel about it.

Hi all

I'm looking to buy a cheap (-ish?) video rig for underwater filming. I 'spose I'm looking at spending around USD1000 - 1500 for the whole rig - camera and housing. It'll need to be good to say 25 - 30 meters (100 feet). I wonder if anyone can tell me if such a thing exists?

I'm mostly a current affairs news and documentary guy, but I've done a bit of natural history filming in my native Africa. I was unit DoP on a five part production for Animal Planet a few months ago, shooting full HD; and I shot a (yet to be released) doc on efforts to stop the poaching of rhino in Zimbabwe.

I'm also a PADI Advanced open water diver; I dive mostly in Mozambique and South Africa, and here in Zimbabwe keep my bubbles flowing upward at Chinoyi Caves - an awesome dive site, by the way.

I shoot mostly on a JVC HD111 and a Sony DXCD-30 with a Beta back. So I'll be looking to get a new small camera, and a good waterproof housing.

Any advice would be much appreciated.

With your budget you will find it hard to get a complete configuration. In particular, you will almost certainly be unable to get lighting. On deeper dives, you will only be able to record monochrome footage - green or blue depending upon location.

Do you have any particular requirements? Is Hi8 okay? DV? Do you want to have control over the camcorder beyond simple on/off.

You might need to consider used equipment but that can carry an extra cost if you choose to get the housing inspected/serviced.

Finally - PAL or NTSC?

Thanks for getting back to me, John.

I'm looking for kit that would let me experiment with underwater videography. Apart from a possible shoot with a buddy in Kenya later this year, i have no dive-related work on the horizon. Not much opportunity in Niger (next week) Germany (april) or Iraq (May)!

I would prefer DV, and would like to be able to shoot 16:9. I understand about the lights - that's something I could make a plan for, since I have mates here who do dam inspection diving and have good lights for that - so I'd be able to borrow those while I play around.

Which is the point, I suppose - I'm looking at learning a new technique, putting together the beginning of a new skills base, experimenting with another set of options. Hence the budget limit.

Maybe a more useful way of looking at this would be to re-phrase the question:

"What is the effective minimum budget I would need to get set up to shoot underwater video in 16:9 SD to a depth of 20 meters? And what would I get for that budget?"

I shoot entirely in PAL. So that's what I'd be looking for. I'd prefer new, though good 2nd hand could make sense while i see if there's a future in this for me.

And I suppose the more control the better. It all depends on the budget/options matrix though.

Ikelite make inexpensive housings. I have used them since 1994 (as well as some other brands).

Here's an example:

http://www.ikelite.com/web_pages/sony_trv33.html

The nice thing about Ikelite's housings is that you can buy a lighting system later on (which I also have).

The challenge is to find a low-end miniDV camcorder and a matching housing since specific housings tend to fit only a few camcorders. i.e., there's quite a bit of homework required especially because new miniDV camcorders are becoming rather scarce and many housing manufacturers have discontinued their models (Ikelite is an exception).

Perhaps a new housing but a used camcorder would be a good route.

As far as 16:9 goes - if you want true 16:9 then your miniDV camcorder options decline rapidly. You may need to consider an HDV camcorder instead - again used. I recently got an HDR-HC1 for ~$1100 in mint condition. I'm about to buy yet another Ikelite housing for it.

Most "proper" housings are rated to 200ft or more.

Excluding lighting, I think you are looking at $2500 for a new housing and used camcorder with true 16:9 capability. If you could accept fake 16:9 (just letterboxed 4:3), that price may drop to $1500.

This excludes additional camcorder accessories - especially batteries.

Hi John

Thanks very much for this advice. I actually have a couple of small mini DV camcorders that shoot letterboxed 16:9. I'll have a look at the Ikelite site and see if they make a housing for either of them.

I'm at Joburg airport on my way to the Sahara for two weeks, so this will wait for a while. But I'll let you know what I come up with in the end, and look forward to using this resource as I learn my way around underwater video work.

Thanks again for all you help. Best wishes

Rob Adams

For a cheap option have you checked out the Sanyo Xacti? Small and pretty inexpensive. Quality isn't fantastic but for the money I reckon it is pretty good.

I have also used Ikelite housing which are good, and there service is fantastic. I now use a Canon XHA1 in a GATES and that is stunning... but not cheap.

Jon

Hi everyone. Im an SSI Dive Control Specialist Instructor and have been teaching scuba for 4 years. I make my living shooting, selling and instructing underwater video and photo, as well as teaching scuba.

I currently shoot the Panasonic HVX200, as well as a Sony EX1, and I have a RED coming very soon.

Im new to DVinfo, but many of you might have seen my posts on all the scuba boards (h2ophotopros).

I look forward to chatting with you all and perhaps getting in the water too!

I currently shoot the Panasonic HVX200, as well as a Sony EX1, and I have a RED coming very soon.

What housing are you planing to use for the RED? Gates? is it any other housing producer that you know of that will produce housings for RED's Cameras (Scarlet and so on...)?

welcome to the forum