The Scuba Gear Lab

Underwater Camera Maintenance Checklist: Pre-Dive and Post-Dive Care

Listen Later

A single skipped check at the surface can mean a flooded housing at depth—and a repair bill in the thousands. This episode walks through the complete pre-dive and post-dive maintenance routine that separates photographers who consistently bring home sharp images from those salvaging waterlogged gear. Whether you're shooting with a compact setup or a full mirrorless rig with strobes, these step-by-step habits protect your investment and keep your housing watertight dive after dive. If you've ever wondered exactly what to inspect before splashing or how to properly rinse your gear afterward, this breakdown covers it all.

  • Remove and inspect your main o-ring under good light before every dive, cleaning it with your fingers rather than towels to avoid lint, and apply only thin silicone grease designed for camera housings.
    • Test your sealed housing in a freshwater rinse bucket for two to three minutes before inserting your camera—watching for bubbles can reveal a leak path that would otherwise show up at depth.
      • Press every button and dial while the housing is submerged during your post-dive rinse, flushing salt water from mechanical linkages before crystals form and jam your controls.
        • Keep two separate microfiber cloths for port cleaning—one for the exterior that contacts saltwater and fingers, one exclusively for the interior optical surface to prevent scratches.
          • Replace silica gel desiccant packs every 10 to 15 dives or when the humidity indicator changes color, preventing internal fogging that can ruin an entire dive's worth of shots.
            • Loosen ball-mount joints and strobe arm clamps slightly while rinsing under fresh water, as salt accumulates in these connection points and causes corrosion over time.

              • Read the full article: https://thescubagearlab.com/underwater-camera-maintenance-checklist

              ...more
              View all episodesView all episodes
              Download on the App Store
              The Scuba Gear LabBy The Scuba Gear Lab