Underwater Cameras

[ATLe46]

Hello,

I am going to do a little diving in Curacao next month and was wondering if they make disposable cameras that can go down to 50 or 60 feet. I know most of the ones I've seen only make it to 17 feet. Do these deeper water disposables exist, or is there a cheap alternative to buying an expensive dive camera?


Thanks.

[Toadfish]

The ones that go 17 feet will work, but the coloration will be drowned in blue and they don't make a flash for those so the pics will be dark.

[kram138]

I agree with Toad fish. You need a very strong flash at 60 feet. The best thing to do is find a dive shop that rents cameras. In my area you can rent a Sealife Reefmaster with dual strobes pretty easily. That deep you'll need the dual strobes for bright colorful photos. HTH

[ATLe46]

Thanks for your help. Most of the shots would probably be taken in the 35 ft range, but we sometimes go as deep as 60 feet, so I'd want to make sure the camera can withstand the pressure. Someone in the group had a disposable (up to 17 feet) last year, and it imploded at around 40 feet. I'll check into renting them as well. Thanks again.

[Phantom Phish]

Yeah, from what I've heard, the disposable cameras often have a problem at any deeper depth in trying to advance the film in the camera. Apparently, the increased pressure makes it difficult to turn the little wheel that advances the film. That, plus the lack of any decent strobe (flash), and I'd agree with the above, that you'd probably be better off renting a smaller camera like the Reefmaster, or I like the Sea and Sea MX10 which is relatively small and compact and has a nice little strobe on it. I think they have also come out with an even smaller version they call the MX5. You might be able to rent one down in Curacao, but I usually find it cheaper in the long run to rent one here in the states and take it with you.

[Toadfish]

Once you drop past 20' w/o a flash the quality of pic will drop dramatically.

[Hommeworks]

Canon makes these Elf digital cameras with a underwater housing accessory. These work very well. Depending on how much you dive and photograph, it may be worth the purchase. I've seen some very beautiful shots taken with these as deep as 90 fsw. I bought a Nikon CoolPix 990 and a custom housing. It goes with me on every dive. But I am a frequent diver.