Kristin

Recently had an issue with my vacuum valve not working so have replaced it. Sadly, it's still not holding a green light so seems the problem was greater than that single issue. I can't see anything obvious so was hoping for some guidance on trouble shooting it to see if i can find the issue and fix it myself. Any ideas?

I'm hoping someone here can help me with a Meta issue. Beyond what I can figure out with googling or basic trouble-shooting. I woke up this morning to find my account has been suspended. the "appeals" thing is a joke. If someone is savvy in the way of the algorithm please reach out. At this stage I'd prefer to do it privately via messages etc. thank you :)

Have you talked to your wife about what each of you wants from a dive? There's no reason you must dive together if your objectives for enjoyment are vastly different. Do your own things without feeling pressure or pressuring the other person then enjoy chatting about your separate dives over dinner etc. Hire your own guide/guides where you can then you can maximize your time underwater. If you choose to dive with a group, make sure that everyone knows the whole plan. It's not fair to just do your own thing if you haven't explicitly explained what that means; other people may be stressed out or not getting the dive they want because they are wondering where you are or if they should check on you. On my local dives with friends, we still discuss what our plan will be for each dive. Often that's pretty basic "see you in 90 minutes". Communication - "plan the dive and dive the plan" trite but true. If you're going to solo dive or same ocean, same day dive, make sure you have a plan for when things go wrong, that you have the gear you need and that you have the experience/training to do it as safely as possible. I am definitely not a group project type diver so I try to avoid those kinds of dives altogether and choose my destinations/operators by what fit my needs. When I can't (very rare coz I try to sort all this before I sign up), I make sure to talk to the guide and come to whatever arrangement we can make work so that everyone is on the same page, safe and respectful.

If you want something to use now, get it. I'm not that great at waiting so I'd rather have something that works fine right now and if something enormously better comes along, add/change later. I use both the Insta360 X4 and the AcePro 2 while diving (not at the same time) and enjoy each of them. This is with the Ace Pro 2 the other day...

Thank you, Everyone! Really appreciate the suggestions and information. At this stage, I've done all I can do with it so looks like I'll be needing to replace it. There's definitely something wrong in there 🙃 Also talked with Reef and they've explained how to use it without the vacuum until the new part arrives, so there are options.

thank you so much!! i will definitely use this info. photos would be great - thank you!

@Luko - that sounds like the one I have! I'll try to find a no name one. Do you remember where you got yours? I can't get any light change now after doing what I could to it and reinstalling. @Davide DB sorry, I thought I had answered that! Yes, there was never a problem removing the back. The problem is getting a vacuum seal. I can hear air escaping the valve sometimes even after taking it out and reinstalling. I'm wondering if somehow I am not putting it back together again properly...

No, it isn't the battery, which I have changed already. The vacuum seal is not working. Have just pulled it out and tried to see if anything is obvious. If anyone has pulled theirs apart to see the spring and little foot, it would be great to hear from you as it seems that this has to be the issue somehow - there's really nothing else that can go wrong. I can't find a detailed parts diagram or instructions on how to fix this online at all.

it's losing vacuum. A friend has the tool so I'll grab that later today.

Yes, other pumps and sucking do work but that's not my issue now. The valve itself isn't working to create a lasting vacuum. I can get the light to turn green but it won't stay green for more than 30 seconds, so it seems a problem I wouldn't want to take underwater as if that is leaking, maybe it would let water in, too? I'm trying to locally source the little tool to remove it but haven't had luck yet. Can anyone suggest an alternative tool so i can remove the valve and hopefully figure out what's wrong? Thanks!

@Dave_Hicks how frustrating!! Mine is the older model on my 7dmkii housing and I've never had an issue. This is definitely not a battery thing, unfortunately! The only thing I can think of is there is something with the vacuum valve itself so I'm trying to find info on troubleshooting/fixing it - hopefully a local friend has the tool so i can get started.

Thanks for the suggestions on a new pump. I've borrowed one for now and will try one of the wine ones. @Grantmac yup, it does work - have had to do that before! Felt ridiculous 😄 Sadly, the new battery is not the issue. I can, with a lot more effort than usual, get the light to go green, but it will not stay green so I've got a leak somewhere/the vacuum valve is wonky. Any ideas how to fix it/trouble shoot it? I've never pulled one apart/off the housing - is there a trick to it or things I should know? My vacuum pump was installed by Reef when I bought it so I don't think I have the little tool I see on the video - what can I use? thanks!

Thanks - fingers crossed it's the battery! It wasn't red blinking or solid on the safety stop so at least it waited til I was up. My hand pump completely fell apart this afternoon, too! $53 for a new one is insanity. What a weird day 😄

Started with the green light of happiness today, did my dive with happy green, came back to wash things down and now there's a red light. Bummer, right? Undo everything. No water, not even a hint of a drop. Good. Trying to get a green light back as it went straight to blue after I flipped the switch off and on. I can get a yellow, but then it either goes off or goes back to blue. I can't get a green. Battery? Hopefully I can find a replacement in the morning, if so. Issue with the vacuum seal port? How to troubleshoot/fix this? Other suggestions? Totally bummed. Wobbie from the other day for tax.

I have the 7dmkii in a nauticam housing and this above is pretty much how I hold it, too. I have bad hands, size XS gloves, and find I can hold steady, reach the buttons and shoot without issue doing this. Also as Chris says, if I'm not actively shooting, I hold the housing a variety of ways depending what's comfy in the moment. good luck!

Thanks, Everyone! Super helpful. It sounds to me like she's not really gaining as much as she's losing by switching, but only she can figure out which elements are most important to her. I'm passing it all on to her. Once again, thank you for taking the time to add your thoughts and suggestions!

Hoping you can help me help a friend. She currently uses an Olympus TG6 and has housing, strobes, wet lenses etc. Loves the size, ease of use, macro/small critter capabilities, flexibility on a dive. What she doesn't love is how it does on wider scenes, soft/messy/ugly backgrounds (I agree!) and battery life when she does videos. Wants: better overall image quality, small/light, flexibility as the Oly offers, better video and battery life, available now. Budget would be a flexible USD$1500ish for camera/housing. I don't keep up enough to know where to really point her and hoping you all can help. Lionfish for photo tax.

I'll be very interested to hear what you think if you choose to go this path. I have a ton of Nauticam stuff and was intending to stick with Nauticam for my upcoming update, but exploring a new option isn't off the table!

Super, I'll try that, thanks!! In all my reading, I saw something about h265 and clearly did not understand it enough to consider it as the problem. So much to learn.

yes to da vinci. I'm not sure what you mean by preset? on export I choose mp4 (or quicktime for mov) H265? I wish I didn't need to use FBmsg but sadly most of my friends use it!

I hope someone sees this, didn't want to make a new post and clutter things up too much. I'm struggling to figure out how to send videos via FB messenger. Sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't - both from the messenger app on my phone and from my laptop (no app). MP4s seem to be the issue, mov files send but they are so big that creates another issue. Signal never has these issues 🙃 After trying to trouble shoot it, I thought it was because somehow I had created & exported a 60fps video but FB only supports 30. So I tried to redo it at 30 and 24, both by creating a whole new project with those settings and by just changing the setting from the 60 at export ... still won't send. This is the little video - it's tiny. Can someone help me because googly isn't solving my issue! 2309_whalesB30.mp4

Oh poor baby - are those urchin spines?? Love her face 🥰

That warbonnet is so cool looking - glad you made the rig you had at the time work. I'm a huge fan of being able to shoot a big range of sizes each dive :) Any wolfeels? I've never dived with one and I am kinda in love with them!

@gstrek thanks, I'll check that out!

Thanks so much for the extensive input. I agree that this footage has serious technical issues and that a second light would make a huge difference, however a lot of the time I'll only be dragging one around with me and I'm comfortable knowing that I can't have the whole scene balanced - definitely a trade off! Glad to know that I am on the right track on the foreground for this first try. With the single light, I will concentrate of limiting the hot spots and trying to get something that is still pleasing enough, knowing there will be a big compromise. This was about 13m in fairly darkish, bit murky conditions. I always think video makes the scene look better than it was, even before one edits! I don't have a set of filters but Xmas is coming 🙃 I have been searching for tips on the action camera and found some re white balance & other settings, so have setup with some of those but today's dive was a bit ridiculously filthy (but still awesome) for trying much of anything. I have higher hopes for tomorrow where I will also try to remember to take some with no lights at all and some with my single light. Wind is coming up again next week so will have a play with more footage. Very much appreciate all the knowledge and suggestions - looking forward to trying again!