ACHiPo

Welcome Kolin. Loved your video and subscribed!

Brilliant video. Very nice soundtrack as well! Thanks for sharing!

It's also flippin' huge.

Welcome Chris/Chipstix! Nice photos! This is a great place to find inspiration, information, and help you spend your hard-earned money.

I used a selfie stick with a GoPro for several years. Not for selfies, but to extend the GoPro close to the bottom or reef—It provides an easy way to “look up” at critters for a better perspective while diving recreationally with friends that are not photographers so move a little faster (ie not hovering a cm off the bottom for minutes at a time as a photographer). It does not poke the reef if you’re moderately careful. It is really only useful for ambient light because adding lights defeats the size advantage of the GoPro housing on a stick. It is also easy to hang onto a selfie stick with a lanyard and clip it off when not in use. Now that I’ve fallen down the underwater photography rabbit hole, however, I have a tray and a Wide Sharp wet lens. Will try several configurations when in Roatan in a couple months to see what I like best.

I just pimped my GoPro 13 with a tray and trigger after frustration a couple weeks ago with 5 mm gloves trying to maneuver the GoPro. So far I’m pretty happy with the rig on dry land wearing my gloves.

My Hero7 housing seemed to work better than my Hero 13. That said the 13 housing works well enough.

I received the tray and trigger this morning. It works quite well with my thick gloves. Good value for $100 I think. The weakest point is the AOI wet lens mount, which is flexing than I’d like. Also, I’d prefer a two bolt GoPro attachment as the single bolt will likely loosen and allow the GoPro to twist.

A little more searching found this combination tray/trigger. I like the size (compresses down to about 11" external width), and since they are together there shouldn't be any incompatibilities. It arrives tomorrow. I'll post my thoughts when I receive it. Amazon Underwater Camera Tray with Trigger

Nikolausz, Thanks! This is similar to what I found (leaning toward Amazon rather than AliExpress for the trigger, but there are several "brands" and prices that all look the same). Are you happy with the interface between the trigger, tray, and GoPro? Which tray did you use? Here are the tray and trigger I found: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07PQPN8Q9?psc=1&ref_=cm_sw_r_cp_ud_ct_WK3788XJR91B6HWMAEPZ https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CP558GV3?psc=1&ref_=cm_sw_r_cp_ud_ct_WK3788XJR91B6HWMAEPZ_1 I like the price and size of the tray (it is 11" long rather than 13" of the higher-end trays), but I'm a little concerned that it will be adequate to mount the trigger as it only has 2 1/4-20 tapped holes. Evan

Took my GoPro on a cold water dive last week. Handling it effectively with thin-ish 3 mm gloves was a real challenge. What GoPro shutter mechanism and tray do folks recommend for use with gloves?

Davide, Very nice! Hope to be able to watch the whole film soon! David Attenborough did a video/film about the trawling fishing industry's impact on the sandy ecosystem. https://youtu.be/IzG9AwlypaY?si=eFWvrHp6TeBALWCf Your video does a better job of highlighting the beauty of what all is there before a trawler does its damage. Evan

Great video of some amazing wildlife antics. Looking forward to getting to Crystal Blue in 2027.

Welcome!

Another option if you want to DIY is Divinycell, which you can get in sheets: https://www.amazon.com/Divinycell-Foam-Core-Plain-Density/dp/B0CLSF9PG9/ref=sr_1_2?crid=JY47IS3E3HKB&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.b_JwoVsc8pqY8WO7MD4kCYHUfHofjvgIpfGABfyOVHvGjHj071QN20LucGBJIEps.hxRbQIWOVRjcgI_4TK3xtFpaW5RcxFWf9OddIVgo_LI&dib_tag=se&keywords=divinycell+h80&qid=1767376994&sprefix=divinycell+h80%2Caps%2C214&sr=8-2 You can either make your own belt, or otherwise cut it to shape and attach it where it's out of the way.

I just ordered a set of these: UltramaxdiveHELIUM Variable Buoyancy Arm SystemInnovative design HELIUM VBA (Variable Buoyancy Arm) System from ULTRAMAX allows you to create your BuoyFloat Arm’s lifting force from 0.5 lb (227g)~1.0 lb (453 g) using modular segments design to fitMy instructor has a set and seems to like them for travel as they break down (he also uses Ultralight style arms and Stixx floats). They have the added benefit of being a waterproof stash for keys, etc. They are about the same price as arms+floats, but seem to be less than the Nauticam carbon fiber float arms (they supposedly don't leak, or at least are less likely to fail than the Aliexpress variety).

I just came across Sea and Sea's 1200 lumen video light. Not cheap, but not outrageous at $385. It has 5400k color temp and 90 CRI. The Weefine Smartfocus 4000 is more powerful on paper--not sure how accurate any of these numbers are? Backscatter.comSea & Sea LX-1200SW FS Underwater Video LightSea & Sea LX-1200SW FS Underwater Video Light: No looseness in both wide and spot light "single light source/center light distribution" for a clean and beautiful image.

Welcome!

I have not found anything in the warm color temp, and CRI numbers seem to be nonexistent. Edit: Keldan quotes CRI, but they are very expensive. The Backscatter HF-1 is not cheap, nor does it have warm color temp, but it has a lot of light available so you could add diffusers/filters to warm the light at the expense of lower output. Bluewater has a 3000 lumen video light with a nice looking diffuse beam at 6500k for $250. I don’t see a CRI listed. If you put a diffuser on it the color temp should drop below 6K. Not experience yet—I have one ordered. I’m just getting into lighting underwater, but have been told color temperature is less important as long as you set the white balance. Maybe others more knowledgeable will comment.

Why did the GoPro have focus issues? I’m diving Monday with a GoPro and Wide Sharp wet lens for the first time.

Welcome!

Welcome!

Welcome!

Can’t believe you splashed with orcas. Incredible, and more than a tad scary! Those things make great whites look relatively harmless!

Ben, This is stunning video! Thank you for sharing! Evan