CaolIla

I allways dive with a short with big pockets.

I mark allways my batterie 4 together and used always this 4 together and charge it together. It is very usefull when you have some problems and you are not sure it is the batterie problem or not..

I hope you are wrong .... that will mean you'll solve the problem with some news AA

Wouh... it happend to me to put one AA wrong.. but nothing happend no test flash nothing

Same for me older Eneloop can bring mistake.. firing / not firing... buy normal AA bat to test.. or ask other divers if they have some AA

More than a diffusor that you need but rather a fresnel lens of something equivalent, the problem without any converging lens is that all the power will be lost. (That's what happens with the crappy Scubalamp snoot which is only equiped with a diffusor device, used it on one trip, never again, back to Retra snoot now) .This is why the Retra snoot is for me the most efficient one : you see for instance there is a sweet spot according to the distance you aim at your subject, the "halo" of the snoot will get sharper whenever you're on the ideal distance. Diffusor or fresnel lens it is more or less the same... I'm using a fresnel on my other snoot. I also use as first step and one or more lens to focus the light on one point, small disk I had some problerm with water comming in.. need to build a new one with some changes... but no time at the moment to many work. The last "snoot" is for me a simple and light snoot that cost nothing other as a little bit time to print I will try it during the next trip. (I'll also use the retra I bought from you ;) )

the model I made and printed for testing is this one Th e idea is putting some reduction in the tube and why not some extension with lens in it. BUT there is a BUT with a lens when the distance is the focus length the light is like a donut because the tube of the retra a circular. I need to but a diffusor on the retra side...

That's a picture from @Hiloboy and the model and here the protection on my old retra pro You see it's realy wide the beam is not restricted

If you can share the 3D files that would be amazing! I have this part It is a protection and with this I can put the Retra on a table without that the glas is touching. It's also large that's mean I can make wide angle without losing light on the side. @Hiloboy ask me for a simple "snoot" I build one without testing it. I'm right know make some test with an adaptation of this one..

Yes and it is good to read somme other point of view.. I like the point with the snoot

I have 2, 8x charger ;) Humm can be a good argument... need to study this point, but a solution will be for me add some buioncy on the snoot to have exactly what is OK. Shore dive ??? what's that? ... seriously 4 AA more or less on my setup (+/- 10 Kg) will change nothing Randomly clicking... hummm no no ... but when you found the good position why not shoot 2 3 or more time expectly when the subject is moving "fast" I had problems with the batterie life with my retra pro... Diving without booster was not an option. Probably with the Max II it's possible.

I'm really happy the lght generate with the new MaxII the diffuser is in my opinion not necessary. I didn't try the reflector with the Max II But with the old Pro I like using it in some situation wide angle situation to put the focus on a coral or on something else. In one month I go for 2 weeks in Malapascua + South Leyte (Sogod Bay) It will be the first trip with the new retra strobe... I'm pretty sure that I'll enjoy the new model.

I changed recently from the old Pro to the Max II... the consumption are realy different. I didn't make for the moment a trip with the new one. But i'm sure that I will make 4 dive with the Max II Probably 300 or 400 photos with the booster. I made 2 dives more or less 250 pictures batteries was 75% full Like @TimG I found no reason to dive without the booster 8 is better than 4 batterie Faster and more .

Hi @foetusmachine I'm using a SMC1.. you made the swith to the 3... what are after 3 dive the improvments (If they are ;) ) Thanks

Not bad I make in 3D Printing 2 Float for my wifes lights.same result but only a little bit nicer (with pink color ;) )

My camera is allways cliped at my BCD...and I have allways the hand on it... They are my rules

Thanks @Chris Ross for the information that I can go to ISO50 with my R5... I was somtetime blocked Many thanks

Yes a very important point this the stability... No twist Clipped ON Close to neutral Yes Go up quite slowly but go UP Surface is allways "near" and you ca follow... bottom can be deep very deep where you can't go

I found a picture. I only see that after the dive... during the dive I was making photo look at position etc... not the small thing in the background It was the first day of a 3 week trip in Indonesia.... Also the 600st dive of me wife. We was lucky Why it happend she gave the gopro to the guide ... he give her back and she didn't clips the gopro to her BCD... I toke picture and she didn't remember she didn't clip it... that's it. It was in the wall from Bunaken...

My wife have a gopro with lights It's negativ... I build flots in 3D printing for the lights... result it's light floating... She lost the camera i na near vertical wall... the guide and she started seraching... I goes up... See nothing.. The boat cam I ask to show if.... YES some m away... the boat take the gear and I go down to inform that all is ok... My camera is also floating it is for me a MUST.

I agree 200% of that For me it's the same but without the "sometimes". in 2026 we (my wife wanted to) go French Polynésie.. "Direct" flight over the USA, stop in LA but We will fly east over Singapore and Auckland ... ;) It's longer, expensiver (not a lot) and ist a good moment to visit Aukland and Singapore :D

You are right... but the problem is "not 100%" I'll not tkae the risk. Other country didn't have this tax I'll go theyre

Lucky man :)

You have the answer

For those wanting to show some more pictures from Halmahera / Sali Bay Sali Bay 2024 | Flickr underwater and over Halmahera 2024 Aérien | Flickr