Sokrates

Didnt Nauticam raise prices like 10% in november or december already. This hobby is getting way more expensive fast (like if it wasnt already).

Cheap flights to Europe for 500-600 and still profit when buying 2.

Why would a Chinese company like Nauticam move factories outside China? Is the US market so big that it makes sense?

Can you give some more info on the different size batteries posted on Facebook? Do you need to buy some battery compartment extension also like Retra booster because the info there is very vague? When will you release pricing info and availability of accessories (snoot ect)? Is July production still on track? Im looking at this and probably going to get new strobes sept/oct.

Regarding Sipadan, i think if you book like 5 days diving you get 3 days guaranteed Sipadan or something like that ratio. Mabul has great muck diving for the days you cant get to Sipadan. Also world class muck diving in Semporna (the gateway city), but accommodations are bit on the "meh" side. What Luko suggests with Bali-Komodo combo is really good, specially flight-wise since theres direct flights to Bali from all main hubs in Asia and Bali - Komodo has numerous flights per day. Alor is also a great place to dive (actually my favourite place in Indonesia) but combining it with Bali eats up alot from you days just in flights. There would be many overnights/redeyes and connections. If longer flying isnt too much, maybe Triton Bay could be an options also. You didnt specify would you holiday be 14-18 days including flights from West Coast, or 14-18 days in South East Asia. 14 days including flights is not that long, if thinking something else than North Sulawesi or Bali.

Is there difference in the 90mm manufacture dates/serial numbers like some other lenses have? It is an fairly old lens already. Has anyone used MFO with the newer 90mm from Tamron?

Yes, there is the option of course to stay overnight at the airport. Or do few days in Singapore, always a great choice. Also good place to buy gear now ;) Im just trying to see how to optimise the time spent somewhere else than diving. 14-18 days isnt that long if making stopovers. Specially if wanting to fly from YVR or SEA, even those direct to SIN are 16-17h flights (YVR has block time of 16h40min and SEA 17h) and then add 4h to MDC. With a 12-16h layover its already almost 2 days of travelling.

Like Chris Ross mentioned, flying into Manado on SQ/TR (AC/DL/UA/AA all fly from west coast direct to SIN) suits your requirement of flights quite well. Only thing is some flights arrive in the evening and thus require overnight before connection. TR SIN-MDC departs 9 am. I would probably pick Banka or Bunaken instead of Lembeh (you can do daytrips to Lembeh from there). Going to Raja is bit more tricky, but can be done if planned right. Flights to SOQ depart CGK midnight-2am, so arriving with onestop from westcoast around 8-11pm is actually no less time than going to MDC with one stop. Still might be a bit rough with flights. In November the season is just starting in Raja. Plenty of options from westcoast (YVR/SEA/SFO/LAX) to CGK with stops in TYO/HKG/TPE being most popular. Bali is similar but you can get onestop from west coast via most Asian cities. Maybe Mabul/Sipadan might be an option also? Flights very similar like to Raja, but instead of Jakarta, Kuala Lumpur. Not too much other things to do than diving tho. Fiji maybe? Or as a bonus, Okinawa. Clear water, nice diving and easy flights through Tokyo.

Opening the forum/opening threads/everything/this quick reply window loaded for 15sec/basically everything is like on a 2400 baud modem. Nevermind, started working after 5mins. Still trying to get used to the fonts.

To be honest, what is the difference leaving batteries inside strobes on a 8-10 flight to leaving them overnight inside strobes for a choppy ocean crossing on a liveaboard?

Pretty sure they are made in China, but im sure some of the Marelux staff here will tell us soon.

Going fresh into a Sony system shooting macro, Tamron over Sony 90mm would be the move? Also port-wise, Tamron seems in technical data 2mm shorter than Sony, Im guessing same port (Nauti) will work just fine?

Housing will not flood. USB-C port will short atleast Canon R5, dont ask how i know 😉

I got this and must say its one of the best bits of kit. Specially with mirrorless cameras (i have A7RV) using so much battery, i can comfortably charge from power bank on boat. Only issue i have is download speed. Maybe i have a sunday version of the cable or something. When i plug my laptop into the port, download is very slow. When i take out camera and plug camera directly to laptop with same cable as previously, speeds are 4-6x.

Main problem is SJD, but there was reports it happening in MEX also. In this thread or some other. Of course not as big there, but still.