I just bought my first strobe, the sealife sl950D. I took it down for my first dive and spent the next hour being banged in the face, and having it tangled up (on a retractor) with my reg hose. Does anyone have any idea why anyone would make a strobe (or any photography equipment for that matter) so positively buoyant?
Also, can anyone recommend a way to make it more neutral? I thought of putting something dense inside the strobe housing itself, since that's where the air is, or also putting some kind of weights to the strobe arm. I want to get it neutral but also more or less level (the strobe housing was always pointing to the surface which made it very hard to hold the whole rig level).
thanks,
FS
The + buoyancy of strobes, however, may be handy for offsetting the - buoyancy of the housing, port etc. <_< Try keeping strobe arm joints tighter (what were you using ?). Avoid dangling items such as retractors in your kit; keep you octo, gauge console under control - on BC rings for example. I have been guilty of this too - by using a neckstrap that may require removal of the reg to untangle. Welcome on board.
Tom
It sounds to me like you are using the ever annoying sealife setup with the flexi plastic joint arms .. which can hold air and CREAK when moved .. and can't be tightened. That strobe does have a lot of vacant space and filling it up can help .. however i know someone who took some ball bearing weight pouches and eithre made then half size and placed 2 of them in the strobe (so maybe 1lb or a little more) of weight and a little less air inside it.
You are on the right track wanting to fill the empty space .. the question is how to fill it .. I have seen just paper towel .. and also the weight solution. Try it out see what happens.
