Post Trip - Gear Cleaning

First, I want to thank everyone who posts and replys. I learned so much from all of you!

I just returned from the Belize Aggressor. This was the first trip with my new Nikon D70S, 18-70mm & 60mm, with a Sea & Sea Housing. I do have to say the "learning curve" with the new system was harder than I thought. Just to achieve results I could show anyone but me took 2 1/2 days. I still have much, so very much to learn. My best results were setting the camera on manual and making the adjustments myself.

My question is, post trip what do you all do to clean your system and how do you store it until your next trip? I won't be going anywhere till March 2006. So I have a few months of Non Use! Tips, tricks, advice, etc.

Thanks again to all.

Fausdick

In brief:

- Clean housings, strobes, arms, etc in lukewarm fresh water

- Remove main o-rings, grease and keep aside

- Remove batteries, charge, and keep aside

- Place cameras, lenses, diopters, etc. in a dry cabinet (small ones go for less than $50, a worthy investment)

Yeah I agree with Matt. On my Subal housing I like, in addition, to take the easily removable bolts off (eg that hold the strobe shoes to the housing) off and give them a good soak to remove salt.

I pack all my gear, once dry, into its Pelican travel case with a largish Silica Gel pack. Of course I have to open the case periodically just to make sure its all happy in there - and to gaze lovingly at my toys

Great advice so far. I don't know how the digital Sea&Sea housings are, but I think Tim's suggestion is very important, and I do exactly that with my Subal. The only place where housings will corrode is around the bolts that hold the handles and strobes, so make sure you remove and soak them before stogare.

Luiz

Reassemble fasteners with a light coating of waterproof grease or anti-sieze compound so that they can be easily removed the next time.