Flooded my Subal

A word (or two) of warning for Subal owners with GS180 viewfinders.

I flooded my Subal ND20 with a GS180 in a rinse tank after a dive in Eilat, it was not catastrophic but could have been.

I was rinsing the housing in a large plastic tank with the dome port facing up and with the viewfinder at the bottom of the tank.

The finder was fitted with the rubber cone shaped eye cup supplied by Subal.

When I lifted the housing out of the tank I felt a little resistance and then noticed the leak alarm light was flashing.

Immediately (on instinct) I turned the housing port down to move any water away from the camera.

The ammount of water was astounding probably half a pint!

How did this happen?

The rubber eye cone had stuck to the bottom of the tank like a childs suction cup on a toy arrow.

When I removed the housing from the tank this suction and the force of lifting overcame the spring pressure holding the back plate to the main O ring allowing water to enter the void.

So Subal owners be careful when you rinse your camera kit it could ruin your day.

BTW the camera and lens survived and after using lods of tissue and a hair dryer I was back in business.

Lucky Nige McLucky from McLuckly Land

Glad everthing is still in working condition.

That viewfinder is one hell of a sucker, sucking the backplate of your housing Maybe you can modify the viewfinder by chipping the edge so it cannot suck onto something anymore?

Glad everthing is still in working condition.

 

That viewfinder is one hell of a sucker, sucking the backplate of your housing Maybe you can modify the viewfinder by chipping the edge so it cannot suck onto something anymore?

I have made sure that the housing sits upright in the rinse tank since and avoided the "Sucker" coming into contact with the bottom.

I have made sure that the housing sits upright in the rinse tank since and avoided the "Sucker" coming into contact with the bottom.

Then it will stick to the sides of the tank! I have seen far more systems flood in rinse tanks than in the ocean.

Alex

I dont even use that black eye cup. I always take them off as they annoy me. But it's good to know there is a valid reason as well I would have never thought that could happen. Just poke a tiny needle hole in it.

Then it will stick to the sides of the tank! I have seen far more systems flood in rinse tanks than in the ocean.

 

Alex

A bit of a wake-up call for me I'm very carefull in and around the rinse tank now, maybe just throw a bucket of water at the housing or take it into the shower.

Alternately as Arturo Telle Theimann showed me when I was crying and blubbering, get a Hugyfoot housing with hex key bolts to hold the back on.

He had a tear running from his eye too, I'm not sure wheather it was from sympathy or laughing.

Nige

I dont even use that black eye cup. I always take them off as they annoy me. But it's good to know there is a valid reason as well I would have never thought that could happen. Just poke a tiny needle hole in it.

Cor,

the Eye cup is History, I'm not going to use it anymore. It always folds flat when you put it to your mask anyway. It's proved to be more trouble than it's worth.

Nige

Holy CRAP! First off, very glad that you saved your camera/lens. Hope you bought a lottery ticket immediately.

I have lost two of those eye cups in the surf doing shore dives, and I didn't bother to replace it after the second one went floating off into the Pacific. I absolutely won't bother now. Thanks for posting this.

Allison

Holy CRAP! First off, very glad that you saved your camera/lens. Hope you bought a lottery ticket immediately.

 

I have lost two of those eye cups in the surf doing shore dives, and I didn't bother to replace it after the second one went floating off into the Pacific. I absolutely won't bother now. Thanks for posting this.

 

Allison

Allison

if you change your mind, I've got one you can have for nothin' I'll even pay the postage!!

Hope my little "gypsies warning" has helped a few U/W photogs from some serious heartache.

Rinse tanks are dangerous. I always ask the guides not to put my camera in the tank. After the rush is over, I'll dunk it and swish it around for about 30 seconds, and push all the buttons. Full rinse comes after the day of diving.

I find those rubber eyecaps do nothing but get in the way. Never use them.

Real lesson is as others have mentioned. Almost nothing good happens in a rinse tank. I ask deck hands never to put mine in a rinse tank. I dip it myself and never leave it there. If I feel the need for a longer soak, I watch the the camera the whole time it is in there.

If it's not the rubber eyecap it will be something else. That rinse tank is sitting there plotting ways to get past your O rings.

I keep my housing, and previously Nikonos RS's, in soft coolers between dives while on small vessel dive trips (day boats). If possible, under the bench where I am sitting (such as when underway). The soft coolers will keep things moist, no real need for rinsing till opening things up back on land following a rinse protocol.

Tom