My DIY Underwater Housing

First off, hey folks. I've been looking for a forum, just like Wetpixel's for quite a while.

I'm no scuba diver, but just a guy who created an underwater housing for his Xacti camcorder.

Although The housing will only be used in a saltwater pool, perhaps at a lakeside or in stream,

I'm looking for ideas and solutions for those with experience... thus, here I am asking.

Click on picture for Construction Video. Here is a sample Video

The housing is built from ABS and a piece of glass.

I have a few areas that need improvement and am looking for suggestions.

Please keep one thing in mind. Remember that this housing cost me about $30

and solutions would best be on the cheap side of things.

#1 Although I like the internal sound of the unit under water, I want to get an external microphone or perhaps a housing addition that I could insert a small mic that would have less blocking of the sounds. Any ideas? I found this on ebay, $15 hydrophone kit that I thought I could somehow incorporate it. But how to attach? Passthru for wire solutions? Any ideas for a outer attached container to house a condenser mic?

When I was a kid, my dad had a cheap little microphone that had a suction cup on the end of it. You stick the suction cup onto the telephone, by the speaker and record the conversation. I wonder if this was attached to the from glass would you hear better?

#2 Handles. Initially I though of attaching a couple knobs on either side. Then I wondered about a couple bigger handles affixed to the ABS. Any ideas? Perhaps a way to fix both problems #2 & #3 in one solution.

#3 Weight. The unit floats. I'll need some weights to bring it down. I initially though I could put in some lead beanbags, but I don't think it will correct the picture plane due to the 45% ABS housing configuration. So, maybe I could go externally? Suspect 2-4lbs should do it.

#4 External controls. I'd like to be able to at least turn the record on and off. I'm looking for some cheap DIY solutions. I saw these Glands here in the forums and thought it was a great idea for button pushing. But I'll need to pull the rod out of the way internally, then reposition it when the camcorder is inserted. I'd venture to say, I need the rod to move in/out 2 inches, and perhaps not be a button as much as a knob that could be turned the rod.

Thank you for taking the time to read and hopefully offer your suggestions to my little problems.

Mike

#2&3

Could you attach 2 saddles cut from ABS sheet to the cylinder that would support a base plate? Screw mount a vertical piece of ABS rod on either side of this plate. Slip bicycle handle grips over the rod to serve as handles. Could also attach ballast weight to under side of plate.

#4

A control gland would need to mount to a flat surface so its outer o-ring will seal. Maybe a control from Ike?

Hello Mike,

Go to Ikelite.com and you should find all the parts you need for your housing.

Ikelite has camera controls with different lengths of shaft to fit just about every need. The shafts are easily bent to your specs and the control glands are excellent.

Ikelite has handles, both aluminum and plastic. The plastic handles come apart and can be filled with lead, that Ikelite also provides. I am not sure about the aluminum handles.

If the weights in the handles are not enough, then just epoxy a couple of bolts to the bottom of your housing and bolt a piece of lead to the bolts.

There is an expoxy named, "AquaMend" what works great and is fast drying for mounting your handle mounts or bolts. One place AquaMend can be found is Home Depot.

There are lots of good Ikelite dealers around that can help with the Ikelite order.

Good luck,

Barry Guimbellot

Dive Training Magazine

The housing is built from ABS and a piece of glass.

I have a few areas that need improvement and am looking for suggestions.

Please keep one thing in mind. Remember that this housing cost me about $30

and solutions would best be on the cheap side of things.

Mike

If you want REALLY cheap, but basic, you can also use a household water tap top as a control.

Any microphone directly behind a rubber membrane would do for the pool.