odds of scratching glass dome port

First of I would like to start of by saying this is not a glass vs acrylic thread, but at most, I guess a supplement to that debate. With that being said, I thought I'd start of by asking my main question. What are the odds of a glass dome port getting scratched during a dive?

I understand the question can be considered too general and can vary depending on brand and how the person views the experience.

I have read that some posts have noted that glass will not be scratch unless you use a diamond. But I have also read that some people were able to scratch their glass domes on rocks, coral, tiger shark teeth, and etc.

So to elaborate into detail what I am looking for is: How many dives have you went through with the glass port before it got scratched? How did it get scratched? What brand was it? Is it easy to scratch a glass dome port? Or do you have to try fairly hard to actually scratch them?

The reason why I ask this is that I am considering purchasing a ZEN 8" glass dome port and these factors would help me determine my purchase. I want to know that should I purchase this glass dome, is it highly possible that I do not have to purchase another one due to scratches? Your insights will definitely be appreciated. Thanks in advance to the people who respond.

Hi and welcome.

To be honest you have answered most of your own questions.

The advantages of the plastic are that while they do scratch fairly easy they are also pretty easy to fix.

Getting scratches out of glass is a real problem but they take more abuse. To be honest you can have some appalling scratches in both types before you get an image issue.

The 8" Zen dome is a big bit of glass is is darn heavy - this would put me off a bit for travel. But if due to the lenses and format that you shoot you need it then....

So the choice is yours - you have to figure how tough you are on gear and factor that in also.

And yes shark teeth scuff both glass and plastic - been to Tiger Beach a number of times - been there and done that!

Oddly enough the shark skin is also pretty harsh on domes.

Paul C

Ah glass vs. acrylic...scratching a glass port is MUCH more difficult than the acrylic. But it does happen.

Perfect example, I use the Fathom superwide port on my Gates EX1 system...for a year it has traveled thousands of miles...3 trips to antarctica, been to every continent and back...and hit the reefs and sharks countless of times. Never with a scratch to it...then comes a shark cage at Guadalupe. I spent 2 days shooting in the cage, getting tossed around in currents and rapidly moving from one side to the other banging the port...one time, I was slammed into the cage, port first, and finally, after a year and a half of hitting reefs, sharks, etc...the first mark was made.

As pissed as I was, I had always been amazed that the port had never scratched or chipped...had it been acrylic, I dont know how many times I woulda replaced that port. Of course...that one SMALL chip showed up nice, and cost a HUGE chunk to replace the glass...which is the CON...scratch a glass port, you cant just buff it out.

The Zen ports are VERY nice glass optics, and I do highly suggest them if you want a glass port for your housing. Its worth the money...however if you are making a visit to Tiger beach, Id invest in an acrylic port for that trip.

Yeah, I don't recommend them for wreck dives that you are going to penetrate.

Jack

jack, you dont recommend glass or acrylic?

First of all with regards to glass ports, you first have to find out if the glass is coated or not. Coated glass, once scratched, have to be recoated, which usually means a new glass element. However for uncoated glass or acrylic, it is possible to remove light scratches:

Acrylic/Glass port scratch removal

Acrylic port scratches have the added advantage of being field reparable if you carry the right kit. With glass, you need dremel tools etc, so it's less practical.

Now what are the odds? Crap happens and it happens all the time. So how lucky do you feel?

I was thinking of getting a metal car...

I was thinking of getting a metal car...

good point...if a glass dome port is a metal car, then what is an acrylic dome port? Power wheels?!

I'm up to 3 glass ports that I've scratched, requiring replacement. But then I cram them into rocks trying to shoot a 6" subject with a 10-17, allow Tigers to chew on them, and play curling with them on my pool deck. All I can say, is if they were acrylic I'd still be polishing out the scratches. (You should see what my port shades look like.

I think the pool deck is the most dangerous actually! Some of the aggregates in concrete or paving stones can scratch glass :-(

I recommend glass - simply because you don't have to worry about it as much. You can polish it w/ your shirt w/o worrying :-)

Cheers

James

I'm up to 3 glass ports that I've scratched, requiring replacement. But then I cram them into rocks trying to shoot a 6" subject with a 10-17, allow Tigers to chew on them, and play curling with them on my pool deck. All I can say, is if they were acrylic I'd still be polishing out the scratches. (You should see what my port shades look like.

Seems like you should limit your curling to first one that you have already scratched. No charge for the great advice.

First off let me say that the Zen port is a fantastic piece of glass with coatings both on the inside to reduce reflections and on the outside. So no buffing out minor scratches, I know this because I have scratched one. Without thinking I wiped off some bubbles from the glass with my hand with my wedding ring on (which is made of titanium) and before I knew it there were 3 sizeable scratches in the glass. The guys at Reef photo replaced the glass for me and it wasn't as expensive as I had thought although it is not something I want to get in the habit of having to do.

Mark