Camera tether suggestions??

I had my camera on a lanyard and my wife and I both got caught in a down current in Crystal Bay Bali as we went to photo a sea snake. We only descended about 2 meters from where we were following the dive guide in a moderate current and it felt like a giant hand had started to pull us both down to the depths. We could not swim up and we both slung our cameras away on the lanyards and had to rock climb up the reef wall to safety. (Again only 2 meters up). Without the lanyards we would of lost both cameras lenses housings and 4 strobes. I always have my camera on a lanyard as extra security but never let go of the camera except in a emergency.

I made my own from some 550 cord (aka parachute cord) and some XL bolt snaps that I had as spares for sidemount rigging. I followed a youtube video on how to make it, and it was actually pretty easy. I tested it by throwing it over a rafter and doing pullups with it. If it can hold me up, it'll hold my camera rig for sure!

Here is my setup as of now. Gonna put some below the surface floats on the arm and between the housing and handle just to get some positive lift, but not near enough to float it all.

For now this will have to do till I can get a flash setup for the right side at some point.

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I used a KISS type lanyard for years actually decades~ It was an (arm's length) medium strength nylon cord doubled. The bitter end was tied around my camera tray at the handle bottom. The upper end had a standard snap hook on it which I clipped onto my BC D-ring. Depending on your rig can be either right or left. Put it on side with flash is my experience.

You can do that in reverse but if the snap hook lets go, say goodbye to rig. Also not a van of paracord underwater, deteriorates too quickly. Braided nylon will unravel as it softens up. Use non-braided line instead.

I don't like to hook onto my strobe arms or clasps. May scratch or break the AL. Tray is usually the most solid point to hook into. Maybe some housings have "lift rings"?

Here is the MO to use: Always clip on as soon as you get in the water. Never ever un-clip when you get to boat and hand it up.

I use a spiral line tether like this. However, since I personally don't like tiny carabiners (they're a PITA to operate with thick three-fingers or drygloves), I've bought a large bolt snap (the same type that's used for rigging stage bottles) and switched the carabiner with it. I had to borrow my wife's sewing machine to fix it properly, though.The bolt snap goes onto my left hip D-ring, the other end of the tether goes on the bottom of my (Nauticam) tray. I've also tied another, standard sized, bolt snap to the top of my rig, and on shore entries it's clipped to my left shoulder D-ring. The whole rig hangs pretty much like a stage bottle.

That works for me.

I use a spiral line tether like this. However, since I personally don't like tiny carabiners (they're a PITA to operate with thick three-fingers or drygloves), I've bought a large bolt snap (the same type that's used for rigging stage bottles) and switched the carabiner with it. I had to borrow my wife's sewing machine to fix it properly, though.The bolt snap goes onto my left hip D-ring, the other end of the tether goes on the bottom of my (Nauticam) tray. I've also tied another, standard sized, bolt snap to the top of my rig, and on shore entries it's clipped to my left shoulder D-ring. The whole rig hangs pretty much like a stage bottle.

 

That works for me.

They sell the ones with the brass bolt snaps, which is what I use on my compact setup (except mine has a clip instead of magnetic clasp). I put the split ring over the ball onto its neck before putting the ball clamp on, thus it comes on and off relatively easily.

Cave divers disagree. No problem with braided line, just be sure and burn the ends to prevent unraveling. Lasts a LONG time.

I use these: http://www.cetaceacorp.com/crl3hd.html

They are strong and you can clip the lanyard together to have your rig tight against your BCD.

I use these: http://www.cetaceacorp.com/crl3hd.html

They are strong and you can clip the lanyard together to have your rig tight against your BCD.

This is the best option I have seen yet!

Thank you, may go with this due to lack of time to do a paracord setup.

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I use a spiral line tether like this.

I would recommend staying away from this type of coil. I lost a light in the atlantic due to the coil slipping out of the clip. The connection point is not perfect. The clip eyu uses looks a little safer. For me, i would rather make something where I know the knot is tied in well and no glue(or a knot and glue) is used to hold me camera.

This was discussed least once before: http://wetpixel.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=42619&hl=tether&do=findComment&comment=288632

See the second post for pics and explanation of my DIY solution that works beautifully.

Here's a photo of mine I found on my phone...very easy to make, just takes some time.

Here's a photo of mine I found on my phone...very easy to make, just takes some time.

Neat!