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Shutoff drill with a camera

Posted: Sun Sep 09, 2012 3:09 pm
by fnerg
Like, how would you do them? Also, what would be the best way to deal with a camera along with all the other gear you need?

I usually dive with the camera lanyard-ed to my wrist, but that's really not going to work for tech.

Re: Shutoff drill with a camera

Posted: Sun Sep 09, 2012 3:20 pm
by boydski
fnerg wrote:Like, how would you do them? Also, what would be the best way to deal with a camera along with all the other gear you need?
My Camera/Housing is quite negative so I'll often clip the camera off while doing gas switches or drills (or just set it down on a wreck/rock). For deco, I usually clip the camera to the fwd crotch strp D-ring (scooter) and it hangs out of the way while switching gases.

If there is a lot of current, I'll sometimes clip it to the shot line at 20'. When cave diving, I often carry the camera rigged as a stage bottle since you have to swim so far.

There are a lot of different options, depending on what type of diving you're doing and how much gear you are carrying. Sometimes it is easiest just to hand the camera off to your buddy while you take care of some mis-behaving gear.

Good Luck,

Re: Shutoff drill with a camera

Posted: Sun Sep 09, 2012 7:14 pm
by LCF
I keep my camera clipped to my left chest d-ring with one of those (yeah, I know) telephone cord lanyards. That way, if I need both hands, I can drop the thing. That said, I don't carry a camera on staged decompression or cave dives.

Re: Shutoff drill with a camera

Posted: Sun Sep 09, 2012 7:22 pm
by CaptnJack
Drill or real deal?

Re: Shutoff drill with a camera

Posted: Sun Sep 09, 2012 9:07 pm
by fnerg
Either one, since I'd conceivably have to deal with either situation.

The telephone lanyard seems like a good idea. I just have these horrible visions of being on a wall, fumbling the camera, and watching it go bye-bye.

Re: Shutoff drill with a camera

Posted: Mon Sep 10, 2012 8:13 am
by boydski
fnerg wrote: I just have these horrible visions of being on a wall, fumbling the camera, and watching it go bye-bye.
During a deco stop on the Al-ind-esk-a-sea I saw a very expensive looking light & motion video housing heading for the depths. It had been dropped by someone well above us on the line and they didn't even realize it until they surfaced and the camera was gone!

We grabbed the camera and clipped it off to the line once we got to 20'. I thought the owner was going to cry when we surfaced and pretended that we'd not seen his high $$ camera.... :angelblue:

If you do clip the camera off to the line or set it down on a wreck, leave a focus light (or strobe) on to help you locate it. I set a camera down once to move a fouled anchor and then couldn't find the camera for about 20 minutes due to the silt from moving the anchor. Those were 20 VERY tense minutes! :angry:

Re: Shutoff drill with a camera

Posted: Mon Sep 10, 2012 8:16 am
by CaptnJack
Well I wouldn't do drills on a wall video/camera etc dive.
Otherwise set the camera down or ditch it, its not worth your life.