Underwater Bubble Blowers User Group Thread NEW

[Frazier Nivens]

nice comeback shot

(but I keep telling you - sewage is the green pipe, potable is blue ;-) )

Actually Michael, I found Pawel's post the funniest thing I've ever heard him post...loved it.

 

[Pawel Achtel]

(but I keep telling you - sewage is the green pipe, potable is blue ;-) )

Yeah, I know, I keep forgetting this small, but aparently important detail...

BTW, on the positive note, my ankle fracture is now good enough to strap a fin to it and I'm currently off diving in sunny Tasmania with my DeepX. Love it. Focusing never seemed so challengning...

Also, I'm pleased to report that production DeepX units are now available and shipping to our customers. The production unit is much more refined, weighs 5kg, there are a lot of accessories providing numerous monitoring, battery and mounting options. I will post the pictures of the production unit shortly....maybe when the weather turns to crap.

 

[Michael Hastings]

Originally Posted by Michael Hastings
(but I keep telling you - sewage is the green pipe, potable is blue ;-) )

Yeah, I know, I keep forgetting this small, but aparently important detail...

First off all, I'm mostly just kidding with you.

However, it doesn't hurt to note that the water pipe is a pressure pipe - rated for use over 50-100 years - and made to higher standards than sewer/drainage pipe.

And you also seem to speak derogatorily of PVC in general, when in fact it is one of the most modern materials - really only being developed in the last 60 years or so and thus much newer than aluminum or even your titanium. PVC doesn't suffer any of the corrosion issues that occur with aluminum or titanium - which aren't very subject to corrosion by themselves, but corrosion becomes a significant issue when they are combined with the other normal components of underwater housings which are typically stainless steel and create galvanic corrosion problems.

With typical operating pressure ratings of 150 to 200 psi (or about 100 to 150 meters water depth) - and for use over 50 years and safety margins for surge pressures - PVC easily handles the pressure requirements of underwater housings. With typical 3/8 to half inch wall thickness it has proven over many years and hundreds of housings to handle the beatings they take in transport and dive operations as well.

Since I make both aluminum and PVC versions of our Epic housings and my materials cost is only about $100 more, I can easily choose either one but I generally prefer the PVC for its lighter weight, greater flexibility in achieving neutral buoyancy when using higher powered lights, and the reduced maintenance since corrosion isn't an issue. The price difference in the aluminum housings is all due to the increased labor, welding of attachments, anodizing and the handling time associated with it.


As I've said before, I make more profit when people buy the aluminum since margin percentage is about the same, I just think PVC is a great way to go and should be considered.

 

[David Cole]

Mike:

Sewage pipe is fine with me as long as it's not used.

-- Dave

 

[Tom Hamilton]

Just like computers; crap in, crap out.

 

[Pawel Achtel]

...And you also seem to speak derogatorily of PVC in general, when in fact it is one of the most modern materials - really only being developed in the last 60 years or so and thus much newer than aluminum or even your titanium..

I think the two major drawbacks of PVC are poor heat dissipation and less favourable strength to weight ratio than most metals. It is easy to work with using simple tools, but at the same time it is not resistant to dinks and scratches (and you wouldn't want one where the o'ring goes).

My preferred material is, of course, titanium. I've just posted a hole range of accessories for DeepX that are made of hollow titanium: http://achtel.com/Accessories/
There is no question that this is the best material, but you need some decent manufacturing capability to make components from titanium. It is more expensive to make and purchase, but it lasts a true life time and will look as good as new even in 10 year's time. It's strength to weight ratio is unbeatable and it will never corrode.

It is the use of titanium and a lot of (very expensive) design and engineering that contributed to the weight of 3Deep housing: 14kg (31 lb). Do you know how much the Deep Atom or Yes/No Productions 3D rigs weigh? If this is not revolutionary, I don't know what else is.

We used a solid block (not welded) of aluminium alloy for DeepX body. The inside of the body has quite complex shape - all machined out of a solid block, making custom space for monitor, batteris and accessories. It is not a pipe like some suggested. It is hard anodised and sealed. Additional powder coating can be applied for extra protection.

As the weather does not seem to cooperate, I had a chance to make some pictures of the production unit. Enjoy!

 

[Michael Hastings]

snip...
I think the two major drawbacks of PVC are poor heat dissipation and less favourable strength to weight ratio than most metals. It is easy to work with using simple tools, but at the same time it is not resistant to dinks and scratches (and you wouldn't want one where the o'ring goes).

PVC is a good insulator, but remember the front plate of our housing is 9" diameter of 5/8" thick aluminum and even with the 5.75" porthole it provides 38 square inches of heat transfer surface. And IIRC the themal conductivity of aluminum is more than ten times that of titanium therefore, since I'm guessing your DeepX has about 350-400 square inches of titanium surface area, our PVC version with aluminum front plate may have about the same thermal transfer characteristics as your entire housing.

I fully admit that this is a totally offhand analysis. I have never considered using titanium so haven't done any real engineering analysis of the relative thermal characteristics. However, since a number of these housings have been in use with Epic for over a year and I have firsthand knowledge of multiple uses in relatively warm swimming pools, and tropical waters, and operating times well over an hour with no thermal problems - I don't think it is a real problem. And of course, if one is concerned they can just buy the aluminum version of the AquaVideo housing which is still half the price of Deep-X.

As far as dinks and scratches, besides the fact that the o-ring actually seals down inside a groove, which is protected by both the ring and the end plate that completely covers it, the 3/8 to half inch wall PVC we use is extremely tough and we have 30 years of experience on thousands of PVC housings of all sizes from 5" to 12" diameter in every sort of conditions and it has just never been an issue.

 

[jim kozmik]

It is always great to read about the trials and adventures of this wonderfull passtime known as UNDERWATER FILMING..with all the new still and digital cameras coming out in the next 5 years including the great little toy the GOPRO.which of course all this will make all us so called pro shooters...basically retired.To Many up and coming divers will simply under bid us and take jobs away..Do we really need 5k or even 6k underwater..only show more detailed fish droppings floating by our wide dome lenses.
For once in a long time I can say TODAY is a good day..We resigned The Blue Realm 3 series upfor another 5 -1 hour underwater shows on Discovery World channel, on top of the last eight shows....
Thanks again for all the insight and entertainment.. this bubble blowers site provides.

 

[Pawel Achtel]

It is always great to read about the trials and adventures of this wonderfull passtime known as UNDERWATER FILMING..with all the new still and digital cameras coming out in the next 5 years including the great little toy the GOPRO.which of course all this will make all us so called pro shooters...basically retired.To Many up and coming divers will simply under bid us and take jobs away..Do we really need 5k or even 6k underwater..only show more detailed fish droppings floating by our wide dome lenses..

Indeed, a valid point and one I've been trying to address by trying to improve the optics so that we could actually record the full resolution of the sensor instead of degrading it by the use of flat and dome ports. After seeing the results of true 5k resolved edge-to-edge and non-distorted, flat images, I'm convinced that the improvments in optical quality underwater are the key to superior viewing experience. There is a reason why Hobbit is not shot with GoPros (as great as they are) and the same applies underwater.

...For once in a long time I can say TODAY is a good day..We resigned The Blue Realm 3 series upfor another 5 -1 hour underwater shows on Discovery World channel, on top of the last eight shows.....

Good to hear. Is Danny still involved? If so, please send my best regards.

 

[jim kozmik]

Yes Danny is still at the helm driving our Canadian filmship..all is well...koz

 

[Tom Hamilton]

Hands-free leg-mounted underwater propulsion system

Hands-free leg-mounted underwater propulsion system

Hadn't seen this gear before, very innovative u/w propulsion system that straps to your legs, no need to mount the camera to a scooter. Just wondering if anyone has had a chance to use it?

http://www.swiss-cave-diving.ch/PDF-dateien/Jetboots.pdf

Here's a very nice piece shot on GoPro with the new u/w housing, sorry Koz , if you can wrench your eyes away from the white bikini, the model is wearing one of the units;

http://gopro.com/videos/vod/shark-riders-dive-housing-gopro-hd-hero2/

 

[Jason Sturgis]

Hi Tom,
I have used jet boots in the past. I found it very useful to have your hands free and just hold the housing while moving through the water. Turning was straight forward- just point the housing where you wanted to go and you were there. Free diving with the things was wild. You could be at 100ft in no time- definitely had to watch yourself. This was a few years ago and there were still some quirks to the system. But all-in-all they were a useful tool in certain situations.
There should be a few shots of me with the jet boots on.
http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/2007/01/humpback-whales/chadwick-text

 

[Tom Hamilton]

Thanks very much Jason, I'd imagine you'd have to be very careful watching your depth, perhaps even more so with open-circuit, and the risk of bending.

Watched one of your reels by the way, absolutely stunned you got an under/over of a breaching Humpback, big congrats, that is one spectacular shot.

Are you still working with whales?

 

[Ross Isaacs]

It was awesome being underwater off Maui surrounded by whales and have Jason zoom past with his jet boots on. They call him Marine Boy!

 

[Tom Hamilton]

They call him Marine Boy!

That sounds like the makings of a new TV series

 

[Jason Sturgis]

Tom,
Thanks for the kind words on the over/under breach shot. I was just hoping that I hit the record button in time. It was a long ride back to the harbor in anticipation of what I did or didn't capture. But every once in a while a blind squirrel gets a nut.

As for the jet boots, I never did try them with open circuit but, as you say, you would have to watch yourself. I was going for the streamlined approach in most instances. I would be wearing a 5mm suit and have the boots strapped on. Then I would put on a pair of stretchy pants over the power cords so to eliminate drag. Worked well but the look was a bit odd. Good thing we were off-shore where it was hard to be seen. There is no glory in wearing women's tights.
I am still doing whale work in the winter time.

Ross,
Those were good times down there. It has been a few years and I hope the project paths cross soon, it would be great to catch up. Again, it was a few years ago and I am now Marine Lad.

 

[Simon Christidis]

Epicarbon

Epicarbon

Hi
This is my Epicarbon housing .I make this style .Its made from Carbon fibre wich is and insulator but very machinable and easy to do your self . It takes any lenses and you can fit all the short zooms like Optimo and Zeiss.Balancing and trim You just add weghts to your liking .Also for studio or tank work you can put your MDR (Preston) inside and let the assitsant do the work .The external Focus and Iris control are all finger tip so your hands dont leave the handles at all and theres no breathing .I use the Red LCD montor and this can be postion anywher on the housing or If you want you can putthe monitor inside the main housing and look from the rear .The Ports I make fit the 10mm Ultra prime or anyother wide .It has a video split cable for the director just made from RG6 highflex video cable get it anywhere .You can also fit a PIX240 inside if you want .If you remove the weights and baseplate and monitor you can use it in the surf within reason (doesnt go well in barrels ) .It has a max depth of 50m not that I work down there that much .
Im currently making a light weight very small surf housing (will go well in barrels) its like a mini heatsink to take all primes action style and ill be using the side handle and Red volt batteries .
building housings of anykind takes a lot of guts as the gear that goes in them most of the time is not yours and we all know how expensive it is not only for the loss of the gear but the days or weeks shoot ,.So well done to all you housing builders out there we should have a get togther and talk about the absolute headF--- you come across when your re inventing something .But there is one thing we all share togther in our housing designs is the 2 cent oring yep little black round thing keeps us safe .
On the 3D side of things I have heard that 300 and Fury Road have all gone 2D and are going the post 3D way with the new technolgy coming out of the states .
Also has anyone had any screws missing from the Red Epic on arrival ?

 

[Jon Shaw]

Looks good Simon, the lightweight surf housing would be a winner, keen to see some images of that when it's completed.
I thought Fury Road had just made the decision to shoot 2D and 2D for delivery?

 

[James R.D. Scott]

I just got back a little while ago from my first shoot with the Red Epic underwater. I've got the Deep Epic housing from Gates. Was shooting Oceanic Whitetips off Cat Island and really like shooting at the higher frame rates. I'm using Red Volts with Quad Battery Charger as oppose to Red Brick (which is the common setup).

Few first impressions. Not so keen on having the Redmote run wirelessly though as many are aware these can be finicky at times. Was causing me some headaches on the road. Also, at issues sometimes with getting the knob to turn on the Redmote along with gears slipping after some time on certain days. Hopefully will be able to sort through some of these issues but interested to hear other peoples thoughts on the Gates Housing once they use it.

 

[Simon Christidis]

just a show case of my stuff I don't generally say much on forums my typing is just bad ?I do find the big films going that way very interesting though in 3D world what's around the corner ?? .Mayby that post might have been better in bubble blowers