So you have a brand new waterproof digital camera housing, and are about to depart on your vacation to take some underwater happy snaps. It might be worthwhile to spend a few minutes learning how to use it correctly before heading outside. This article will highlight some important considerations before using your camera housing in a wet environment. If you get something wrong out in the water you aren’t going to get a second chance to take that "picture of a lifetime", and if you accidentally misuse your housing you might not have a functioning camera at all! 
First, and it sounds obvious, you need to read the instructions that came with the unit! It looks easy enough: just pop the camera in and close the cover. But why risk ruining a camera because you forgot to mount the rubber seal correctly? Or indeed forget to operate any one of a number of other minor parts that help make these housings work.
If you purchased your camera on eBay or have lost the instructions, just head over to the manufacturer’s web site for more information.
Most waterproof digital camera housings will come with a rubber "O" ring, or grommet of some kind. These rings sit in between the main housing, and the opening for you to slide the camera in. It is vital that you regularly inspect this rubber ring for any defects. These rings have the potential to degrade over time, and also weaken from repeated opening and closing of the housing cover. Thankfully they are a replacement part. It might pay to buy one or two extras in advance because it will be very difficult locate one on vacation, let alone from a boat out on the reef where you are diving!
You really should test the housing before taking it in to the water. Work out how to control the camera while in its housing, and practice doing it with your eyes shut. By the time you get out to the water you can concentrate on having fun, instead of battling to get the camera on, focused, and pictures taken. Manufacturers will highly recommend that you submerge the camera at home and test for leaks, before heading outside. Here is my tip: first test the camera in a "dry fluid" such as sand. Just bury the camera in some sand and shake it around a bit. Dry particles will be much easier to identify than fluids, and easy to get out of the camera if there are any leaks in the housing. After the dry run has been performed, you can do a wet test. Some manufacturers suggest leaving the unit submerged overnight in a bucket or your sink. Maybe give it a few seconds at first, then a few minutes, to be sure there are no obvious leaks.
Finally, you need to be careful when removing the camera from the waterproof digital camera housing after use. Dry off the housing so that there isn’t any visible water that will leak in when you open the seal. A towel will do, but a hairdryer on a low heat setting is best if you have one handy. It would also be good to give the housing a good wash if you have taken it in to a salt water environment. This will keep the unit clean and clear from any salt residue that dries on the surface.
By Paul Filmer.
View some waterproof digital camera.
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