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Press Release
Date: 5/24/05
Subject: Tetra
Found Working after 2 weeks at 135 fsw
Contact: Light & Motion, 831-645-1525, sales@lmindustries.com,
www.uwimaging.com
Written by: Capt. Kent O. Bonde
The purpose of this letter is to personally attest to the quality
and durability of your underwater housings. I have been using Tetra
5000 housing since 2003 and have nothing but great things to say
about the housing, especially the ROC metering system and all the
add-on features, including the Wetmate lenses. However, four weeks
ago disaster finally struck. We were getting ready to dive the wreck
of the Almirante,
located in 135 feet of water off of Elliott Key, Florida. We had
a healthy current making the dive a challenging one, especially
with the prospect of having camera gear in hand and having to pull
down the anchor line. As usual in these types of conditions, I had
the camera clipped off to my BC, or so I thought. Upon back-rolling
into the water, the unthinkable happened - the brass clip broke
and the camera, complete with Wetmate lenses and Sea&Sea strobe,
plummeted into the depths. We subsequently performed two search
and recovery dives on the same day to try and locate the camera.
Unfortunately the current was so strong and the drift too fast to
effectively conduct the search. We had hoped to return the following
week to search again, but sea conditions were not cooperative and
remained so until this past weekend, when we finally were able to
get back in the water. This time, the conditions were favorable
- no current and almost 70 feet of viz. After estimating distance
and bearing from the wreck to begin our search, four of us fanned
out and commenced our drift along the bottom. Within five minutes
of the dive, we found the camera, laying half buried in sand and
partially hidden by a stand of soft coral. Other than some minor
growth on the camera tray and algae on the housing and strobe, the
camera appeared to be in remarkably good shape for having spent
four weeks underwater at 135 feet. For the hell of it (figuring
the camera and housing had been flooded by now), I turned the power
on to the camera and strobe and much to my amazement, both were
fully functional. Upon returning home, I let the camera soak in
fresh water with a few capfuls of vinegar. A medium-bristle toothbrush
removed all the remaining growth. Upon opening the camera, I found
the o-rings in good condition and the camera and circuit boards
as dry as a bone.
Looking at the housing today, you would never know of the punishment
it endured. It looks like its still new and I can't wait to start
taking pictures again.
Capt. Kent O. Bonde
"Safety Through Education"
INTERNATIONAL DIVING SERVICES
Instruction * Video * Photography * Dive Charters
960 NE 92nd Street,, Miami Shores, Florida 33138
Tel/Fax: (305) 754-7542
For more company information or a Dealer near you, contact Light
& Motion at 300 Cannery Row, Monterey, CA, 93940, phone 831-645-1525,
fax 831-375-2517, www.uwimaging.com,
email
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