Nothing feels quite as good as being able to solve a problem on your own, especially when it comes to the minor tribulations that SCUBA diving can sometimes present. Whether you’re partial to folk remedies or commercially available solutions, simply having the solution at your fingertips makes you feel a little like MacGyver, ready to tackle any obstacle that gets between you and a great day of diving. Here are some of our favorite solutions to the little problems pretty much all divers face at one point or another. Extra fix-it points for keeping them in your gear bag so you have them when you need them!
Silica Gel Packets $3.50 – $9.95
Condensation is the enemy of underwater photographers, never mind the havoc that leaks in an underwater camera housing can wreak. There is much to be said for performing regular maintenance on your housing to prevent either of these disasters from happening, but condensation can be a tricky beast. Do yourself a favor and pick up some silica gel packets or capsules for your housing. They cost next to nothing, and the continuous work they do to keep dreaded moisture away from your camera’s inner workings will be worth every cent. LeisurePro stocks several varieties of silica gels, including these Moisture Munchers from SeaLife that will change colors to let you know when they need to be replaced. For an easy silica gel hack, you can use the little packets that often come in new shoe boxes, which contain the exact same ingredients as the store-bought ones. May condensation be a thing of your past.
Akin to the frustration of condensation in your camera lens is the despair felt due to mask fog. Nothing in the dive, short of breathing, is as important as seeing clearly, so you need to ensure that your mask will stay clear. We all know the time-held trick of spitting in your mask and smearing it around, but if that doesn’t seem to work for you, or you’re particularly squeamish, get a ready-made mask defogger. Most defoggers are available in 1 or 2 ounces, but don’t let the diminutive size fool you — a little goes a long way. Either put one drop of defogger on each side of your mask or one spray for both sides, rub it over the entire surface of the lens, and rinse. You should be able to dive fog-free for an entire day or more on just this amount. They make this stuff for a reason, and that reason is that it works. If you’re not a fan of commercially prepared substances but don’t want to spit, you can also use toothpaste as an effective lens defogger. Make sure you use pastes, not gels.
urrite
Worst? Running out of air? Finding yourself 2 miles out to sea in a strong current?
Okay David, those are definitely the worst of the worst. But fog sucks!
new led waterproof fog lights ???
Fog, air press. & current I can deal with, sand & pebbles in my dive boots make me psychotic tho…lol!
David is right.
I swear by Sea Gold
I actually like the challenge
Dive in NY waters. Braille diving all the time.
Finding out your tank is missing an o-ring… now THAT sucks haha
Randy, if you like diving by Braille, you’ll enjoy diving at kin red beach, Okinawa! Lol!
I use plain white toothpaste and dive fog free everytime
Johnsons baby shampoo. Least expensive and the best working product i have found so far. Beats sea gold or any of the anti fogging agents out there. Also does not burn your eyes if you do not get it rinsed completely from your mask.
Don’t forget the power of good old spit.
I’m with Terrance, Johnson’s baby shampoo. Keep your mask in a bucket of water with the shampoo in it. Just like Sheri from speargun hunter!
If you live (or dive) where there is colder water rubbing a piece of kelp inside your mask works great!
Leak Insure sachets stop fogging and absorb minor leaks. Much better than Silica Gel.