Preparation & Care of your Underwater Housing

Now that you have purchased your underwater housing, don't jump right into the pool just yet! There are some basic steps that you need to follow to prepare your underwater housing before using it.

PREPARATION

Step 1 - Remove the O-Ring

Get to know the O-Ring. The O-Ring is the water tight barrier that seals the PowerShot Waterproof Case and prevents water from entering the case. Therefore, it  is very important that the O-Ring is prepared before closing the case and using it underwater.

Next, remove the O-Ring from its groove in the case using your fingers or tools. You may even use blunt objects like a credit card to assist you. Lift first in one spot, before pulling the O-Ring gently out of its groove completely.

Step 2 - Check the O-Ring

Hold one section of the O-Ring with the tip of your fingers. Be careful not to stretch or pull it. Slide the tips of your fingers along the entire surface of the O-Ring to ensure that no sand, hairs, grit or fibers are stuck. Remove any particles or debris if any. A single strand of hair or sand caught between the seal and its contact surfaces may cause leakages to occur.


Step 3 - Apply Water Tight Grease

Once you are certain that the O-Ring is clean, apply a small amount of water tight grease to a clean finger and spread it along the O-Ring evenly.





Step 4 - Reinsert the O-Ring

After the grease is applied, carefully reinsert the O-Ring back into its groove in the Waterproof Case. Check it again to ensure that no debris or particles are stuck on the O-Ring.





Step 5 - Test for Water Tightness

It is very important to check for water tightness before every dive. To perform the submersion test, put the empty case into a tank of water overnight. Check for leaks. On the day of the dive, repeat this test with the camera loaded for a moment. Then, test it for several seconds and check for leaks with the case pointing down. Your camera is "dive-ready" only after both tests are successfully completed.

CARE

After each dive, the case must be cleaned and prepared for storage. The post-dive maintenance is important to ensure that watertight seal is being preserved.

Remove the camera and soak the case in fresh water. Hold the case with the buttons pointing down and vigorously swish it in the water. Move all the buttons and dials, except for the lid buckle, repeatedly to ensure that sand and salt that can accumulate around the inner parts of the case are removed. Check for salt in the case's most active parts. Make sure that sand are not lodged among the buttons by looking at them from all angles. You may also find it easier to rinse away sand with a steady stream of water.

You may also soak your case for an extended period of time in lukewarm fresh water as sometimes, salt water that penetrates the smaller crevices in the case may only dissolve after a lengthy soaking. If sand gets lodged between the buttons and cannot be removed, send it to an authorized Canon service center. It is recommended to replace the O-Ring seal once a year to ensure the case remains waterproof.