Welcome To The AquaVault Tips Page!
This page was designed to assist AquaVault users by providing them with easy access to tips and comments from both the staff at Atmo-Seal and users like yourself. We encourage you to e-mail any questions or advice you would like to share with other users to sales@atmoseal-eng.com for inclusion on this webpage in the future. All comments will be kept confidential, and your name and e-mail address WILL NOT be published on this page. User advice will appear in red in this document. We will publish any GOOD advice received from our users, in some cases an * will denote that, while we may not agree 100% with the advice given, we feel it is worth merit.
Video Tips
Set your camcorder to the widest viewing angle possible for U/W Video.
Use slow, sweeping motions when taping. Fast jerking motions will make your audience feel uneasy.
If you will be taping in conditions where there are a lot of particles in the water (silt, debris, etc.,) turn off your camcorder's auto-focus. Some camcorders may tend to focus on the particles, rather than the subject.
Set your camcorder as close to the front port as possible. This will reduce the chance of glare and prevent "tunnel vision" from the AquaVault's body. Make sure that your camcorder has sufficient room to focus. With some units the front lens may actually move forward and backwards, hitting the front lens and possible damaging your equipment.
Try to tell a story with your video. Pre- and post dive interviews, taping entries and exits, and above water views all add depth to your presentation.
Keep your shots short and sweet. Try not to go longer than 10 seconds without any significant change in your positioning, angles or action.
Get your subject (human) to participate. Tell your fellow divers to "ham it up" prior to your dive. If possible, enlist another diver to act as a "tour guide" in your presentation. He/she may pick up artifacts, point to various aquatic life, or ad a size perspective to your video.
Try to use the underwater world to frame your shots. Taping from a porthole or through an opening in the coral creates an interesting effect.
Taping straight up or down during ascents and descents will produce an interesting image. Divers silhouetted in sunlight from the surface or rising through a sea of bubbles may be awe-inspiring shots if done correctly.
In some cases you may want to set down your AquaVault while taping and leave it for a period. This is especially useful if your presence is frightening the local aquatic life. Simply, for example, SECURELY set your AquaVault on the bottom in front of the eel's cave and come back a few minutes later. You may find that, in your absence, the eel may have been less threatened and more active than if you had been there. Obviously, your AquaVault must be weighted very negative to do this!
Set Up Tips
Please note: There is a lot of good advice and set-up information in your AQV-1 Manual. To save time and space, much of that information has been omitted from this section. If you need another copy of your manual, please sent a self addressed, stamped envelope to Atmo-Seal Engineering for a replacement. Be sure to include the serial number of your unit with your request.
Once you have found the correct position for the Universal Stop Start Mechanism (USM) for your individual camcorder, please mark it with a waterproof marker or pen. In some cases, mis-alignments as small as 1/16" may affect performance of the USM. Always stop and start your camcorder a few times before sealing it up for your dive.
Always use good, Duracell (tm) 9v batteries for your USM power. Low power may result in poor operation of the USM.
When setting up your weights, you may want to insert some foam in either the front or back of the weight canisters. This will allow you to displace some of the lead shot and change the center of gravity to your liking.
I've discovered that, with my Canon Camcorder,
it is easy to mis-align when I put it on the plate before a dive. I have epoxied
a couple of aluminum "L" brackets to the plate so my camera goes into the same
position every time.
BK, Michigan
Once I'd found the best position for my start
plunger (ed. USM) I placed a couple of drops of Krazy Glue on it. This really
speeds up my set-up time!*
JN, Florida
Though not an official comment, this story is worth publishing. An AquaVault user had recently taken his AQV-1 to the Caribbean for a week of diving. He discovered that, during transport, one of the two tabs that hold the mounting plate in place had broken off. He re-glued the piece with an instant adhesive. Later, on the dive boat, he was having problems getting his camcorder to actuate on and off once it was inside the housing. After his trip, the unit came to our repair dept. for service. There it was discovered that the re-glued tab was lower than its original position. The result was the mounting plate being bowed every time the camcorder was re-inserted into the housing, preventing the USM Plunger from being placed in the right position. This problem was quickly corrected by our staff.
I have an older model Sony Handy Cam with a very long stroke for the pause
button. I've wired in a third 9v battery and it gives me a longer, stronger
stroke on my plunger.*
MM Ohio
I've noticed something your other users might find interesting about my
weights. I don't fill them all the way up so when I tilt my housing forward all
of the lead pellets rush to the front of the holding tubes and the opposite
happens when I tilt backwards. This make filming (ed. video taping) much easier
on my hands and adds steadiness...Thought others may be able to use this info.
Jonathan, California
Be sure to remove all of the lead shot from the canisters prior to any long-term transport.
Please note that this page is a work-in progress. We need your questions and advice to keep it going! Even if you do not own an AquaVault, your input on the subject of U/W Video is greatly appreciated!