I would be interested in the possible or suspected reasons, especially the less obvious ones or based on your own experiences, why electronic equipment protected with O-rings, such as cameras, canisters, dive lights, Nautilus Lifelines, etc., would flood underwater, and what precautionary steps to take to minimize the chances of that happening. I'm posting it in the basic forum, since it's not necessarily just camera-specific, and might be of broader interest.
I am pretty meticulous as far as equipment maintenance, and yet I somehow managed to flood my camera a few months ago. I usually take more time preparing camera for diving each day than all other equipment combined. It starts with rinsing it in fresh water to get rid of any residue, washing O-rings in warm water, giving them time to dry thoroughly, wiping the groove if needed with a cotton swab, re-lubricating O-ring with silicone grease, spreading lubricant with my fingers while feeling the O-ring for any defects, and reseating the O-ring in the groove. I would think that I am pretty thorough, and yet, I must have made a mistake somewhere...
I have never come up with a convincing explanation, but among the ones that crossed my mind: (1) too frequent maintenance without replacing the O-rings, I have been using the same O-ring for 30-40 dives across 2 dive trips => maybe they need to be replaced more often, (2) the giant stride, which was a 9-10 foot jump, causing the water to hit the housing at the wrong place and at the wrong angle, and possibly dislodging the ring => maybe I need to use a protective pouch during water entries, (3) while de-moisturizing the camera before closing it in front of A/C, some microscopic dust might have accumulated on the surface of the O-ring => perhaps I need a better way to avoid fogging (but nothing has ever worked for me for defogging as well as an A/C in the hotel room), (4) applying too much silicone grease on the O-rings (not sure why that would be an issue) => apply less (how little is too little?), (5) accidentally scratching the plastic O-ring groove while pushing a possible grain of sand with a cotton swab along the groove => maybe rinse with a stream of water before wiping it with a swab, (6) leaving fiber from cotton swab or cloth on the groove or O-ring => use some other fabric?
Thoughts, ideas?
I am pretty meticulous as far as equipment maintenance, and yet I somehow managed to flood my camera a few months ago. I usually take more time preparing camera for diving each day than all other equipment combined. It starts with rinsing it in fresh water to get rid of any residue, washing O-rings in warm water, giving them time to dry thoroughly, wiping the groove if needed with a cotton swab, re-lubricating O-ring with silicone grease, spreading lubricant with my fingers while feeling the O-ring for any defects, and reseating the O-ring in the groove. I would think that I am pretty thorough, and yet, I must have made a mistake somewhere...
I have never come up with a convincing explanation, but among the ones that crossed my mind: (1) too frequent maintenance without replacing the O-rings, I have been using the same O-ring for 30-40 dives across 2 dive trips => maybe they need to be replaced more often, (2) the giant stride, which was a 9-10 foot jump, causing the water to hit the housing at the wrong place and at the wrong angle, and possibly dislodging the ring => maybe I need to use a protective pouch during water entries, (3) while de-moisturizing the camera before closing it in front of A/C, some microscopic dust might have accumulated on the surface of the O-ring => perhaps I need a better way to avoid fogging (but nothing has ever worked for me for defogging as well as an A/C in the hotel room), (4) applying too much silicone grease on the O-rings (not sure why that would be an issue) => apply less (how little is too little?), (5) accidentally scratching the plastic O-ring groove while pushing a possible grain of sand with a cotton swab along the groove => maybe rinse with a stream of water before wiping it with a swab, (6) leaving fiber from cotton swab or cloth on the groove or O-ring => use some other fabric?
Thoughts, ideas?