:: 11.Post-Dive Maintenance

Waterproof Case Maintenance

Always soak the waterproof case in fresh water for a reasonable length of time after you have finished your days diving. This will provide an opportunity for all the salt, which causes the case to deteriorate, to come off. If there was potential for sand to get on the case, hold the case with the buttons pointing down and vigorously swish it in the water. Next, visually inspect the buttons to see if sand has lodged. If so, then use a stream of water as recommended in the pre-dive instructions to rinse it away.

Now, keep the case in fresh water and operate all the movable parts. To remove all the salt and sand from the inner parts, move all the buttons and dials several times, except the buckle on the lid. Salt may have penetrated the parts that were used underwater.

When you return to your lodgings from diving each day, do not limit your maintenance to the O-ring. Check to make sure that sand is not lodged among the buttons by looking at them from all angles. If sand gets lodged in the buttons, do not use the camera for diving until the case is properly serviced at a service center.

When you return back home from a diving trip, soak the case once more in lukewarm fresh water for a long period of time to remove the salt. The salt water that penetrates the smaller crevices in the case can take some time to dissolve away.

Battery Recharging and Maintenance

With lithium ion battery equipped cameras, you should remember to charge each battery every day. For cameras that use AA batteries, switch to fully charged rechargeable nickel hydride batteries.

The capacity of nickel hydride batteries can be diminished by the memory effect if you recharge the batteries several times without completely draining their charge. To avoid this, discharge them completely in a pocket flashlight before their daily charging session.

Rinse off the Salt in Water

Always rinse off the salt in fresh water after you are through diving. If salt water is left to crystallize on the case or O-ring, it will act like sand and cause leaks.

Rinse off the Sand

If there was potential for sand to get on the case, then be sure to hold the case with the buttons pointing down and vigorously swish it in the water when you soak it. It may be easiest to wash away the sand with a stream of water.

This section has been extracted from Canon Japan on how to prepare your digital investment.

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