GoPro Scooter Free Diving Videos

[ricki]

Still checking out this unusual, inexpensive camera for UW applications. The images are not that sharp underwater but the color saturation is good, also the visibility the camera "sees" seems to be substantially better than the diver sees. Interesting stuff for a housed camera with video, still and intervalometer functions that goes for about $140. USD.

Went out scooter free diving on the wreck of the Tracy over the weekend. Some clips follow:

[ame="http://vimeo.com/5881445"]http://vimeo.com/5881445[/ame]
[ame="http://vimeo.com/5892512"]http://vimeo.com/5892512[/ame]
[ame="http://vimeo.com/5881445"]http://vimeo.com/5881445[/ame]

The Tracy before it was sunk in 1998
From: Dixie Divers

 

[agbiv]

Thanks for sharing. I am in the process of rigging mine to a speargun. I also may afix it to my off hand and get wider shots.

 

[ricki]

This may be one of the smallest cameras housed for service below 10 m that I've seen. It should work well on a speargun. Usually with ultra wide angle lens you give up a lot for objects very far away from the camera. This one doesn't seem to suffer as much from that.

I'm still trying to understand the apparent improvement in visibility the camera seems to achieve when compared to what the diver sees. Does anyone out there have ideas on this? More about the relative performance including video clips and some preliminary considerations at:

[ame=http://fksa.org/showthread.php?p=41480#post41480]HELP- UW Videographers, having trouble figuring this out - FKA Kiteboarding Forums[/ame]

 

[agbiv]

Don't know anything about the optics or uw effect on the quality. Might try the manufacturor's website and query.

 

[ricki]

Been speaking with to the manufacturer about this via email. Still no solid answers in sight yet. Hope to hit the Speigel Grove tomorrow and grab some more video with the GoPros while free diving. Fingers crossed for some nice, clear bluewater conditions!