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#73
GoPro Cameras & Diving
Scuba_Sean - 7/23/2014 7:49 PM
Category: Equipment
Replies: 19

Hey Everyone,

I’m just looking for some input on how other people use their GoPro’s under the water? I’ve been using a wrist strap for shooting some nice shots, but most of the video is not pointed in the direction I want it to because I use my hands fairly often.

Has anyone ever used the chest strap or any other kind of gear to for their GoPro?

Thanks for the ideas and input!
~Sean
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tazzer9797 - 7/23/2014 9:40 PM
this is the basic rig I use. I can add a second video light for night dives as well as no lights with colour filters in good light. Also , you cant see it but I bought one of the LCD view screnes and I love it This way it allows you to see what your recording as well as for safety allows you to also look around normally and still maintain a great shot. You simply hold on with two hands in front of you and slowly move about. This helps your trim as well as stabilizes the shot. last thing , a simple plunger and spring on the top make starting and stopping recording very easy as well
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tazzer9797 - 7/23/2014 9:42 PM
looks like the pic didnt get posted... go to my photos .. there is a shot there... sorry
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Green_Achers - 7/24/2014 7:30 AM
I’ve been diving with just a head strap mount.
youtu.be/XO_ltyKdFss

My next dive will be with two GoPros. One head strapped and the other on a pole.
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badintexas - 7/24/2014 7:59 AM
I don’t know but GoPros are awesome!!
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scott - 7/24/2014 8:06 AM
no!!! you and Greg are awesome go pros are just good
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Eric_R - 7/25/2014 5:43 AM
It all depends on your needs and the structure of your dives. I keep mine on a retractable lanyard so it’s quickly accessible and I can just let it go. This setup allows me to be pulling the Dive Float in one hand and quickly grab the camera for the shot.
Here’s some of my videos.
youtube.com/channel/UCyiCRB1xK4oFqTgredc92Gw
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WarmWaterTurner - 7/25/2014 6:33 AM
I use a small basic camera platform with a video light. Its is small enough to clip off on my bc when I’m not using it and yet not a bother being attached. I also have the video screen attachment so I can properly aim the shot. I have been using this set-up for about 3 years and have been very happy with the results.
#73
zoomonkey - 7/25/2014 10:27 AM
I use the Sony Action Cam and so far I’ve had it on my wrist as well only. Like you said, anytime you use your hands you ruin the shot....that means more video editing later. I got the Sony because the underwater demos I saw looked better than the GoPro.
I also was concerned that a head mount would have bubbles in it as you exhale...
Here is a sample of my video I did using Sony Action Cam and on my wrist.

youtube.com/watch?v=EyYQEDWZffQ
#73
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Scuba_Sean - 7/27/2014 8:21 PM
Thanks for all of the input everyone, it’s nice to hear what everyone’s been making work for them. I had a couple questions though which might spark some more discussion.

From tazzer9797: looks like the pic didnt get posted... go to my photos .. there is a shot there... sorry

That is a nice setup Taz, it’s a little more than I’d like for my GoPro though. I have a Cannon Rebel T5i that would be great for taking down under and using with a grip setup like yours. I’m looking to use my GoPro in a less manual fashion though.

From Green_Achers: I’ve been diving with just a head strap mount.

My next dive will be with two GoPros. One head strapped and the other on a pole.

I’d be very interested to hear how the pole goes (Any details about the size of the pole you’re using?) Also, I was considering a head mount but I thought it might just be constant bubbles. Watching your video, it looks like it isn’t that bad. What’s your take on it? Do you find yourself watching bubbles more often than not when you’re watching your videos?

Thanks again everyone for the comments and insight!

~Sean
#295
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LB1335 - 8/18/2014 10:38 AM
I use the wrist strap, but I’ve attached a short piece of 550/cord so I can remove the camera from the strap and view the screen I added. I also don’t have to worry about dropping it. Works well for now but the wrist strap does need to be modified for better use.
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Phil_D - 8/26/2014 6:27 PM
I mounted a small mount on the top of my mask on the hard plastic rim with some really strong 3M double sided tape. Tilted it down a hair and it woks great. Everywhere you look it looks and you still have your hands free. I put a safety sting on it just in case it gets knocked off.
Phil
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Phil_D - 8/26/2014 6:35 PM
I mounted a small mount on the top of my mask on the hard plastic rim with some really strong 3M double sided tape. Tilted it down a hair and it works great. Everywhere you look it looks and you still have your hands free. I put a safety sting on it just in case it gets knocked off.
Phil
#1406
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Green_Achers - 8/27/2014 6:28 AM
Well, Back from the dive with two GoPros. The head mount in my opinion would have better if set to take stills every few seconds rather than video. It’s just not as stable as the extending pole which is now my favorite. I also did a bunch of free dives with the pole and found it best to use there as well.

I think you’ll agree the stability of this video beats my head mounted video previously posted on this thread.

youtu.be/IbELXSv83nM
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Scuba_Sean - 8/27/2014 10:27 AM
From Green_Achers: Well, Back from the dive with two GoPros. The head mount in my opinion would have better if set to take stills every few seconds rather than video. It’s just not as stable as the extending pole which is now my favorite. I also did a bunch of free dives with the pole and found it best to use there as well.

I think you’ll agree the stability of this video beats my head mounted video previously posted on this thread.

youtu.be/IbELXSv83nM

Thanks Green for video. I ended up trying the Head Mount and it worked pretty well for me. I still saw bubbles now and again but not as much as I was expecting so I was very pleased. I think the pole would be nice to use too, the only downside to that is it’s not as passive as I’m looking for my GoPro to be. I did hear about a BC-mounted GoPro housing that some people found very useful so that’s also a possibility.

Thanks for keeping this thread alive everyone!
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Green_Achers - 8/27/2014 11:17 AM
My problem with the head mount is that I turn my head too often and quickly. I’m a lot slower and stable by hand - plus I can look around quickly to find where to pan the pole mounted camera.

It may also be a benefit that I’ve got my Bouyancy under control for the most part.

Bill
#40
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MarkRooteIII - 8/29/2014 6:27 PM
I got an Octomask with a GoPro mount built onto the top earlier this year. I’ve been down with it a couple of times and my only issue has been a little more water gets in with it than my old mask. I have facial hair, so I always get some leakage, but it’s not enough for me to stop using it. I like it better than the head strap that I had been using for the last few years. In order for me to get the head strap to not interfere with my mask I had to have it high enough that I was constantly afraid that it was going to fall off.
The other advantage to the Octomask is that once you get it pointed where you want it, you tighten it down and that’s where it stays. With the head strap the picture was always off a little bit, but with the mask I got it set so that it shoots pretty much exactly what I’m looking at.

smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B00B57PHTQ/ref=oh_aui_det...05_s01?ie=UTF8&psc=1
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Wes1960 - 8/31/2014 5:00 AM
I use an Octomask also. Every GoPro diver who has dove with me for the past year has ended up buying one. Check them out on Amazon
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MDW - 11/12/2014 8:08 AM
Pretty sure the chest strap idea will not accomplish what you want, as your chest will rarely be facing the direction you want to film (assuming you are in good trim and not swimming like a seahorse). I would strongly suggest some sort of head-mounted option for hands free video. This will ensure you are always filming what you are looking at. I suggest a helmet mount, if you are willing to wear a helmet, as this provides not only stability but also a good place to mount lights to help improve the color of your videos. If you don’t want a helmet, then go with the headband mount. Either of these will give you a nice video of everything you look at by turning your head, without much of the extraneous stuff that you just check by moving your eyes (like checking your pressure gauge, looking down at clip off points, etc.). It has worked well for me. I video the whole dive and then edit out the boring parts (like swimming around mid-water where there is nothing to see) later.
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Earl - 11/19/2014 5:38 PM
I used a head mount with a small extension and had no bubbles. Make sure you attach the camera to the strategy and then the strap to your mask so it will not slip off while at depth.