Category: Dive Accessories

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Oceanic + Phone Dive Housing Available!

The best camera is the one you have with you

Traditionally, if you wanted to take photos or videos underwater on your diving adventure, you needed a setup like I have in the pictures to the left. A large Ikelite housing, a high end camera, and multiple external flashes. This will still give you the absolute quality images, but is expensive and cumbersome for travel. In the last few years, several products have come to market allowing you to take the camera you carry with you every day, your phone, with you diving or snorkeling allowing you to have pictures where they are most available to you to share and post. We now offer on Seethesearx.com, as authorized Oceanic dealers, the Oceanic + housing, the perfect companion for your prescription dive mask. 

The Oceanic + Dive Housing, compatible with iPhone 15 Pro Max iPhone 14 iPhone 12 iPhone Xr iPhone 15 Pro iPhone 13 Pro Max iPhone 12 Mini iPhone X iPhone 15 Plus iPhone 13 Pro iPhone 11 Pro Max iPhone SE (3rd Generation) iPhone 15 iPhone 13 iPhone 11 Pro iPhone SE (2nd Generation iPhone 14 Pro Max iPhone 13 Mini iPhone 11 iPhone 14 Pro iPhone 12 Pro Max iPhone Xs Max iPhone 14 Plus iPhone 12 Pro iPhone Xs

This is one of my favorite pictures I have taken while diving- I captured this turtle on my iPhone 14 Pro Max in a dive case in St. Martin about 2 years ago. Depth – approximatley 60 feet underwater 

Overview of the Oceanic + Housing

The Oceanic+ Dive Housing is meticulously designed to provide robust protection for high-end phones, ensuring they perform flawlessly in the depths of the ocean. Constructed from durable materials such as corrosion-resistant metals and reinforced polycarbonate, this housing is engineered to withstand the pressure and elements encountered underwater. Its ergonomic design allows for easy handling and operation, even in challenging underwater environments where visibility and dexterity may be compromised.

The primary function of any underwater housing is to provide optical clarity while protecting the phone. The Oceanic+ Dive Housing excels in this aspect with precision-engineered ports and and lens that maintain the camera’s autofocus capabilities and ensure sharp, clear images. Advanced coatings and materials minimize glare and distortion, preserving the natural colors and details of the underwater world. This clarity is essential for capturing the vivid hues of coral reefs, the graceful movements of marine life, and the intricate textures of underwater landscapes.

In terms of camera functionality, the housing has a built in app for depth and color correction, ability to use all the camera’s lenses, and ability to quickly share photos when topside (keep in mind even though you have your phone with you underwater, cellphone signal is lost within several feet of the surface).

Dive computer functionality

The Oceanic + Dive Housing has a dive computer app built in, however, this does have a subscription fee if desired (the app fee is shared with the app on the Apple Watch if you have that subscription). The subscription is NOT required for the camera functionality, but is an added feature available for those that might want it (and one less piece of equipment have to travel with). 

unboxing

Oceanic + Dive Housing 1
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Conclusion

There is no question the easiest way to take photos and video underwater is with your phone and a compact dive housing. These housings provide an easy compact way to bring your phone underwater on reefs, wrecks, or wherever your diving adventures take you. These housings are even great for snorkeling. The camera quality on phones has increased gigantically over the last few years, and while a DSLR/mirrorless set up will produce the highest quality photos available (and we can help you build a set up like that if you wish) in terms of space and cost, these phone housings cannot be beat. The Oceanic + housing costs $489.96 and ships free with your prescription dive mask order. If you would like to purchase one separately, feel free to reach out. 

Picture of Josh

Josh

Josh is an optical technician and owner of See the Sea RX. He is a PADI instructor and rebreather diver- he has been involved in diving for more than 20 years. He has also worked as a sergeant at the Harris County, Texas, Sheriff's Office, which included time as the instructor for the dive team. Josh also holds a masters degree in data analytics from Texas A&M.

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New Accessory- Dive Signal Light

Dive light with metal housing and blue hue

At See the Sea RX, we primarily focus on our custom prescription dive masks but we do have a few accessories available for those making their dive mask purchase.

We recently added a few new products to the website, including the new scuba pro d-mask, but one accessory I am excited to have added is the new IST signal light. 

The signal light is a hybrid underwater flashlight / signal device. While many of us divers grew up placing glow sticks on our tank valves during night dives, the signal light can be attached to your tank instead for a much brighter and identifiable light source. Similar to the IST Apollo Light, the Signal Light is made from aluminum and feels sturdy in the hand. You might just feel a bit like a Jedi with the signal light in your hands. 

The signal light can also be used to gain attention from other divers and boats while on the surface. The signal portion of the light, the heavy polycarbonate piece, screws off and the signal light can be used as a backup dive light (although colored), down to 100m/330 feet. The signal light can be added to your dive mask order for $70.00 and comes with everything seen in the picture to the right (no battery included). Keep reading for more information on the signal light. 

Dive light with metal housing and blue hue

Using the signal light as a dive light

The clear polycarbonate portion of the light is removable (I wouldn’t encourage doing this underwater, as it would be easy to lose), and the signal light can be used as a backup dive light. In the above two pictures, you can see the light after the polycarbonate portion has been removed. The signal light comes with a keyring on the bottom, and I suggest attaching a lanyard or another attachment device to prevent losing the light underwater. 

What about batteries?

The signal light requires one CR123 battery which last about two hours. The battery is not included. I highly encourage divers to use a rechargeable CR123, and there are various options available from other sources for the battery and charger.

The signal light comes in two colors, green (as seen to the left) and blue (as seen above). 

Both colors are very visible on the surface and underwater, but without the polycarbonate/ signal portion of the light attached, the green light will pierce a bit farther in the water and be brighter. 

How to order the signal light?

You can add the signal light to your prescription dive mask order during the order build out process. Once you have chosen your corrective lenses and mask (or selected to add prescription lenses to your mask), at the bottom of the order page, there is an accessory section that includes a few lights including the signal light. 

As always, if you have any questions, don’t hesitate to reach out! Next time I go diving, I will try to add some pictures of the signal light in use!

Picture of Josh

Josh

Josh is an optical technician and owner of See the Sea RX. He is a PADI instructor and has been involved in diving for more than 20 years. He has also worked as a sergeant at the Harris County, Texas, Sheriff's Office, which included time as the instructor for the dive team. Josh also holds a masters degree in data analytics from Texas A&M.

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New Dive Light add ons for Prescription Dive Mask Orders

High end diving light.

Dive light options for your dive mask purchase

As you descend through the water column, divers see a loss of color in the order of the colors of the rainbow. Most noticeably, reds are lost very quickly. This occurs because water absorbs various wavelengths of the light spectrum more rapidly than others. 

One way to counter this is by using a tinted lens mask. We do offer several prescription dive masks with these color correcting options such as the M100 (color correction model). Divers can also use a light bring back colors lost at depth. Both options are viable, but I love to have a little light in my BCD that helps me also look under crevices or as a backup during a night dive. 

To continue with our mission of helping divers see clear, we recently added two dive light options you can easily add to your dive mask order, which will help you see colors vividly during a day dive or even serve as a primary light at night. 

Introducing the Apollo Dive Light (MSRP $180) and the Lumo ($156).

In this article, I will go over my hands on experience with these dive lights, costs, and how to order them with your prescription dive mask.

High end diving light.
Apollo dive light with light shield extended.
High end dive light from See the Sea
Lumo Dive Light

Overview of the apollo & Lumo dive lights

Size & batteries

When I was first certified to dive (I don’t want to age myself here), I bought myself a brand new dive light. It took 8 D cell batteries, and I thought it was the brightest light they would ever be able to create for diving. Shortly after I bought that light, HID lights hit the market, but were very expensive. If you broke the bulb, it would be at least $100 to get a replacement.

The advent of LED lights have not only eventually reduced the cost of high end dive lights, but the size and energy consumption as well. Now a light that can fit in your hand has a bulb that will almost last forever and can serve as your primary dive light. 

Both the Apollo and Lumo dive lights are cheaper than my first dive light, smaller, and brighter. Both dive lights are about the same size, but the Apollo light (on the left in the image) is slightly longer.

The dive lights accept two CR123 batteries (not included) or 1 rechargeable 18650 battery (not included). My recommendation would be to purchase the slightly more expensive rechargeable batter as you will get much more use out of it (and CR123 batteries are not super cheap on their own anyway). Run time will depend on what mode you operate the light in, but moderate use should be several hours on a charge.

 

Control & Modes of the dive lights

Scuba dive light controls

I have  always preferred buttons to twist controls, but the Apollo light has me converted. My main complaint with twist controls is the risk of either opening the light or the controls being too difficult to utilize while diving. The Apollo solves this by having a free rotating control bevel that is separate from the main body of the light. You cannot risk flooding the light by rotating the bezel. You rotate the light to operate the modes including off, on brightness level 1, on brightness level 2, on brightness level 3, and flashing/sos. The bevel rotates easily, and there is a satisfying click as you change modes. As both models are made from lightweight aluminum, the Apollo feels great in the hand- well built and sturdy. 

The Lumo, the slightly cheaper of the two lights, operates with a push button. When turning on the light, you must hold the button down for 10 seconds (a safety feature designed to ensure it doesn’t turn on from a momentary bump in your bag or while traveling), which made me think my batteries were dead at first. Once the light is on, you cycle through the modes, which includes a flashing SOS mode with a quick push of the button.

* KEEP IN MIND LIKE ALL DIVE LIGHTS THESE LIGHTS ARE DESIGNED FOR USE UNDERWATER AND WILL EMIT SIGNIFICANT HEAT IF LEFT ON ABOVE WATER*

The Apollo light has printed icons indicating what modes are available and what mode you are in without having to cycle through the beams. 

Beams & Special Features

The Apollo is the brighter of the two lights, but that is not the only difference when it comes to the light emitted by the different models. The Apollo has two innovative features. A removable diffuser which screws onto the end of the light as well as a shield that extends and retracts preventing the light from spilling into your eyes. Check out the gallery below to see the difference in beams between the lights as well as the diffuser on the apollo light. 

Lumo vs Apollo Dive Light Beam
Apollo Dive Light Beam without Diffuser
Apollo Dive Light beam with diffuser
Apollo Dive Light without Diffuser on Wall
Apollo Dive LIght Beam with Diffuser on wall
Apollo dive light with shield extended
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How to purchase a dive light with your prescription dive mask

Adding the Apollo or Lumo dive lights to your order is easy. After you build out your prescription mask, there is a section of available accessories. Click on either light to add it to your order. To start, build out your prescription dive mask here.