Hey everyone,

We’ve all had that sinking feeling-literally - when a tiny trickle of water appears inside your housing halfway through a dive. The truth is, almost every flood isn’t bad luck. It’s usually just a small maintenance slip-up. The great news? Preventing it is quick, easy, and takes only 10-15 minutes before you hit the water.

Salted Line it's a new series of affordable hybrid waterproof camera housings built for surfing and underwater photography. But even the best housing needs a quick pre-dive service to stay 100% reliable. Here’s the exact routine we recommend (and that experienced underwater shooters swear by).

1. Find a Clean, Calm Spot

Do this at home, in your hotel room, or on a stable table, never on a rocking boat or sandy beach. Good lighting and paper tissues make all the difference. Rushing this step is how sand or hairs end up in the O-ring groove.

2. Remove and Inspect the Main (Backplate) O-Rings

Take out the big O-ring on the backplate and any port O-rings. Run your finger around each one and check for nicks, cuts, or flat spots. If anything feels off, replace it immediately - spare O-rings are cheap insurance. Wipe the grooves and mating surfaces clean with a paper tissues.

3. Clean the O-Rings Thoroughly

Rinse them in fresh water. If they’re salty or dirty, use just a tiny drop of mild dish soap on your fingertip, rinse well, and dry gently (avoid scratching it). A clean O-ring should feel smooth and look matte.

4. Grease Them the Right Way

Always use the original SeaFrogs/Salted Line Silicone grease that comes with your housing. Apply just a tiny amount on your fingertip and lightly coat the O-ring until it has a thin, even sheen. No clumps, no thick layers - too much grease can actually cause leaks instead of preventing them.

Important note: Please note that only the original SeaFrogs/Salted Line silicone grease supplied with your housing should be used. Using silicone grease of a different consistency, different color, or from any other brand is not permitted and may result in leaks or cause the controls and ports to stick.

5. Re-install Carefully

Make sure each O-ring sits flat in its groove with no twists. Do a quick visual check for hairs, sand, or lint.

6. Test All Controls and Seals

Work every button, dial, lever, and knob a few times to confirm they move smoothly. All Salted Line housings have Leak detection sensor, test it now by putting your finger on the contact strip, you can see red light and beeping. Quickly inspect the zoom control and any other moving parts.

7. Close It Up Properly

Install your camera and close the housing, ensuring both metal latches are securely fastened, and the red-colored safety lock pins are correctly placed. Pro tip: Watch the O-ring one last time as you close it to avoid pinching.

8. Do a Quick Leak Test

• If you have an optional pre dive Vacuum pump check system, use it according the manual instructions.
• Or instead do the classic bucket test: submerge the sealed housing in fresh water and work all the controls while looking for bubbles.

9. Final Visual Check

Before you jump in:

• Make sure everything is securely closed.
• You have installed the SD card and taken out lens cap.
• Give the whole housing a quick once-over for any damage.
• Fire off a test shot on the boat to confirm your camera and strobes are working.

That’s it - 10-15 minutes that can save your entire trip.

Follow this simple routine before every shooting day, and your Salted Line housing will stay rock-solid for thousands of dives. Treat those O-rings with the same respect you give your other diving equipment, and you won’t have any problems with leaks.

Got questions about your specific Salted Line model or need the right grease and spare O-rings? Email us at support@saltedline.com or via our social media channels - we`re always happy to help

Stay safe, stay dry, and happy shooting!

- The Salted Line Team

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