Apple's iPhone is one of the most-successful product ranges on the planet – and now SeaLife is introducing a compact, lightweight underwater housing for many of them.
The new SeaLife SportDiver housing (SRP: $299.95) will allow divers to take photos and video with their iPhone down to 40m – and it can encase iPhone 7, 7 Plus, 8, 8 Plus, X, Xr, Xs, Xs Max, 11, 11 Pro Max, and SE (2nd Gen) models.
The heavy-duty housing is constructed of polycarbonate, stainless steel, aluminum and optical grade glass, but it weighs in at less than 641g, so is ideal for travelling.
The SportDiver is easy to hold and use and offers a large shutter lever and rear control buttons for easy operation, even with dive gloves. Snorkellers and divers can get more creative with their photos or video shot by using advanced camera settings – Adjust Zoom, Exposure (EV), Auto/Manual Focus, White Balance, Tint, Lens selection, RAW+JPEG mode, Live Photo and Background Blur (on available iPhone models).
The SportDiver housing includes the free SeaLife SportDiver camera app for iOS 12 and up and, unlike other smartphone housing apps, there are no annoying in-app purchases or ads. You can easily switch between photo and video mode. The SportDiver App uses the iPhone camera technology native to each iPhone® model.
The App Playback mode shows full-size photos and videos with vertical thumbnail strip to easily locate your images. Videos start playing automatically when selected. All files are also saved to iPhone camera roll. The SportDiver housing automatically connects to your iPhone and the SportDiver app using Bluetooth® Low Energy (LE) 5 wireless technology. No cables or buttons touch the phone, and it offers ultra-low power consumption for both the phone and the housing, which is powered by two AAA batteries that last over 50 hours of continuous use.
For enhanced imaging results, a removable underwater colour-correction filter is included with the SportDiver, which restores natural underwater colours. The filter is easily attached or removed underwater and includes a safety tether to prevent loss.
The SportDiver housing features triple 1/4-20 tripod mounts which mount to any light or light tray with standard tripod threads, such as SeaLife’s own range of Sea Dragon underwater photo/video lights. SeaLife also offers the SportDiver and Sea Dragon underwater light combined, dubbed the SportDiver Pro 2500 Set (SRP: $649.95).
For the phone’s safety and protection, the SportDiver has a sturdy holding spring and rubber grip tabs that securely hold the iPhone® in place and add shock-protection. The SportDiver has Dual Leak Alarms, which include an internal moisture alarm and a vacuum pressure alarm which alert the diver with on-screen warnings, audio and LED signal in the unlikely event the waterproof seal is compromised and there’s a loss of housing pressure or moisture is detected. The door of the SportDiver is sealed with a TPE O-ring and a robust cam-lock sealing latch that easily and securely locks waterproof door. To prevent interior fogging from residual moisture, the SportDiver uses the anti-fogging agent Moisture Muncher capsule, which prevents fogging and internal condensation.
Deliveries of the SportDiver iPhone housing are planned to start in November 2020.
