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Important – Read this first • • • • • • How-to videos are available at: www.sealife-cameras.com/great-pictures-made-easy. Updates to this manual and troubleshooting are available at: www.sealife-cameras.com/manuals. Please register your SeaLife product online at: www.sealife-cameras.com/warranty. The manual content and specifications are subject to change without notice. The limited warranty applies only to the SeaLife SportDiver underwater housing (the “Product”).
Table of Contents I. II. III. IV. V. VI. VII. VIII. IX. X. XI. XII. XIII. XIV. XV. XVI. Page # Package contents………………………………………… Optional accessories……………………………………… Getting to know the housing……………..………………. Setting up the housing…………………….......…………. Prepare the housing for underwater use……………….. After using the housing underwater…………………….. Operating the housing…………………………………… About the Settings Menu………………………………… Great Pictures Made Easy………………………………. Replacing the O-rings..…………………………………..
I.
O-ring removal tool (SL9808) Instruction manual (English) (SL40024) AAA alkaline batteries (2) (SL40011) Deluxe padded wrist lanyard with BCD clip (SL72070) Moisture Muncher sampler pack (1 capsule) (SL2523) EVA carry case (SL40009) Note: Smaller accessories are packed in fabric bag, which is not shown in the above package contents.
II.
Visit your local authorized SeaLife dealer or www.sealife-cameras.com for a complete listing of accessories.
III.
10 – Main O-ring 11 – Rubber grip tabs (Medium size pre-installed) 12 – Holding spring with rubber grip pad 13 – Moisture Muncher capsule cavity 14 – Battery compartment (fits 2x AAA batteries) 15 – Leak alarm status LED 16 – Power / Bluetooth connection status LED 17 – Power On/Off switch 18 – Water sensor (Activates leak alarm when water touches sensor) 8
19 – Triple ¼-20 tripod mounts 20 – Lanyard connection point 21 – Cam-Lock (Opens/closes housing) 9
IV. Setting up the housing 1. Open the underwater housing. Push and hold release button (A) and rotate cam-lock (B) counter-clockwise. Important: Do not attempt to open the housing when there is internal vacuum pressure. To release the vacuum pressure, unscrew the vacuum check port cap and use your fingertip to move the yellow rubber oneway valve sideways. You will hear pressure releasing. Only release pressure when you and inside valve are dry.
2. Open the battery compartment by pulling down the locking tab (A) and lifting the battery cover (B). Insert two alkaline AAA batteries into the battery compartment. Make sure the batteries are inserted correctly according to the +/- polarity markings. Notes • NiMH rechargeable AAA batteries may also be used. The Housing battery strength indicator on the top right of the app display will only show 3 bars with fully charged NiMH batteries.
3. Insert Moisture Muncher™ desiccant capsule into cavity. Moisture Muncher absorbs the humidity inside the sealed housing and prevents fogging. A fresh new capsule is blue in color. Replace the capsule when granules turn pink in color. One sample capsule is included with the SportDiver. 10-packs of Moisture Muncher in resealable foil pouch may be purchased at your local SeaLife dealer.
4. Attach padded wrist lanyard to the underwater housing as shown below. Loop the end of the lanyard through the lanyard hole (A). The clip (B) is used for attaching the housing to your BCD D-ring. Do NOT attach the clip to the housing. You may also attach the lanyard around your wrist, using the sliding lock (C) to tighten the lanyard.
5. Download SeaLife “SportDiver” app from Apple App Store™ or Google Play™ store. Search for “SportDiver”. After installing the app, accept all the permissions, which includes access to Photos, Camera, Microphone and Bluetooth. SeaLife does not collect data, track location, or gather any personal information from the SportDiver app.
6. Ten medium-sized rubber grip tabs (A) have been pre-installed into the housing as shown below. The rubber grip tabs and bow-shaped spring hold the phone in position and prevents the phone from moving around when the housing is sealed. Important: Do not install grip tabs in areas where the phone’s side buttons are located. Exchange the medium-sized grip tabs with small or large-sized tabs depending on the size of your phone.
7. If your phone has a protective case, it is recommended to remove it. Insert the phone into housing to check the fit. Push the phone up against the bow-shaped spring until the bottom of the phone can be pushed down and held by the rubber grip tabs. Then, slide the phone left as far as possible. Over a soft surface, like a towel, check that the phone is securely held in position and that no grip tabs touch buttons on the side of the phone.
V. Prepare the housing for underwater use 1. Before underwater use, it is important to change the phone settings to: Airplane mode ON, Bluetooth ON, and Do Not Disturb ON. For iPhones only, turning “True Tone” OFF makes the display easier to see underwater. This ensures the SportDiver camera app operates with minimal battery power and without interruption while the phone is sealed inside the underwater housing.
2. Fully charge your phone before each use. Consider using a power bank (5V portable charger) to charge your phone between dives if a wall charger is not available. Fully charge your phone before each use to avoid Low Battery pop-up message Note When your phone reaches <20% battery power, a “Low Battery” warning will pop-up. This message is generated by the phone’s operating system- not from the SportDiver app. The phone’s operating system does not allow disabling the Low Battery message.
3. To optimize image quality, use a lint-free cotton or micro-fiber cloth to clean the phone lens(es) and underwater housing glass port.
4. Inspect the main O-ring (A) and vacuum check port O-ring (B) for cuts or other damage. Remove the vacuum check port cap (C) to expose the O-ring. Clean both O-rings and opposing contact surfaces using a slightly dampened lint-free cloth. Replace the O-rings if damaged or every year. The SportDiver Spare O-ring Set (Item SL40010) includes the main O-ring and vacuum check port O-ring. 5. Put a small dab of silicone O-ring on your fingertip.
6. Power On the underwater housing (A). The housing has two status LED’s to indicate Power/Bluetooth connectivity (B) and Leak Alarm status (C). The blue Power/Bluetooth LED and red Leak Alarm LED will both be blinking. If not, check that the batteries are installed correctly.
7. Power on your phone and open the SportDiver app. The app will display “Waiting for Connection”. The nearest phone with SportDiver app running will automatically connect to the housing. Please allow up to one minute for the phone to connect to the housing. Once connected, the blue Power/Bluetooth LED will stop blinking and turn solid blue, and the Bluetooth icon in the lower right of the display will turn from white to blue. Once the housing has connected, the app will display a pressure gauge.
8. Insert the phone into the housing, close the waterproof door and rotate the cam lock clockwise until it stops and locks in place. Make sure not to trap anything in the sealing area when closing the waterproof door. Note • Do not touch the gold water sensor located on the inside bottom right of the housing. That will cause the Leak Alarm to activate and display a “Leak Detected” message. If that happens, power the housing Off and repeat steps 6 through 8.
9. Unscrew Vacuum Check Port cap. You will see a yellow rubber one-way valve (A), which allows air to be removed from the inside of the housing using the vacuum hand pump.
10. Press the rubber tip of the hand pump against the open vacuum check port and pump until the on-screen gauge needle reaches “GOOD”. It takes about 2 to 3 full pumps. Screw-on the vacuum check port cap! Hand pump pressed against vacuum check port Pump until gauge needle reaches “GOOD” Note • If you pumped too much, use your fingertip to move the yellow rubber one-way valve sideways and release some air pressure. Then, pump again until pressure is “GOOD”.
11. When the vacuum pressure is good, the housing will start a 3.5-minute leak analysis to ensure the internal vacuum pressure is maintained and the housing is airtight. After the leak analysis is complete, a “Waterproof Seal is Good” message is displayed. Important • • • Do not expose the housing to direct sunlight during the leak analysis. That may cause heat to build-up inside the housing, increasing internal air pressure and resulting in a leak alarm failure.
12. If a “Leak Detected….> Internal pressure changed…” message appears during the leak analysis go back to step 6. Inspect the O-rings for damage - replace O-rings if damaged. Clean the O-rings and repeat steps 6 through 11. Note • You may disable the leak alarm in the app settings. Disabling the leak alarm will bypass the 3.5-minute leak analysis described in step 11. If you disable the leak alarm, it is still important to apply internal vacuum pressure, which helps the waterproof seal.
VI. After using the housing underwater Follow these important steps after each underwater use: 1. Soak the sealed housing in fresh water for about 20 minutes. Push each button 20 times to flush out any saltwater, sand or dirt trapped under the buttons. 2. Towel-dry the housing. Make sure that you and the waterproof housing are completely dry before opening the vacuum check port cap and waterproof door. 3. Release the internal vacuum pressure before opening the housing.
VII. Operating the housing The SportDiver has four primary modes – Photo, Video, Settings and Playback. Push the Mode button switch modes. A blue line appears under the selected mode icon.
1. Taking a picture - Set mode to Photo and push the shutter lever (A). 2. Recording video - Set mode to Video and push the shutter lever (A) to start video recording. Push shutter lever again to stop recording. A red elapse timer will appear on top of the display when video is being recorded.
3. Changing settings – Set mode to Settings Menu. Use the Up through the main settings menu and push the Up and down and down buttons to scroll to enter a setting sub-menu. In the setting sub-menu, use buttons to scroll through setting options and push to confirm the setting. Example of main setting with “EV” setting sub-menu. Note For information about each setting in the Settings Menu, please refer to chapter VIII, page 33.
4. Playback pictures and videos - Set mode to Playback. The last picture or video taken is displayed. A thumbnail strip on the right side highlights the single-view image displayed. Use the Up and down buttons to scroll through the images. Video clips will have a video camera icon on the thumbnail. Videos will start playing automatically when selected. You may delete any one file by pushing the OK button, selecting Yes and pushing OK to confirm.
5. Zooming – In Photo or Video modes, pushing the Up button increases the zoom. Pushing the down button decreases zoom. Example of 1X zoom (no zoom) Example of 4X zoom Note • You may zoom from 1X (no zoom) to 10X zoom in 1.0x to 0.5x step increments. • Zooming is disabled when Dual Lens, RAW+JPEG or Portrait Mode settings are enabled. • When Focus is set to “Manual”, push the OK button to switch between zoom and Manual Focus (MF).
VIII. About the Settings Menu The SportDiver app Settings Menu includes most of the commonly used camera settings available on your phone, giving you creative control. The following settings may or may not be available, depending on the phone make/model and the operating system being used. The Settings Menu will change as app updates are released, and as new phone models and features become available. Please visit the app store or sealife-cameras.com for the latest updates.
iPhone Settings (Android phone users may skip this section) EV (Exposure Value) This setting adjusts the camera’s auto exposure program. Increasing the value (+) results in a brighter image exposure. Decreasing the value (-) results in a darker image exposure. The EV setting can be adjusted from +3.0 to -3.0 in 0.3 step increments. Each step is equivalent to approximately 1 exposure stop. Focus There are two options – Auto focus or Manual focus.
The default WB setting is Auto, which works well in most ambient lighting environments and when using a photo-video light and/or the included color-correction filter. You may manually adjust the WB color temp from 3000K (kelvin) to 8000K to achieve a desired color effect. When a manual WB value is selected, the color effect can be fine-tuned using the Tint adjustments described below.
The focus range for each lens varies depending on your iPhone model. The normal and wide lenses typically allow close-up shooting distance of about 2” (5cm), while the telephoto lens has a minimum shooting distance of about 10” (25cm). If your iPhone has 2 or more lenses, you will see a dual lens option. Select dual lens setting and turn ON Portrait (Bokeh) mode for creating background blur effect.
Video Resolution Use this setting to select the desired video quality and frame rate. 1080p-30fps is high quality and suitable for most applications. 4K is the highest quality video but availability depends on the iPhone specification. Shooting in 4K or higher frame rate will create very large video files that can quickly fill-up your phone’s memory. Using 60 frames per second (fps) is recommended for faster moving subjects. Using 120 or 240 fps will playback in slow motion at 30 fps.
Power Save Power save dims the screen after a certain amount of inactivity to save battery power. Push any button to exit the power save. You may select Off, 1, 3 or 5 minutes. The default Power Save time is 3 minutes. Display Brightness This setting adjusts the screen brightness. It ranges from 1.0 (brightest) to 0.0 (darkest) in 0.1 step increments. 0.8 is the default display brightness.
Android Phone Settings (iPhone users please refer to previous section) Lens If your phone has multiple camera lenses, you may select the lens of choice depending on what you are shooting. For most shots, the wide lens produces excellent results. The Ultrawide lens is ideal for shooting larger subjects while keeping a close shooting distance. The Telephoto lens is best for subjects that don’t allow you to get close-up.
• Some lenses block-out other settings. For example, ultrawide lens does not allow Manual focusing with Android phones. Shutter Speed Select Auto for automatic shutter speed exposure or one of the manual shutter speed values to create a desired exposure effect. When manual shutter speed is used, the ISO setting must also be manually adjusted. ISO Select Auto for automatic ISO exposure or one of the manual ISO values to create a desired exposure effect.
focus) in 0.05 increments. This setting is useful when photographing smaller subjects in the foreground, but the camera attempts to focus on the larger background area. WB (White Balance) The white balance setting is used to compensate for the color temperature of the lighting environment you are shooting in, so natural colors are restored. For example, underwater photos and videos of a white object will appear blue because water absorbs red and yellow colors.
kelvin (K) value equal to your lighting environment. For example, if the actual color temp of your environment is 6500K, set the manual WB to 6500K to offset the cooler, bluer lighting environment. Underwater Deep and Underwater Shallow – These presets are designed to work with the included red color-correction filter. If the Auto WB setting [with red filter] does not achieve the desired colors, try using underwater deep for depths greater than 3m/10ft or underwater shallow for shallower depths.
Video Resolution Select from HD720, HD1080 or UHD 4K video resolution, with UHD 4K being the highest, best quality video. 4K is only available if your phone make/model supports it. Some phone models will also include frame rate selection, like 30 frames per second (fps), 60 fps or higher. 1080p-30fps is high quality and suitable for most applications. Shooting at 4K or higher frame rate will create very large video files that can quickly fill-up your phone’s memory.
This setting adjusts the screen brightness. It ranges from 1.0 (brightest) to 0.0 (darkest) in 0.1 step increments. 0.8 is the default display brightness. Using a higher screen brightness makes it easier to see the display in bright sunny conditions but also uses more battery power. Leak Alarm The leak alarm can be turned Off if you want to bypass the 3.5-minute leak analysis described on section 5. The default setting is On. The SportDiver underwater housing features two leak alarms.
Clear water visibility Clear water is essential for good results. Tiny particles floating in the water cause low visibility and poor image quality. Avoid stirring up the sea floor with your fins. Limit your shooting distance to 1/10 of the water visibility. For example, if the visibility is 40ft (12m), you should keep your shooting distance to within 4 feet (1.2m). Keep close shooting distance The ideal shooting distance is within 6ft (1.8m), and the closer the better.
Avoiding blue photos and video Water reduces light and filters out red/yellow colors resulting in darker, bluer ambient lighting. There are two ways to restore the lost colors: 1) Use one or two SeaLife Sea Dragon underwater photo-video lights (optional accessory) to enhance colors and photo/video quality. This will result in best colors, brightness, and sharpness. 2) Use the included color-correction filter. The filter is most effective in blue water conditions at depth less than 50ft (15m).
X. Replacing the O-rings The SportDiver underwater housing has two accessible O-rings that maintain a waterproof seal the main O-ring (A) and vacuum check port O-ring (B). Replace the O-rings if damaged or every year. One spare O-ring set is included. See your authorized SeaLife dealer to purchase additional Oring Sets (Item SL40010) Remove the O-rings - Use the O-ring removal tool to lift and remove the O-ring from its groove.
Lube the O-rings - Before installing the O-rings, clean the O-rings with a slightly damped, lint-free cloth. Apply a thin film of silicone lube to each Oring. Use your fingertips to evenly spread the lube. Do not stretch the O-rings. Install O-rings – Clean the O-ring grooves with a slightly damped, lint-free cloth. Carefully install the O-rings making sure not to twist the O-rings.
XI. Care and maintenance Every SeaLife SportDiver underwater housing is inspected for quality, including a 130ft (40m) pressure chamber test to ensure a waterproof seal. It is your responsibility to properly care for housing and maintain the O-ring sealing area. Carefully follow these important O-ring care instructions. Not following these care instructions may cause the waterproof housing to leak and void your warranty.
• Avoid opening housing in wet, sandy, or humid environments. It is recommended to open and load the housing in dry cool air, such as inside an air-conditioned room. This will prevent water or humidity from being trapped inside the housing, which may cause fogging during underwater use. • The underwater housing is depth tested to 130ft (40m). Exceeding this depth may cause the housing to flood and may result in damaging the underwater housing and phone.
• Replace O-ring every year to ensure proper seal. Only use the official SeaLife O-rings designed for the SportDiver underwater housing (Item # SL40010)). Replacement O-rings are available at your local authorized SeaLife dealer, or online at www.sealifepartsdirect.com (USA Only). • Do not expose the housing to direct sunlight for prolonged periods of time. Keep housing in a shaded area or under a towel to prevent it from overheating.
XII. Specifications For comprehensive product specifications, visit www.sealife-cameras.com Model SeaLife SportDiver Underwater Smartphone Housing Item # SL400 / SL400-U (Same housing, but different packaging and manual) Certifications CE, FCC, Bluetooth SIG Listing, ROHS Depth rating 130ft (40m) Buoyancy (in seawater) Positive + 2.8 oz. (80g) UW housing only with batteries, red filter and Moisture Muncher; without phone.
Housing material Radio frequency Battery Battery life Weight Dimensions Warranty Polycarbonate body, TPE rubber, T6061 hard annodized lens frame and 304 - 316 series marine grade stainless steel metal hardware. Bluetooth® Low Energy (LE) Frequency Band: 2402-2480MHz; RF Power: -1.95dBm 2x AAA Alkaline (or NiMH rechargeable battery) Approx. 50 hours 24.0 oz. (680g) UW housing only – with batteries, filter, Moisture Muncher External: 8.4” x 4.9” x 2.2” (213.1 mm x 125.7 mm x 54.8 mm) Internal: 6.3" x 3.
XIII. Troubleshooting Please visit the SeaLife website at www.sealife-cameras.com. Go to the “Technical Updates” section and select “SportDiver”. There you will find the latest troubleshooting tips and advice. If repair service is still needed, please contact your local authorized SeaLife dealer for service. XIV.
‑Connect the equipment into an outlet on a circuit different from that to which the receiver is connected. ‑Consult the dealer or an experienced radio/TV technician for help. IC Statement (RSS-Gen section 7.1.3) Canada, Industry Canada (IC) Notices This device complies with Canada license-exempt RSS standard(s).
XVI. Limited Warranty Manufacturer warrants to the original purchaser (the “Purchaser”) of this product (the “Product”), provided the Product was at the time of purchase, new and unused and in its original packaging for a period of one (1) year from the date of purchase (the “Warranty Period”), that the Product is free from defects in workmanship and materials when used in accordance with Manufacturer’s published specifications.
Excluded from this warranty are any damages caused by the failure to use the Product in accordance with Manufacturer’s published specifications, cosmetic damages, damages caused by abuse, misuse, wear, tear, water damage caused by damaged O-ring or O-ring contact surfaces or debris trapped between the product housing and the O-ring, damages caused by exposure to sunscreens or other chemicals, repair or attempted repair by unauthorized persons, improper storage, non-performance of scheduled maintenance, and
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