I just got my IMarine Pack for my Sony.  After reading the isntructions I have a few questions for those of you who have been doing this a while.

It says before using to remove the O ring and to coat it with a little grease then put it back on.

- my question is if I am going to be on vacation for a week using the camera almost every other day, is this something that I do each time I am going to use it.

Then it says to store the unit - coat the O ring wtih grease and put a spacer in the unit so it doesn’t close.  Again is that only when I am storing it for months at a time, or in between the uses while on vacation.

Example: 
1.  Day 1 going diving - coat it in grease
When I get home sumberse the unit in fresh water to clean it, then dry it, then remove the O ring to grease it and put the spacer in.
2. Day 2 don’t use it
3. Day 3 going snorkeling - recoat it in grease before I go and repeat the steps when I get home.

I wasn’t sure if it really only needs to be coated once before using it for the week.

Any suggestions or things you have learned from using the case would be appreciated.  It also made me realize I shyould get another camera BAG just for this case when it is not in use.

My rule of thumb on coating is everytime you open the
housing you should use the grease an coat the o-ring.
According to the storing to the housing I think it is meant
to be for storing the housing for a longer period. I think
Sony plays it save here, as it might be a problem if the
o-ring is squeezed over a long period of time as it would
happen, when you store the housing closed for a couple
of month, but on the vacation I would recommend to close
it all the time, to prevent dust in the housing.

/lars

The grease is a lubricant to prevent the oring from being clipped or pinched and is not a sealant.  It should be fine layer of grease only and not globbed on or it will “hydraulic” and compress the oring unnaturally.  The oring will probably be needing to be recoated every other day or two depending if it comes in contact with seawater or gets wiped off by a towel. 

Once you let the MarinePack sit in its freshwater bath for a good hour or two after diving you can gently wipe dry the case with a non-scratching ###### towel but you dont need to wipe the oring, let it dry naturally.  Once the oring is dry though and before you reseal the case for the next dive you do need to make sure that no salt has crystallized on the oring or the oring mounting area from the drying seawater.  If it has some salt crystals then you need to remove the crystals prior to resealing the case.  Again, the layer of grease needs to be clean, consistent and thinly layering the oring when done.

The reason to store the case in the open position is to allow the oring to “rest” in a non-compressed state.  The oring eventually will become smaller in diameter through compression of the housing and will be a less effective seal over time.  The idea is to as often as possible to let the oring exist without being squeezed even over night.  However, as the oring is new a day or two of compression wont do much damage at all.  The oring is a consumable part of the housing and has a definite life span, whatever you can do to lengthen that span just works on your behalf.

Thanks to you both.

You do take the o ring off to grease it right?

Yes you need to take it off, not only to grease the o-ring, but to clean the
nut from water and salt also.

/lars

Thanks Lars.

I didn’t see anything in my instructions for the “nut”.

After usage, I would leave the 0 ring on keep it closed and rinse in sink water or something for na hour or so.  Then dry the inside off....not wiping the oring....

then before using it, take the o ring off and grease it right before using it again....

Do I got it

Let the housing sit in a sink full of fresh water along with your watch, snorkel, mask etc for an hour or so.  You can also push all the buttons on the housing while its in fresh water to help “pump” out the saltwater that might be in there.  After an hour or so, take out the housing and gently towel it off to dry it.  Once done, open it up, grab the camera and enjoy your pics!  The oring grease requirment will be determined if there is still a film of grease left on the oring or not after the days use.  As for the inside, it should never get wet because it wont every be exposed to water.