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axctually not much work at all. hardest part is openuing the Belikin as you do it.

kinda goes in my line of work......

Check out this site. Lots of sample pics for each cam. I'm leaning towards the Canon Powershot S70.
http://www.steves-digicams.com/hardware_reviews.html

mobunny - digital camera rental price not quite decided (the cameras are only just in) but probably around US$40/day, to include results put onto a CD. Has to be quite expensive due to the risk of flooding.

Thanks Pedro2 - the rental price is certainly understandable. Since I posted that question we have progressed to possibly purchasing our own digital camera and underwater housing. I am curious about what type of Cannon Powershot did you purchase for your rental units. Irm and I are thinking of going with the Canon Powershot S70 - 7.1 megapixel. (Seems like a great land camera and good enough for the underwater shots we would want.) Either way we'll be diving with you guys at Protech for two weeks this August. Can't wait! mobunny

Hi Mobunny. I have one Canon Powershot Ixus S500 (5mp) in their WP-DC800 housing. Good to 130 feet. Had much better reviews than the larger S45/50 series, and out of the housing is a really compact camera that never leaves my pocket. If the S70 is the same series as the S50 I'd look into it carefully before you part with your cash.

The other cameras I have are two 5mp Casio Exilim ZX55's, in their own housing (forget the designation, but also good to 130 feet). The same frontal area as the S500 but about half the thickness. I haven't looked up any reviews of them, but a guest had one here a couple of months ago and was getting really good results from it. It has both an exceptionally long battery life AND an enormous on-board display screen that virtually covers the entire back of the camera - making it ideal for use underwater. I'm expecting it to be very popular.

The results one gets with 4mp cameras are often indistinguishable from those with 5mp. And under some adverse conditions 5mp is inferior to 4mp. This is certainly true in poor light conditions, such as you may well experience underwater. Look up some of the technical reviews and you'll see what I mean. I have no idea what results you'll get from 7mp, though I do know you'll need a large memory card - 1 or 2 gig.

What5ever camera you decide on it's unlikely to come with a soft case (for use above water!), but this is essential here with the salty, sandy atmosphere. I recommend you get a snug-fitting leather case with a zip closure (rather than a flap secured with velcro). That way you'll stand the best chance of keeping your expensive investment in good order. Just because the manufacturers cut corners in not including this case don't assume you don't need it - it's vital.

Still, whatever you decide on I'll be interested to see how it performs. I look forward to your visit in August!

Looks like more research is in the future. Thanks for the useful info Pedro 2! mobunny

pedro2: You were talking about the Casio - does it come with, or is it available with, an underwater housing? Over the weekend we went to Circuit City to check out cameras. The Sony, Casio, and Olympus were the only one with the 2.5" digital viewer. Nice! But only nice if an underwater housing is available. Whadda ya think?

Casio's website shows an underwater housoing available for the EX55
http://exilim.casio.com/index.cfm?f..._id=06274745-0f6c-4151-821a-697f8e84e764

Yes, and that's the housing I have. Looks to be made by the same people that make the housings for Canon, as it really is very similar in construction and appearance. I paid US$160 for the Canon one and US$180 for the Casio one.

A further point of advice I've just thought of. In our climate condensation inside the housing can be a problem, and the best way to stop it (other than following basic handling rules and avoiding extremes of temperature) is to put a suitable dessicant bag into the housing with the camera. I say "suitable" as it needs to fit inside without in any way disrupting the operation of the camera - the thin tube ones are usually best. Many people throw away the ones that come in the original packaging, but if they're the right shape for operational use there's no need to do this - heat them in a microwave and they'll dry out ready for the next use. Do have a close fitting sealable bag to hand to keep them in after they've been "refreshed" before their next use. This process can be repeated many times.

I have the same camera/housing set-up as Pedro. Takes very good pix close up, but you'll get backscatter without an adjustable strobe from distances greater than about 3 feet. Just keep close because getting involved with stobes is a whole 'nother kettle of fish...

Another couple hints to keep the camera fog-free. Try loading the camera in an air conditioned room where the humidity is lower. Also, don't leave the camera constantly on while diving. The camera will produce heat which will only make the condensation worse. Cycle the camera on & off when you're ready to shoot. I use the silica packets too.

Best thing about the Canon s410/500 is that they're great topside cameras too. SO easy to use, compact, and they take digital video too. It's a home run.