AquaPac Waterproof Products General FAQ

Here are some frequently asked questions about our AquaPac line of waterproof cases for electronics, cameras, phone, and radios.

Also be sure to take the CoTradeCo river boat tour through the store and check out the AquaPac line of waterproof products

Any other tips for Underwater Photography?

• Use fast film (ISO 200 or faster).
• You need strong sunshine and clear water.
• Quality deteriorates as you go deeper and there is less light.
• The water needs to be as still as possible, because the sunshine itself reflects off particles in the water. The more disturbed the water the more distortion. Both you and your subject need to stay as still as possible. And the closer to each other you are the better.

Most camera auto-focus systems seem to work fine underwater but not all, so we cannot guarantee the results.

Are there any instructions for looking after the case?

Before using an Aquapac for the first time you need to make sure that it got to you in perfect condition. We ask you to do ‘The Bubble Test’: Seal something worthless inside and submerge in a basin. A few air bubbles may escape from the Aquaclip, this is ok, water can get into parts of the clamp without getting into the case. But if a stream of bubbles escaped when you squeezed it there could be a problem, and you should contact us to obtain a replacement.

The Bubble Test is also a good time to check that the case floats.

Before each use you must examine the Aquapac to make sure it’s not visibly damaged – to be safe you should always do The Bubble Test.

Before opening, you must shake any water from the Aquaclip. Otherwise it could get into the case when you open it.

Avoid scratching any of the flexible case materials. Especially the lens window on the camera cases. If stowing – for example in a boat or jetski compartment – do so carefully so it won’t be damaged in rough seas.

Wash in soapy water and then rinse with fresh water, especially after regular contact with chlorinated or salt water, or with sun creams. Do not use bleach, alcohol or proprietary cleaners.

The lens window on the camera cases may also be cleaned with photographic quality tissues.

Make sure that the Flexible Clips (which attach the case to the Aquaclip clamp) are properly attached to the case and to the clamp at all times. Should they come apart, put them back together carefully. If in doubt, return the case to us to reassemble.

A customer care guide is supplied with every case.

Can I use my Aquapac in the hot tub?

Around 40ºC (100ºF) the hard plastic of the Aquaclip starts to soften. The case could therefore leak if submerged in a very hot bath. As long as the case is not held underwater, use in the bath or hot tub is fine.

(Please note that an Aquaclip left in the hot sun will instantly revert to its normal state if dropped in water.)

Can I use my Flash?

Flash can reflect off the inside of the lens window. Again, making sure the window is tight against the flash may help. However, flash rarely works underwater. Not because of the Aquapac, but because the flash tends to reflect off particles in the water itself.

How do Aquapacs work?

Attached to most Aquapacs is a clamp called the Aquaclip®. It has a V-groove in one half and a raised V on the other. When the levers on the male half are turned they run up a ramp on the female half squeezing the two together. The pressure is not sufficient to cut the soft plastic case material, but just enough to make a totally hermetic seal.

The two halves of the clamp are attached to the case by a pair of flexible clips, so even when the Aquaclip is open the whole case stays in one piece.

Like most successful inventions it is simple and may seem rather obvious after the event. But in fact it is the result both of some inspired thinking and of 18 months of design, research and development. The system is Patented in the US 5797683, Europe 0763337, Australia 717691, China 96109311.0 and Pending in other territories.

The ‘TC’ clip which is used on the Hands-Free Phone case and the Portable Audio case is covered by the same Patents, but works in a slightly different way. Instead of a V-groove which would cut through a wire, the seal is created by a strip of silicone rubber foam on each half of the clamp. The clamping pressure required to make this work is immense – closing it with the normal cam lever system would take almost superhuman strength. So we use a two-movement, twin-cam system.">

How tough are the Materials?

1. The Aquaclip seal:

Made of injection-moulded plastics and very tough indeed. Before we introduced our first Aquaclip, we sent it for independent tests by the School of Engineering at Bath University. It was found to be still waterproof after being opened and closed 10,000 times.

2. The soft case:

The flexible cases are made from a variety of special polymers, and bonded with a technique called high-frequency welding. HF radio waves cause the different layers of material to form a chemical bond, so the joins are as strong as any other part of the material. All our materials are UV-stabilised, so they will not break down or become discoloured through exposure to sunlight.

Is Picture Quality affected?

Our camera cases incorporate a lens window made of a special optically clear plastic. It is pressed flat rather than extruded, as a result of which light passes straight through with little diffraction.

It’s a bit like taking a photograph through your window at home. First of all the window needs to be as clean as possible. Even with a clean window you may notice some reflection, but the closer you hold the camera lens to the window the less reflection you notice. Similarly our cases give the best results when the window is tight against the camera lens.

Is Sound Quality affected?

You should be able to use your phone or radio handset normally inside an Aquapac. There is very little loss of volume, since sound waves travel straight through the plastic.

We are however aware of a feedback problem with new Nokia 6210 phones. Early models were ok but new software introduced in the Spring of 2001 has made them prone to feedback because of the partial reflection of the sound back off the inside of the case. Nokia is aware of this problem. We have not experienced this with any other models.

What Guarantees and Warranties do I get?

Aquapac International Limited offers a Manufacturer’s 2-year warranty that the cases, if used in accordance with the instructions, will be free from defects in workmanship and materials for two years from the date of purchase.

We are not liable if testing and examination disclose that an alleged defect or malfunction does not exist or was caused by misuse, accident or neglect, or failure to follow the instructions. Neither we nor our resellers can be held responsible for loss or damage to items stored in the case, caused by misuse, accident or neglect, or of failure to follow the instructions.

The cost of returning defective products to us will be reimbursed, as will the cost of any replacement.

This warranty applies to products bought from an authorised reseller anywhere in the world. It is in addition to the statutory rights applying in your country and does not detract from those in any way."

What Quality Control can I expect from Aquapac?

We are certified to the BS EN ISO 9002: 1994 standard. This means that we have a quality management system embodied in a manual which lays down agreed procedures for everything we do, from manufacturing routines to how we deal with a customer return. We are subject to regular inspections by National Quality Assurance inspectors. We are a member of the British Marine Federation, British Promotional Merchandise Association and the Outdoor Industries Association.

What sort of people use Aquapacs?

Individuals out hunting, fishing, windsurfing, camping, skiing, etc. And professional users: lifeguards, mountain rescue teams, fire brigades and coastguards, all over the world.

We also make cases for multinationals including Kodak, Kenwood, Motorola, Sharp and Yamaha.

Officials at the Nagano Winter Olympics used Aquapac VHF radio cases to keep communications open on the slopes.

The radio cases are NATO-approved and used by the military forces of several nations, including the US Navy Seals and Britain’s Special Air Service (SAS).

What’s so special about the Special Edition cases?

All Aquapacs are ok down to -25ºC (-15ºF), but the vinyl materials may harden in freezing temperatures. One of the benefits of the Special Edition cases is that they are made of a special thermoplastic polymer that is still completely flexible at -40ºC/F.

Some of the Special Edition cases are supplied with a choice of carrying systems.

What’s the AquaPac Mission Statement?

We do very little advertising. The chances are that you first heard about Aquapac from a word-of-mouth recommendation. Our reputation is our future. This, therefore is our mission statement:

“To make products which we would ourselves want to own.
To treat customers the way we would ourselves want to be treated.”

Where are Aquapacs made?

Aquapacs are made in the United Kingdom by Aquapac International Limited. We have been making 100% waterproof protective cases since 1983. We set up our first website in 1998 and started selling over the site in 2000.

Why would I need Silica Gel?

In humid climates there will be moisture in the air sealed inside the case. In the case of cameras, this moisture tends to condense inside the lens. A sachet of silica gel will absorb any such moisture, keeping the contents completely dry.

Silica gel sachets can normally be re-used if dried out gently in a microwave or conventional oven. Some of the cases come supplied with silica gel sachet. They are available as accessories. See the Product pages for more details.

Will the Aquapac really Float with my stuff inside?

Yes. The Aquaclip creates a hermetic seal – once closed the case is airtight. Most electronic equipment is full of air. So it’s not so much the air round the outside of your phone or camera or whatever, but the air actually inside it that makes it float.

If you put lead bars or gold ingots inside a Seti case and carefully squeeze out all the air before sealing, the Aquapac may not float. Sorry.

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