The Most Loved or Loathed?

Ewa-Marine Underwater Housings

Having been into serious amateur photography for many years, there are a few heated debates that will never be resolved. What you must remember is that "most" of the opinions that are derisive or are extremely spiteful, is that after reading their remarks and even when challenged in forums - you just have to know that these guys are usually hard-headed, think that their recommendation is the proper solution for everyone and they LOVE hearing themselves talk. They can never muster a reply more than "I had one and lost my $2500 camera in it" or some other one sentence fragment which shows any thoughtful person, that they have never even owned one or they wouldn't make such a remark.

On the other side of this line are the cheerful folks, who despite the fact that a few arrogant, social climbing posts, really don't amount to anything more than one person's opinion. And, I guess everyone knows that opinions are like ***holes, everybody has one. The neutral or positive reviewers will usually cite cameras used, model numbers of camera and accessory, and get a bit in-depth about their experiences with the product. You can tell at a glance, that they indeed trusted, the nearly 40 years of experience that the manufacturer has, (the inventors of the flexible housing), and don't ignore that they have been producing them for a global market and are happy to the tune of $1000 to $5000 in savings, which they folded up and inserted back in their pocket when they finally took the plunge.

So what am I writing about? The ewa-marine waterproof camera housing of course! They were invented in 1970 - have withstood the test of time and have stood head and shoulders above/against all knock-offs and other self proclaimed heirs to the throne. Sorry Aquapac, Drypak, Dicapac - you guys have a long way to go (other than spending fortunes in marketing ploys) to keep up with an Ewa-Marine product! Whether it's an all purpose case, cell phone case, hurricane hood or a video or digital camera, Ewa makes a housing for you. No cheap, stenciled, paint jobs or trendy marketing jargon can derail the Ewa-Marine juggernaut. It is, bar none, the best of all flexible underwater camera cases (housings).

Ewa housings have been custom fitted to match the cameras in their corporate fitting guides and sport neutral, hardened, optical grade glass in their front lens ports. Try Plexiglas from Aquapac which will scuff, nick and become cloudy in a short time. Not as short as their sometimes-still-uncured paint jobs they are so proud of applying to their products - these come back returned for a replacement or refund.

Ewa-Marine housings and waterproof cases went to the Gulf War and our latest conflict in the Middle East. Carried by Special Ops groups for their light weight, durability (with proper care) and picture quality. They delivered time and time again, protecting expensive gear from water, sand and all sorts of grit while remaining lightweight and highly portable. Meanwhile as they are cleaned, dried and stored away, the precious photographs have already been whisked away by secure channels to Operations Groups "in country", in the States and probably to areas of the Pentagon. They are used by Navy Seals, Green Berets and other elite fighting groups - they've got to be good!

So all of you guys with the bumper sticker "Whoever dies with the most toys wins", just keep spending several thousand for a comparable housing that is large, heavy by comparison, awkward when out of water, and is a royal pain in the butt to set up and use. And, just keep spouting off about your imaginations of an ewa-marine calamity. I'll spend $200 on an Ewa-Marine housing and never look back!

Maverick's Reef - California Dreaming!

One of the World's Largest Breaks

A South African won surfing's annual challenge at Maverick's Reef off California Tuesday. It's considered one of the sport's biggest events.

As CBS News Correspondent John Blackstone reports, only the boldest of surfers are invited to join. Towering waves, (topping the 40 foot level) frigid water and the occasional shark keep excitement high for competitors.

"Imagine," says event organizer Doug Epstein, "flying down a moving mountain going about 35 miles an hour and then having a 4-story building crash on top of you."

Awesome Rides!

Surf Pictures Galore

There has always been an allure that surfing has held for me. Somewhat surreal, I'd even venture to say. The site of the powerful sets rolling in, beautiful, powerful but always inviting. I have surfed in the Atlantic and the Pacific both, but there's always the Asian Islands and various African breaks to turn a man's head and get him thinking "if only....".

The surfing is consistently best IMO in HI, a Mecca for boarders of all sorts. Every Island holds surfing hotspots and popular breaks that will soothe, challenge or even pulverize a surfer depending on the waves and the level of experience of the rider.

I found a collection of nice surfing pictures (next best thing to being there) over at webshots that you can click on and enlarge to view some awesome shots of surfers catching some really nice waves. Talk to ya soon!

Cell Phones On The Water

Death of a Cell Phone

I couldn't fall asleep last night and found myself staring at MTV watching the Viva La Bam show. This show depicts young men who love skating, partying and dragging "Bam's" Mom, Pop and Uncle throughout the country seeking out thrills and wreaking mayhem wherever they end up at. It was mildly interesting for me to watch how moronic these kids were and obviously how rich they were becoming by laying it all down on video (maybe even MTV's photo crew). I mean c'mon, they got a Police escort through hours of traffic (on the shoulder of the road) and directly to their hotel overlooking the main festivities of Mardi Gras!

The part that really caught my attention was a clip of "Bam" and his crew rowing down a river in hope to reach some far away destination. Craziness ensues constantly and in one argument between members of his entourage one of them gets mad and threw his cell phone and hit a buddy with it in another boat. Of course it bounced off and into the water as they scrambled to grab, snag and otherwise pull it out as it sunk immediately out of sight. As if it would have ever worked again!

They have the money to toss a cell phone into the drink, or it may have been a prop for all I could tell but it made me recall that they should have had it in a waterproof cell phone case. Not only would it have protected the cell phone from damage, it would have bobbed up to the surface where they could have easily plucked it out of the water. I recommended one to a pal who took it white water rafting and dropped it overboard. He told me he cursed and counted it as another casualty of river rafting. They fought through the white water and some miles down the river were looking at the river bank in search of a good spot to set up camp, when he noticed the little cell phone case snagged in the fragile limbs of a branch that was hanging over and into the edge of the water. He was thrilled and quickly paddled over and picked up his cell phone, and turned it on, only to find that it was completely charged and ready to make or take a phone call. In fact he was so excited about it that he wrote to me as soon as he got home to let me know the story and how cool it was etc....

If you're going to be on and maybe "in" the water - protect those precious phone numbers and of course your phone - which might be a life saving piece of gear in a pinch, by putting it into a 100 % sealed waterproof/dustproof cell phone case. They are awfully cheap insurance against drowning your phone!