There are a lot of variables one has to deal with when filming in a water environment. Trying to keep a steady shot, fighting currents, being aware of your surroundings, trying to keep the shot in frame, water drops on the lens, and finally fog.  Some of these variables are mostly out of our control but others we can most definitely master.

Recently, I went on vacation to Cancun, Mexico and like most tropical places it was nice and cold in our hotel room and hot and humid outside. Hot and humid doesn’t really matter if you spend your day by a pool or in the ocean. However, if you plan on filming, this change from cool to hot and humid can be devastating to a clean shot. Of course, I am giving an extreme example but any difference in temperature from the air inside your sealed housing to the air outside your housing can cause this pestering problem of fog to occur.

Thankfully, there is a very easy solution.

We can all rejoice that we have access to the cure: desiccant packs and tampons.

I never go out in the water without the afore mentioned items. You may ask why tampons? The simple answer is security. I think the seal on an Epic Camera Housing is as good as any other housing and in some ways better, but it still comes down to me, the user, to seal it properly. If for some reason I did not seal my housing correctly, the tampon will soak up the water before my camera does. If the tampon becomes soaked, the desiccant packs will no longer work and fog will begin to form which is my warning sign to get out of the water and check my equipment.

Trust me, it has saved me before. As for the desiccant packs, these are the main secret to mastering the fog. They work great, they’re cheap, and they are reusable. I usually put one or two under the tray and two in the hand strap on the video camera. The hand strap keeps them in place rather than flopping around inside the housing. If they are not secured, they could easily ruin your footage by giving you a clear picture of a desiccant pack rather than the shot you were trying to achieve.

If you want your desiccant packs to be faithful in absorbing the unwanted moisture, you will need to recharge them or shall we say dehydrate them. I use a food dehydrator; it is quick and affective. Four to Six hours in a dehydrator works magic but time varies depending on the size of the desiccant pack. You can also use a conventional oven on low heat, but it takes longer. If I am traveling, I usually dehydrate enough for the duration of my trip, put them in separate zip lock bags, and then I’m ready to go. I hope this article will help you in your filming.