Southern Nikonos provides 4 types of courses, each tailored to your organization's specific needs. Nikonos Equipment is shown in individual pieces as well as cut-a-ways following a slide presentation of how the damage occurred. Each person MUST bring all of their equipment to the course (except course #1). All courses are conducted ONLY at your locale. Tuition costs and travel arrangements are based upon the course and location. Handout information is provided to each person (except course #1).

1. Dive/Photo Club - Basic Short Course

Designed as a 1 to 2 ½ hour lecture presented to a large group, the subject matter must be closely tailored to cover only specific areas of interest of the group. Sorry, but the hands-on training must be eliminated because of time.

2. Dive/Photo Club - Advanced Hands-On Course

A day long seminar (8-12 hours) for 12 to 16 people. The course is tailored for your equipment that MUSt be brought with you. After the slide presentation, YOU WILL LEARN YOUR EQUIPMENT step-by-step hands-on: what it was designed to do, how to use it, how to diagnose problems, prevent problems, and will be shown a variety of VERY BASIC "field" repairs/corrective actions. It is recommended that the class be comprised of only one camera style (either mechanical I, II, III or electronic IV-A, V).

3. Camera Rental Facility - Basic Course

One person, each from up to 4 different bona fide Nikonos camera rental facilities with at least 5 cameras in rental in 6 to 8 hours, this course will provide information on preventative maintenance, diagnostic techniques, how to spot a flooded camera in 3 to 5 minutes even after the customer has cleaned the camera, and some servicing, repair and cleanup procedures. Requirements: your tools and your worst camera/lens/strobe combination.

4. Camera Rental Facility - Advanced Course

One on one instruction only at your facility which must be out of the country, no access to next day mail shipments to Houston, and has 10 or more cameras in rental! This is a 5 to 6 days course, typically 4 hours a day (worked in around your scheduled duties), to teach you how to service your equipment so that, at the completion of the course, you (we) will have SERVICED every piece of Nikonos equipment in your inventory. Replacement parts and especially tools are not part of the course. Sorry, only two courses presented yearly!

Tips On Underwater Camera Use (Free Course)

(1) Take the O-Ring Away From The Equipment.

When opening any o-ring sealed area, always point it to the ground, regardless of how weird it looks or feels. Let gravity (and good sense) work for you! Reason: water stays in all o-ring grooves for 7-10 days after use, even though the outside is "BONE DRY". When you open the sealed areas (to change film, lenses, flashes, batteries, your mind, your spouse, etc.) the water (droplets) will fall with gravity. If you open the sealed areas like a land camera, water will fall inside and cause its one-drop magic - damage!

(2) Does Salt Dry On Your Face in 5-10 Minutes?

Yes, and also on your photographic equipment at all the o-ring seals. Water and vinegar, 24 hour soaking, prayers, garden hoses and a "good drunk" won't clean the equipment of deposits after salt water "crystallizes". Reason: the "SALTS" in salt water crystallize just like concrete crystallizes when it dries. While concrete is wet, it can be formed into a 50 story building. When dry, no rainstorm will dissolve it. But, if you spilled concrete and want to get rid of the excess mess, just wash it off with water while it is still WET!

Well, the same is true with salt water "mess". Salt water (wet) can only be washed off with fresh water (wet). But when left to dry (5-10 minutes like your face after diving) there is no use wasting your time. It is too late. You need a "rust-picker" (either a sailor or a camera repairman) to take it all apart, scrape and peel the dried deposits, and start all over again. So, keep the equipment wet constantly (even with salt water) until you can properly clean it with fresh water. Example: use the plastic trash can from the room. On board the boat fill with salt water and use it for your OWN water tank.