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S.U.P.E.R. Part 16: Fantasea Housing for the Canon G7X MKII
In our ongoing series S.U.P.E.R. (Scubaverse’s Underwater Photography Equipment Reviews), Scubaverse.com’s underwater photography editors Nick and Caroline Robertson Brown review new underwater photography equipment, general diving equipment, and some older favourites too.
For the sixteenth instalment of S.U.P.E.R., Nick and Caroline take a look at the new housing from Fantasea for the Canon G7X MKII.
Fantasea are producing some great housings that are tremendous value for money at the moment. Recent improvements to the design mean that now the housings have a 67mm thread on the front to make using wet lenses easier. In addition to this, the housings have a cold shoe mount which is great for adding a focusing light to the system. Included with this housing comes some essential accessories like a moisture alarm, hand strap and protective port cover – all features than can sometimes mean you get hit for extra £££. It is depth rated to 60m too. All very impressive for a housing that costs less than £500.
I took it along to our favourite place for testing out new gear, Capernwray, to see what it was like to use. As always with these tests, I put on my 5mm gloves to make sure that the system works OK for those who like their diving in cooler waters, and not just for tropical underwater photography. As the sturgeon are still congregating in one place, we spent much of our dive sat at 6m with these enigmatic fish. To fight the gloom, I attached an INON Grip Base and telescopic arm, a Z-240 strobe, fired via fibre optic cable, to the system. I also used the Fantasea Radiant 1000x spotting light, mounted, neatly in the cold-shoe mount. The grip base meant I did not use the hand strap that comes with the housing, but having used this with a similar housing, I know they work just fine.
The camera itself is one of the top compact cameras on the market at the moment. It features a 24-100mm equivalent lens and its biggest selling point is the large 1-inch 20.1 megapixel sensor. The most important feature in any housing, for me, is the ability to access all the controls without too much fuss underwater. This is certainly the case for the Fantasea housing. The housing has 2 control knobs that can be used to change aperture and shutter speed, and I setup the menu button to be ready on ISO should I want to make any changes. All the buttons are clearly labelled and are wide enough to use even with thick gloves without any problem. If you forget to pop up the flash before you get into the water – no problem – you can do this whilst you are underwater.
I really enjoyed using the system, which is really straight forward and simple to use, and look forward to getting it back in the water to try with some wet lenses. It is small and tidy, but with that has not lost any functionality or the ability to add to the system with lights, strobes and lenses. Be careful with wide angle lenses with this setup, as some are not compatible with the Canon G7X mkII, so do not assume that an existing lens you might already own will work on this system too.
This camera and housing system is fun and easy to use. The Fantasea housing offers real value for money, with plenty of useful features thrown in.
Fantasea is distributed in the UK by www.blue-orb.uk.
For more from Nick and Caroline, visit www.frogfishphotography.com.
Whether you are a beginner or a professional diver – with the three new main regulators from DYNAMICNORD, everyone will find their favourite regulator. They all look super stylish.
Excellent performance with the TR-80
Quality and performance are the be-all and end-all for regulators. It is not for nothing that the TR stands for Tec Reg. The innovative design of the TR-80 guarantees absolute reliability – even in ice-cold waters.
Perfect breathing effort at 0.8 J/l / certified for diving in waters below 10 degrees / structural design made of solid brass for best cold protection / membrane-compensated design with dry seal of the first stage / reduced exhalation effort thanks to optimized exhalation membrane and bubble deflector / adjustable Venturi (dive/predive) and adjustment knob for individual inhalation comfort / innovative design of the front cover prevents free-flow in strong currents or when diving with scooters / design made of sandblasted brass, matt chrome finish / 2 HP and 4 LP outlets / mouthpiece made of high-quality, anti-allergic silicone for maximum comfort.
Amazing underwater adventures with the IR-50
The IR-50 is the top regulator for advanced and experienced divers. Natural breathing is the essence of this regulator.
Ideal breathing effort at 0.8 J/l /certified for diving in waters below 10 degrees / compensated membrane / adjustable venturi (dive/predive) and adjustment knob for individual inhalation comfort/ outlet valve and deflector for minimum exhalation effort and reduction of bubbles on the face / design made of sandblasted brass, matt chrome finish / 2 HP and 4 NP outlets / mouthpiece made of high-quality, anti-allergic silicone for maximum comfort.
The Workhorse – our CS-30
For diving centres and diving beginners – the workhorse stands for strong construction, reliability and robustness. Perfect for your training.
Optimal breathing effort at 0.8 J/l /recommended for diving in waters above 10 degrees / non-compensated piston / adjustable venturi (dive/predive) / outlet valve and deflector for minimum exhalation effort and reduction of bubbles on the face / design made of sandblasted brass, matt chrome finish / 1 HP and 3 NP outlets / mouthpiece made of high-quality, anti-allergic silicone for maximum comfort.
Octopus OP-30
The OP-30 is the ideal addition to all DYNAMICNORD regulators. It is identical in construction to the CS-30.
The TR-80, IR-50, CS-30 (DIN & INT) regulators and the Octopus OP-30 are available from DYNAMICNORD dealers and in the online store.
DYNAMICNORD – Your Outdoor Companion.
Renowned anti-whaling activist Paul Watson has been released from custody in Greenland after spending five months in detention. Denmark’s Justice Ministry rejected Japan’s request for his extradition, citing insufficient guarantees that his time already served in custody would be credited against any potential sentence.
The 74-year-old Canadian-American was arrested on July 21 in Nuuk, Greenland’s capital, when his ship docked to refuel. His arrest was based on a 2012 Japanese warrant related to a 2010 encounter in Antarctic waters. Japan alleged Watson obstructed operations and caused damage to a whaling research ship during efforts to disrupt illegal whaling. Watson has consistently denied these claims, maintaining his commitment to marine conservation.
Denmark, which oversees extradition matters for Greenland, concluded that while the legal conditions for extradition were met, the lack of assurances from Japan regarding time-served credit made extradition untenable.
In a video shared by his foundation, Watson expressed gratitude and relief, saying, “After five months, it’s good to be out… and good to know they’re not sending me to Japan.” He added that the most difficult part of his time in custody was being separated from his two young sons.
Watson is a pioneering figure in marine conservation, known for founding the Captain Paul Watson Foundation in 2022 after decades of activism with the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society. His bold efforts to defend marine life have earned him widespread support, including from celebrities and conservationists. His work has also been featured in the acclaimed reality TV series Whale Wars.
Watson’s lawyer, Jonas Christoffersen, praised the decision, stating, “We are happy and relieved that Paul Watson is now free.” He added that Watson is eager to reunite with his family and continue his vital work.
The arrest occurred while Watson’s vessel, the M/Y John Paul DeJoria, was en route to the North Pacific with a team of 26 volunteers to intercept a Japanese whaling ship. His foundation described the arrest as politically motivated and emphasized that Watson’s actions were focused on ending illegal whaling practices.
Japan resumed commercial whaling in 2019 after leaving the International Whaling Commission, asserting that whale meat is a cultural tradition. Conservationists, however, continue to challenge these practices, highlighting their impact on marine ecosystems.
Despite the challenges, Watson remains steadfast in his mission to protect marine life and bring attention to whaling practices. His dedication to ocean conservation has made him a globally respected advocate for the environment.
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