EnglishFloats and belts are buoyancy aids that attach to arms or housings of underwater camera rigs. They help divers, photographers and videographers maintain balance and prevent unwanted tilting of their underwater camera setup. Unlike float blocks, these buoyancy accessories are mounted onto existing arm systems or housings. They are typically used to fine-tune balance without replacing the arm itself.
![Stix Jumbo Float belt [SX-FB12]](https://www.uwcamerastore.com/media/catalog/product/cache/585a9f53153ae04cde57614e2eac8117/s/x/sxfb12.jpg)
Floats are buoyancy blocks placed around tray arms to add lift. They compensate for the heavy mass of strobes, lights or housings and make the system easier to handle. For integrated solutions where buoyancy is built into the arm itself, see float arms.
A float belt attaches to the port of a housing and provides adjustable lift. This prevents the rig from tipping forward when using long or heavy lenses in deeper dives.
Some setups with large dome ports contain trapped air, which can cause the front of the housing to become positively buoyant. A trim weight can be used to counter this effect.
Floats and belts come in different buoyancy values, usually expressed in grams. By weighing the rig underwater, divers can determine the exact lift required to balance the system.
This can be tested at home with a hand scale or completed in-store. See also the guides on adjusting buoyancy of your underwater camera, how to weigh a setup and underwater rigs that tilt.
What is the difference between float arms and float blocks?
Float arms combine buoyancy and arm in one component. Float blocks are mounted onto existing arms to add lift without replacing the arm system.
When should I use floats instead of float arms?
Floats are useful when you already have an arm system and want to adjust buoyancy without replacing it. Float arms are more suitable for new or fully rebuilt setups.
What does a float belt do?
A float belt adds buoyancy around the port of a housing. This helps prevent front-heavy setups from tilting forward when using large lenses.
How do I know how much buoyancy I need?
This depends on the weight of your housing, strobes and lenses. The goal is a balanced setup that neither sinks nor floats excessively.
Can I combine floats with float arms?
Yes. Floats and belts can be used together with float arms to fine-tune buoyancy in more complex underwater camera systems.
A good underwater photo or video doesn't start with your camera or your lighting, but with control. And you only truly gain control when your underwater camera rig is neutrally buoyant. Not heavily pulling on your wrist, not floating upwards, but calmly "hanging" in the water.
Capturing photos or videos underwater is an amazing way to explore and share another world, but it can be quite challenging. A balanced camera setup not only makes your dive easier but also more enjoyable. In this blog, I’ll walk you through how to weigh your camera setup and pick the perfect buoyancy arms step by step. Let’s dive in!
An underwater camera set can be perfectly neutral, but completely out of balance. Under water it can be possible that your underwater camara set will tilt over all the time. The balance is mostly related to the dome.
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