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Building Your First Underwater Rig with Ikelite

Building your first underwater camera system can seem complicated. You need the right housing, lens port, lighting and accessories — and all the components need to work together.

This guide takes you through the essential parts of a complete Ikelite underwater camera system, so you can understand what you need and build the right setup from the start.

1. Camera & Housing

The housing is the foundation of your underwater camera system. Ikelite manufactures dedicated housings for a wide range of mirrorless, DSLR and compact cameras.

Start by finding the correct housing for your exact camera model. From there, the lens, port system and accessories can be selected.

Explore Ikelite housings →

2. Choose the Correct Lens Port

The housing protects the camera body, but your lens also needs the correct port.

Wide-angle lenses normally use a dome port, while macro lenses typically use a flat port. Depending on the lens, you may also need an extension and a zoom or focus gear.

Always check the Ikelite Port Chart for your exact camera and lens combination.

Explore Ikelite lens ports →
Check the Ikelite Port Chart →

3. Add Underwater Lighting

Water absorbs light and colour very quickly. Even in clear tropical water, reds and warm colours disappear as you descend.

An underwater strobe restores colour and gives you control over both exposure and the direction of the light.

You can start with one strobe and expand to two later. Depending on your housing and camera, the strobes can be connected using electrical TTL or fibre-optic triggering.

Explore Ikelite strobes →

4. Tray, Arms & Clamps

Your housing and strobes need to be connected into one practical system.

A tray provides handles and attachment points, while arms and clamps allow the strobes to be positioned away from the camera.

Good arm positioning is important for controlling backscatter and shaping the light underwater.

Explore arms & trays →

5. Useful Accessories

Once the main system is complete, a few accessories can make the setup safer and easier to use.

  • Vacuum valve and pump for pre-dive leak testing
  • Spare O-rings and the correct Ikelite lubricant
  • Zoom and focus gears where required
  • Spare batteries and charging equipment
  • Lanyard or carrying handle

A vacuum system is particularly useful because it allows you to check that the complete housing remains sealed before entering the water.

Explore vacuum systems →

6. Start with What You Need

Your first underwater system does not need every possible accessory.

Start with a correctly matched housing, lens port, tray and lighting system. Once you have used the equipment underwater, it becomes much easier to decide which additional accessories will improve your photography.

The most important thing is that every component is compatible and works together correctly.

Before Your First Dive

  • Assemble the complete housing carefully and inspect all sealing surfaces and O-rings.
  • Test every camera control before entering the water.
  • If your housing has a vacuum system, perform a vacuum leak test before the dive.
  • Make your first water test without unnecessary risk and check the housing carefully for leaks.
  • After diving, rinse the housing and controls thoroughly in fresh water and allow the equipment to dry before opening it.

Not sure which components fit your camera?

Tell us which camera and lenses you use and what you want to photograph. We can help you put together the correct Ikelite system and make sure the components work together.

LET US HELP YOU