Sync Cords

Have you ever been concerned about your sync cords? Those flimsy cables stretching between your camera and strobes are the key to simple lighting underwater. These delicate wires can be easily damaged or over stretched by a variety of hazards – the snatch of a well-meaning deckhand, a buddy’s fin tip or even a piece of coral. In addition, sync cords can be outrageously expensive to replace. I’ve paid over fifty dollars for a part that probably costs a few dollars, at most, to produce.

My protection device is a few feet of fairly rigid, clear plastic tubing from the hardware store. After measuring a piece that fits between your camera housing and the strobe, cut it length wise with a razor blade. On your next dive trip, place the sync cord inside the tubing and use a cable tie to encase the fragile wire. After your cable is in the protective coating, use a few more cable ties to attach the assembly to the strobe arm. Beyond preventing your sync cords from damage, the clear plastic tubing will stiffen a wimpy strobe arm.