Hey everyone!
I don’t know if this is the right sub to ask this question, but I’ll try.
I’m having an issue with my SeaLife SportDiver underwater housing, and I’m wondering if anyone has experienced something similar or knows how to fix it.
Today, after finishing a dive, I tried to release the vacuum from the housing as usual. However, when I attempted to unscrew the vacuum valve cap, instead of just the cap coming off, the entire threaded valve body unscrewed from the housing.
Luckily, nothing appears to be broken. I managed to separate the cap from the valve body using pliers, and both the valve’s threads and the plastic threads inside the housing seem to be intact.
I also noticed what looked like some kind of silicone or sealant on the threads, so I’m wondering if SeaLife uses a specific thread sealant or adhesive to keep the valve body secured in place.
Here’s what I’ve tested so far:
I screwed the valve body back into the housing.
I cleaned and lubricated the O-rings with silicone grease.
I performed the standard vacuum test, and it passed.
I then submerged the housing completely in a sink for over 6 hours, with the vacuum applied, and no alarms were triggered. I’m also leaving it submerged overnight for further testing.
The housing appears to be watertight at surface pressure.
The main issue: If I tighten the valve body normally, it can unscrew again when I try to remove the vacuum cap. I can tighten it much harder, but I don’t want to damage the plastic threads or the O-ring.
I can also open and close the housing without touching the vacuum valve, so technically I could leave it tightened and avoid unscrewing the cap altogether.
However, I’m concerned about whether the valve will remain watertight at 20–30 meters (65–100 feet), since passing a vacuum test at the surface doesn’t necessarily guarantee a proper seal at depth.
My questions are:
Has anyone experienced the entire vacuum valve body coming unscrewed on a SeaLife SportDiver? And if yes, how did you resolved it?
Is there an official repair procedure for this, or does the whole valve assembly need to be replaced?
I’m trying to figure out how to properly secure the valve without damaging the housing or compromising its waterproofing.
I’ll attach a picture showing the threaded valve body and its mounting point.
Any advice or experience would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!