On Oct 31, 2024, DRYFOB had an external accredited lab perform depth certification of its entire product line including the DRYFOB (original), the DRYFOB-L, the DRYFOB-XL, and the newly released DRYFOB-TXL.
Having just released the TXL, we wanted to run depth testing and certification for this new canister as there had been interest in deep-reef applications using specialized equipment. Our original XL had already been used much deeper that its original depth-rating, and we wanted to have an accredited third-party lab rerun our IPx8 testing to an even deeper level to provide peace of mind for those using these products at those depths.
While our initial 330ft (100m) rating was generally sufficient for all but the most advanced technical divers, we took the opportunity of running all our waterproof containers through the re-certification.
We used an accredited US lab with specialized depth testing equipment and had them run all of our canisters through IPx8 water ingress testing right down to their maximum depth of 1200ft (365m).
While we were always confident in our patented DRYFOB design, we were also holding our breath a bit. 1,200 ft (365m) or 200 fathoms is over 35 bar and 530 PSI! That is a lot of pressure!
We are happy to report that all units passed with flying colors coming out of the chamber with absolutely no water ingress. The lab report even acknowledged that the new 1,200ft (365m) IPx8 rating is not a product limitation but simply the deepest they could perform the test.
We can proudly say that we have a new official IPx8 rating of 1,200 ft (365m) for all DRYFOBs including the DRYFOB (original), the DRYFOB-L, the DRYFOB-XL, and the new DRYFOB-TXL. Ultimately, the higher depth rating should provide peace of mind to divers and technical divers regarding the DRYFOB just knowing that there is plenty of margin even when on the deepest technical dives. It also opens up doors for other potential deep sea research activities using the DRYFOB product line.