One approach that some underwater photographers have taken to lighten the load underwater is using floats made of a special type of foam that compresses less than conventional foam. While this can be a useful option, foam does have its drawbacks. Typical "incompressible" foam blocks begin to noticeably compress at 30m and by 60m have completely lost effectives and have begun to permanently deform. Foam can also break down over time and make something of a mess. Carbon Fiber arms do not measurably compress even at 100 meters and look more streamlined than chunky foam blocks.

Carbon fiber does not just look cool. It is five times as strong as steel, yet weighs about two-thirds less. Lighter means more net buoyancy for the same volume. In the 60mm diameter class, for example, a carbon arm provides 50% more buoyancy than aluminum tubing arms. The 90mm diameter arms are perfect for systems demanding even more lift.

The available system of arms, clamps, trays, and other mounting hardware allows a huge range of possibilities for arranging lighting. The addition of the Carbon Fiber Arms allows the underwater shooter even more flexibility in dialing in the exact rig desired.