Looking for a new primary light?

[Path8891]

Hi, am looking at getting a new primary dive light for rec diving. Was looking at BB AL1300 NP but after reading some of the reviews have decided to steer away. Has anyone had any experience with Divepro S26 dive light and Xtar D26 1600 lumens and which of the 2 would be a better pick?

Also open to other recommendations.

 

[davecampbell]

kraken is just rebranded Weefine.

 

[blue sky]

I have 2 Big Blue 1200's with spot beam. They are reliable and have performed well for spearfishing and lobstering.

 

[hedonist222]

Take a look t Nanight.

I've been using their umbilical cord unit for two years/ 200 dives and have been very happy.

Not only is the unit solid, but those Swedes are very helpful with email.

I mean I didn't need help but whenever I reached out, they responded immediately.

 

[stiebs]

Take a look t Nanight.
I've been using their umbilical cord unit for two years/ 200 dives and have been very happy.
Not only is the unit solid, but those Swedes are very helpful with email.
I mean I didn't need help but whenever I reached out, they responded immediately.

I'll second Nanight. I bought a Sport2 and a Tech a couple of years ago and they're both great. I've also recently upgraded both of them to add a charge port. The support team were super helpful, sending me all the bits I needed, and a programmer module to upgrade the firmware. When one of my firmware upgrades failed, they did not hesitate in sending a replacement board.

I cannot speak more highly of their products and their attitude of support to their customers.

 

[halocline]

Hi, am looking at getting a new primary dive light for rec diving. Was looking at BB AL1300 NP but after reading some of the reviews have decided to steer away.

I wouldn't pay too much attention to the alarmist posts about big blue batteries exploding. The fact is they are very popular lights at a low price. Certainly the small cave diving light builders, like light monkey and underwaterlightdude build better lights that last longer and are just made better. But that doesn't mean that the big blue lights are dangerous or even crap.

For recreational diving there are all sorts of reasonable choices. I use the DGX600 for cave back up lights; they are $60 and very bright, certainly plenty of light for OW diving. The issue with these smaller lights is burn time; but if you are doing a couple of night dives, for example, in a single evening you can just bring a 2nd battery, which costs very little.

 

[Doctor Rig]

I just ordered the new 1700 lumen Dive Rite CX2 ($160). Good reports, that I could find. I’m looking forward to diving with it!

 

[Path8891]

I just ordered the new 1700 lumen Dive Rite CX2 ($160). Good reports, that I could find. I’m looking forward to diving with it!

Where did you pick them up from, I looked on DGX but out of stock.

Thanks everyone for all the suggestions and feedback.

 

[O-ring]

Oooh. How timely! I have a Focus 2.0 (corded) in my cart right now. Change my mind.

Edit - never mind...they are out of stock. Back to contemplation mode.

 

[halocline]

Oooh. How timely! I have a Focus 2.0 (corded) in my cart right now. Change my mind.

Edit - never mind...they are out of stock. Back to contemplation mode.

If you're talking about the Halcyon focus, I just dove several days in caves with someone who has one. I don't know if hers is the older one, a newer model, or what the difference is. But I would say that I was pretty unimpressed with that light. I wouldn't buy one. The spot is an ugly, yellow square, and it's just not very strong.

If you can tolerate a short rant on my part, I want to say that I am still looking for a light that is as good as my old 21W light monkey HID. That light was a great color, excellent focus, very powerful, overall fantastic light in a cave. The problem is the bulbs can break, the ballasts are almost nonexistent anymore, the reflectors are fairly big, the burn time is not as good. IOW, every aspect of cave lights has improved with LEDs, EXCEPT the overall aesthetic quality of the light itself. Unfortunately that's a really important thing.

Uggh...