Looking for advice on back up lights for cave country

[dantfarley]

I have a BigBlue TL6 canister light, but need two backup lights for cave country. Cavern and AN/DP will be the classes I'm taking at Ginnie Springs.
What backups do you carry?
Your opinions and help are always appreciated
Please include links to help me with my purchase if you can please

Thank you

Dan

 

[Doc Harry]

Lots of threads on this subject. Try using Google to search Scubaboard for this topic.

 

[Jax]

Intova Ultra Nova [ultranova] - $69.95 : Cave Adventurers!, We will NOT be undersold!!!

Cave Adventurers's Edd Sorenson turned me on to the Ultra Nova when I was there a year ago for sidemount training.

 

[black_sea]

In this particular case, I would say talk to your cave instructor.

 

[Scared Silly]

Check out the Underwater Kinetics SL3 light. Very reasonable cost. But as said lots of posts on backup lights do a search and talk to others and see what they are using.

 

[lv2dive]

I don't have very good light karma (example - One primary is at the bottom of the St. Lawrence river... on same trip, broke what I thought was a pretty unbreakable backup but didn't realize it till went to turn it on in ocean and flooded it.) ANYHOO... one light I've had no problems with... including switch issues, etc.... is the Dorcy I've linked to below. I have three of these - one stays on my harness, and the other two stay in my truck to back up my backups. I've bought them all from Piranha, and couldn't be happier with them. I've referred several people who feel the same way. Best story is a friend lost his at at the Graveyard at Lake Jocassee and our instructor found it when we went back two months later, and it still worked like a charm after being under water two months!

Penetrater 220, Piranha Dive Manufacturing

 

[bs63366]

I also have the Dorcy lights as my backup light and have used them for primaries as well for some dives. They have been beat around bounced off things while moving the gear around and they have taken the abuse and still work like new.

 

[Jim Lapenta]

I have 5 of the Dorcy's. Use em for back up and student lights. Rugged, never flooded one, and at about 90 bucks a pair including shipping from Pirahna you can't beat em.

Penetrater 220 2 Light Package , Piranha Dive Manufacturing

 

[rongoodman]

For backmount, I like my Halcyon Scouts. They don't work well helmet mounted though, since they rotate when you try to twist them on one-handed, so I have a couple of UK Q40s for sidemount.

 

[tbone1004]

check the cave diving forum, you'll see a lot more specific stuff on that.
I have a pair of the penetrators which are nice, as well as these
Mini Deep Star RED, Piranha Dive Manufacturing
I like these a bit more because the wash is a bit better, but they're both really good lights.