Beach diving with a can light

[median eminence]

I'll be receiving my first HID light soon. As I mainly do beach dives, I was hoping to get some info on what to do with the light head during my entries and exits. Do I clip it off or keep it on my hand? Do I turn it on before entry or after I get my fins on and made it through the surf? And any other tips on handling my new toy would be appreciated.

 

[MaxBottomtime]

Keep it clipped off until you are about to submerge on a night dive. You don't want to fall and try to brace yourself while holding an expensive light head. HID bulbs get very hot and are expensive to replace, so you shouldn't turn the light on out of the water.

 

[Cheekymonkey]

I concur... HID suck to replace

 

[PerroneFord]

I would certainly keep it clipped off until you submerge or are about to submerge. I would also clip it off after completing the safety stop or last deco stop unless it's needed. If you want or need a light to see on the beach, deploy a backup light and use that.

Hopefully, you get some information with your light about charging and discharging it, and it's general care.

 

[Mo2vation]

Make sure you tuck the cord into your waist band before exiting.

A flailing cord will catch a knee as you stand up and you're gonna be hating life if it lifts the lid and pulls the Oring on the can and you flood AFTER the dive...

Like MaxBT (actually nobody is like Max....) I did hundreds of shore dives last year and all with a can light. If you have a Halcyon with a W/A bulb, you have more to worry about. If you have a DR, or Salvo or Sartek - its very unlikely you'll do much damage to it when (not if) you get rolled. These lights don't have the long fragile filament like the W/A bulbs do. The bulb from these lights may get unseated if you hit it hard - but no biggie. You can take care of that when you get back to your car.

They're very tough.

---
Ken

 

[median eminence]

If you have a DR, or Salvo or Sartek - its very unlikely you'll do much damage to it when (not if) you get rolled....They're very tough.

Good to know. A Salvo is what is in the mail.

 

[riguerin]

A Salvo is what is in the mail.

Based on mine and close friend's experiences, the only thing you need to worried about is the infant mortality rate. If it works fine for the first dozen dives, you're probably good to go. If not, Salvo, has great customer service. They'll remedy the problem ASAP.

 

[Blackwood]

Clip it off at your shoulder.

 

[mynamehere]

"when (not if) you get rolled....."

nice! i wanna go. sounds alot different than south florida diving.

 

[Rainer]

Um, CA beach diving, it's an adventure. Beach diving a can light in MA is cake. I have a WA bulb, and would rather "can" a dive than risk the bulb in CA if the surf is too rough.