Bonaire Night Dive: carry lights or rent?

[Bonairetrip]

My observation: less is more. For a very bright light, I might use an Ikelite pca. For long burning (non led), something like a UK SL4. Often, I use the Q40.

Big lights are bad -- they blind the fish, blind other divers who look your way, scare many creatures away and put many night creatures at risk of predation (i.e., squid, octopi, eels, etc.).

 

[Tom Smedley]

For all sakes, do a night dive with a small light and nothing more. If you want lots of light do a day dive. The creatures will appreciate it.

Then, with a bottle of wine in tow. head for Seru Largu. And see the real lights of Bonaire.

When I was on Curacao I dived with a Swiss lady who rented a light. I ended up lending her a torch of my own. She greatly appreciated it. The one they rented her was totally horrendous.

Take one of your own.

 

[flatwood]

Tom, where is Seru Largu?

 

[Tom Smedley]

The easiest way to get there is to take the east road from the traffic circle and get on the road to Rincon. You will see a small sign that says Seru Largu. Take that small winding road and you will come upon the most breathtaking view of the southern part of the island. Take a left going back down and you will wind through a neighborhood and learn a shorter way up.

Pack a picnic, a blanket, and a cooler or bottle of wine and go up there at night. Sit on the steps of the shrine and just marvel at the island lights. See bats swooping, hear donkeys braying in the distance, and you might be lucky enough for a meteor shower.

 

[under water]

For all sakes, do a night dive with a small light and nothing more. If you want lots of light do a day dive. The creatures will appreciate it.

That depends on the creature and how you use the light.
The anemones just love those worms that the lights bring them. The Tarpon prefer the big lights to help them hunt..
A big light let's you see further away which means that you can observe without getting close to the creatures and have a wider field of view. I do try not to go close and blast a fish from 4 feet with a HID light, but from 20 or 40 feet I can observe things happening that I wouldn't be able to otherwise. During the coral spawning, the bigger light was very helpful in illuminating the 'smoke'. If I am going to look at macro, I'll use the small light.
Yes, I'm sure it's annoying to some creatures and indeed will expose some to predation. A big light just increases that.. A small light will do the same, but cause you to be closer when you do it. And no matter what size light you have .. don't point it straight at divers eyes.

Using a full moon is a great way to avoid using any light. Just let your eyes get accustomed to the level of light.