Can light for recreational dives?

[Gombessa]

Just out of curiosity, does anyone consider having the full can light overkill for daytime, open water recreational dives? If so, do you leave the light at home or just bring it all the time because you've got your weighting/hose routing figured perfectly with the light in place?

Thanks

 

[Sloth]

I dive at least every weekend here in Hawaii, my can light is on every dive. I'll stow it while shooting a bag and while on deco or on the mandatory safety stop but other then that it is always deployed.

 

[Mo2vation]

Light is on my rig for every dive, always, day, night, morning, twilight, clear water, dark water, cold water, warm water, scootering, kick diving, photographing, or just puttering.

My light is as much of my rig as my inflater or my weight belt.

Its considered essential safety equipment. It also has enhanced my dives and made the whole experience more enjoyable more than any other single piece of equipment.

I would never leave it in the bag or on the boat. Its with me always.

---
Ken

 

[PfcAJ]

Sometimes I leave it at home, but it usually accompanies me on all dives. It just depends on whats going on. Rainbow river at noon? I'll be ok without it. 60 foot ocean dive off the east coast of Florida? I've got my light.

 

[BabyDuck]

i've left mine home once, for a liveaboard trip. why? it's third hand and pretty freakin' huge. took up too much space in the luggage & had to be sacrificed since i was flying.

driving to dive? it goes with me every time.

 

[jeckyll]

Around here it's plenty dark mid day once you get past 60 feet... I don't think I've done any dives without a light (can or no can)

 

[amascuba]

Its considered essential safety equipment. It also has enhanced my dives and made the whole experience more enjoyable more than any other single piece of equipment.

Since you don't seem to enjoy your scooter that much...

I take my light on most every dive.

 

[ovarygirl]

Light is on my rig for every dive, always, day, night, morning, twilight, clear water, dark water, cold water, warm water, scootering, kick diving, photographing, or just puttering.

My light is as much of my rig as my inflater or my weight belt.

Its considered essential safety equipment. It also has enhanced my dives and made the whole experience more enjoyable more than any other single piece of equipment.

I would never leave it in the bag or on the boat. Its with me always.

Well put, Ken. I completely agree. A canister light is an important form of communication between buddies so I would never leave mine behind. Even during OW daylight dives, it's quite obvious when my buddy's giving me an OOA drill or just trying to get my attention (by the flash of the light). I dive with the old skool Halcyon Pro-14 and I've lugged it to Mexico in my carry-on. It adds quite a bit of weight to my rig but it's a nice reliable light:
Halcyon: Explorer Pro 14 Specifications

 

[LiteHedded]

Sometimes I leave it at home, but it usually accompanies me on all dives. It just depends on whats going on. Rainbow river at noon? I'll be ok without it. 60 foot ocean dive off the east coast of Florida? I've got my light.

i was shocked you didn't bring it to rainbow river at noon

 

[Ben_ca]

Just out of curiosity, does anyone consider having the full can light overkill for daytime, open water recreational dives? If so, do you leave the light at home or just bring it all the time because you've got your weighting/hose routing figured perfectly with the light in place?

Thanks

With the new lights the weight difference isn't that much, the routing might bother some but like the others said the communication is a big reason why I bring mine every dive.

Oh and diving in Monterey it gets really dark down there...