Can light for recreational dives?

[OneBrightGator]

Keep in mind that a smaller handheld (backup) light can do a lot of good for poking around. Less hassle and not $1k hanging off your harness getting knocked into the boat, tanks, other divers, etc. (I'm not a big fan of dragging my cannister on a boat). Typical recreational ocean diving in Florida doesn't require a light, your location may differ.

 

[nadwidny]

I usually have a canister but I usually dive darker waters. When I'm in the tropics I just take an LED backup.

 

[nadwidny]

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:

Tell your BF to stop being such a cheap SOB and get you a more human-sized canister.

 

[FLDVR]

Typical ocean diving in florida still has benefits from using the cannister. Not only for communication but for peeking under, around and into things as well as a light source for photography.
I'm always amazed how much I'm missing when I leave it behind, even the 15' bridge dive benefits
Henry

 

[Scared Silly]

We recently did a Keys dive on a wreck that was all of 45'. We used our 10W lights and were the only ones to see the adult drum fish under the hull. Good fun. The cans are small much smaller than you think and easuly tuck right in with everything else. Though new to can lights they will be on most every dive just like in the past a small hand held light has been.

 

[Gombessa]

Great points, thanks all.

 

[TSandM]

In Puget Sound, I think can lights are safety items. Honestly, keeping track of buddies and staying in communication in low viz is so greatly enhanced by high intensity, focused lights, that I no longer understand how anybody dives under our conditions without them.

In the Caribbean, it's harder to defend. Lights serve little or no signaling purpose, because they simply don't carry through clear water in bright daylight. However, I have spotted many small creatures in holes or even on walls, where the ambient light at depth was reduced enough that my HID light gave me the contrast to let something stand out that I wouldn't otherwise have seen. You need a very bright and intense light to be of any use in the daytime in clear, daylit water.

 

[nadwidny]

We recently did a Keys dive on a wreck that was all of 45'. We used our 10W lights and were the only ones to see the adult drum fish under the hull. Good fun. The cans are small much smaller than you think and easuly tuck right in with everything else.

With the performance of the new LED backups pretty much the same as that as a 10W can light, it's much easier to pack a couple of those around than a can light no matter how small of a package they are these days.

 

[OneBrightGator]

And I would be much more comfortable packing two $100 backup lights in my checked luggage then a cannister light. They are also smaller and handle the jostling better.

 

[Matt S.]

With the performance of the new LED backups pretty much the same as that as a 10W can light, it's much easier to pack a couple of those around than a can light no matter how small of a package they are these days.

I would like to find a "backup" LED light that puts out 500 lumens like a 10W HID.

(Though even if such a LED light is available, I need the tight focus of the HID for signaling in my waters.)