Cyalume replacements

[slingshot]

Hi all,

I'm looking to buy a battery powered small marker light instead of using and tossing cyalumes for night diving. Any recommendations? Princeton Tec Eco Flare? UK Mini beacon? Others? I think I'd prefer one that uses easily replaceable AA or AAA batteries rather than watch batteries, unless there are good arguments to the contrary. Several manufacturers offer a choice of light color, is one better than another? I presume longer wavelength lights tend to penetrate water less well?

 

[koi]

If you're talking about a strobe, I use an ACR FireFly II. If you are just looking for a electroluminescent light stick, then Krill makes one. They make a 360 and 180 version. With the 180 version, half of the light is covered vertically (so it doesn't blind you), and it lasts longer. Hope this helps.

 

[slingshot]

Hi there Koi:

I'm looking for a non-strobe (in part as I'm hoping to use the light when I go sea kayaking at night as well, and many equate strobes on the sea surface with distress). The krill product is news to me, but a quick scan of their website suggests it may fit the bill nicely. Thanks!

 

[Damselfish]

You don't really want a strobe as an underwater marker in any case - it's very annoying to those anyone around you and since most boats drop a strobe at night, or some people leave a strobe to mark an exit point, it could confuse someone.

I think 360 deg is better, you want it to be visible from more angles, and there's no need for this kind of light to be so bright that it's blinding anyone. (If it were blinding anyone, you don't want it shining in any direction!)

If you just attach these with the lanyard they usually come with they tend to roll to the side of the tank and be less visible, you might come up with an attachment method that prevents this. At the very least I've found replacing the regular lanyard with a just-long-enough thin bungie is helpful, so that you can pass the light itself through the loop to attach it.

I've found the fatter ones are less prone to flooding than the stick like ones that use watch batteries. The tank lights that replace the yoke screw are very prone to flooding, I'd avoid those.

 

[android]

Koi,
Have you taken the Krill underwater? They don't seem to give a depth rating, they just say "waterproof." in the FAQ.

 

[archman]

Get a Glo-Toob. They're brighter and more durable than Krill's, with more options. I threw both my Krill and Lazerstik away last year, and got blue and green glo-toobs. These things are friggin' awesome. They're so tough, the U.S. military now buys 'em.

http://www.dansdata.com/glotoob.htm

 

[opiniongirl]

Hi all,

I'm looking to buy a battery powered small marker light instead of using and tossing cyalumes for night diving. Any recommendations? Princeton Tec Eco Flare? UK Mini beacon? Others? I think I'd prefer one that uses easily replaceable AA or AAA batteries rather than watch batteries, unless there are good arguments to the contrary. Several manufacturers offer a choice of light color, is one better than another? I presume longer wavelength lights tend to penetrate water less well?

UK beacon is good, the benefit being that it takes 2 AA's.

The other one that I like is made by Innovative Scuba, called "Lazer Stik"..come in Red, orange and green. Like the red the most, as its easy on the eyes for night diving. Lasts a long time, about $15. Batteries are watch batteries - which are a little more expensive than AA's

But the Lazer sticks look like the light sabres in star wars, if that feature is appealing to you...

 

[archman]

Aaahhh!!! Stay away from those Lazerstik's!! They're junk. I've tried out many a battery powered signal light, and these were the worst of the lot. They're neither bright nor ergonomic. The long shape is NOT a plus. In fact the only elongate signal light I recommend is the TekTite Mk III. It uses three in-line AA's, and is so freaking bright, you can remove the diffuser insert and use it as a flashlight. The new LED model lasts a lot longer than the traditional incandescent one I've got. If I wasn't in love with GLO-TOOBS I might get one of these new things myself.
http://www.tek-tite.com/src/product_info.php?id=33

 

[koi]

damselfish -

I picked up the 180 because I also use it above water, and the shield hels to cut down on the light when I'm trying to read/look at something.

android -

yes, I've brought the Krill down to about 110+ ft and it hasn't flooded.

archman -

that's a neat site (dansdata). I've heard of the Glo-toob but my only concern was with the battery type and life. However, does definately look brighter than the Krill. It'd be nice if they made an AA version (I have boxes and boxes of AAs =).

 

[mogwai]

Get a Glo-Toob. They're brighter and more durable than Krill's, with more options. I threw both my Krill and Lazerstik away last year, and got blue and green glo-toobs. These things are friggin' awesome. They're so tough, the U.S. military now buys 'em.

http://www.dansdata.com/glotoob.htm

Great info Archman. Been thinking about getting one of these to try for a while now. You just helped me to make up my mind and give one a try. Seems like if they are as good as you say they will in the long run save me fortune in cyalumes. Come this time of year any diving in the evening here is going to be a night dive. Before long will be dark at a ridiculously early time of the evening. Don't mind though, love night diving and the lovely clear viz the colder weather brings.