DGX600 vs DiveRite Bx2 vs DiveRite cx1

[LanceRiley]

I have an old scubapro nova light led. Bought in 2011.
Are any of these lights an upgrade to my old scubapro?

I may go tec in the future though. But as of the moment. Im doing some shallow wrecks like 30m

Was planning on getting 2 dgx600s but is the bx2 really brighter? Cx1?

If i get the dgx600s will it retire my old scubapro nova? Its 8.5inches that runs on 3 c-cell. I mean i dont mind.

Want to hear your experiences

 

[Prometheanfire]

What are you using the light for. General daytime shine a light for a slightly better view of things, night dive, cave? (edit saw you said wreck, I'd say CX1 for backup and get a good can light)

I'd say the CX1 can be a 'primary' for when you can get by without a light.
When you can't get by without a light I'd only use it as a backup.

None of the lights listed are good for a primary light when you have to have a light IMO (cave, night, etc).

 

[scubadada]

I have 4 DGX600s. One is the tail button model that is no longer available. It is years old, perfect performance. I have 3 of the button model. I prefer the low power at night, high power is very bright. The strobe function could prove valuable. They advertise about an hour of burn time, I get more. I often get days or a week of intermittent daytime use. For $59, it is a bargain.

 

[tbone1004]

@LanceRiley which model of Scubapro Nova? The number designation there is quite important, but the short answer is it will likely be a significant improvement, and they will all retire the old nova

When using these are primaries, I'll disagree with @Prometheanfire . I have a very big, very expensive, and VERY bright canister light. I did 3 hour cave dives a few weeks ago on Cave Adventurers Explorer backup lights and I almost never bring it in the ocean or on night dives. These backup lights are putting out comparable or often more light output than the 10w HID canister lights did 10 years ago. Sure my UWLD is much brighter, but it's also $2k and unless you need it or can justify it I find these backup lights to be a far better initial investment and let them grow into backup lights as you upgrade.

Some comments on the lights in question.
I much prefer buttons to twist, but that's personal preference, but the biggest thing is getting a good light sock to use as a goodman handle. The best on the market IMO is the Oxycheq Raider that is best available from Cave Adventurers. While you're at it, these are a very good alternative as well and are what I use as a primary light in OW and even in many caves. The beam is a little wide, but that's fine for most of my diving. Make sure that you tie a bolt snap on the end of these and clip it to the light sock so they don't slide out and get lost.
Cave Adventurers - Cave Adventurers Expedition Back-Up Light - Marianna, Florida USA - Never Undersold!

CA Expedition-button with multiple outputs, Cree XML emitter, 10* beam, 18650 battery
DGX 600-twist has single output and button has multiple, Creel XML Emitter, 8* beam, 18650 battery
Dive Rite BX2- twist with single output, Cree XP-L emitter, 6* beam, 18650 battery
Dive Rite CX1-twist with multiple outputs, Cree XML emitter, 6* beam, 26650 battery.

What does all this mean.
The tighter the beam, the brighter the lights "usually" appear. Total output will be essentially the same, but because it's more tightly concentrated, the spot especially will be brighter.
The lights that use the same emitter and the same battery will have roughly the same brightness and burn time regardless of what is claimed. They'll all be around 600 lumen and burn for around an hour depending on the quality of the battery. *I do recommend that you properly dispose of the batteries and especially chargers that come with these lights and replace with proper high quality batteries and chargers*.
The XP-L is a newer emitter design and will be more efficient and possibly a bit brighter.
I don't like 26650 batteries, but they usually come with a sleeve to accept an 18650. The body will be wider though which is my main objection.

Of all of these, the BX1 is going to be the brightest of the 18650 batteries because it has a new emitter, but you're really not going to be able to tell the difference between it and the BX1 that uses the XML unless you're in a cave and are really paying attention. The difference is not something I'd use to make a buying decision.
I don't know that I'd use multiple outputs as a buying decision for OW diving. In caves it can be more important, but these aren't bright enough that you're really going to want to knock it down due to high particulate or tight passages *depending on certain caves you can actually put too much light out and the reflections can start to hurt your eyes*, nor are you going to be doing dives long enough that you're trying to stretch burn time.

That all said, where does my money go right now? I'd buy the Expedition lights from Cave Adventurers. They're a couple bucks cheaper than the DGX600, they have the color ring around the button to give rough battery levels, you can get the Oxycheq sock in one purchase, and the wider beam I find nicer at night.
DGX600 would be the second place because of cost. The Dive Rite lights are nice, but they're not 2x as nice to justify that cost. Unfortunately the soft goodman from DGX is garbage so I'd really recommend getting the Oxycheq one.

 

[SandyRobinson]

...I have a very big, very expensive, and VERY bright canister light. I did 3 hour cave dives a few weeks ago on Cave Adventurers Explorer backup lights and I almost never bring it in the ocean or on night dives...

Yes, no sense in turning a night dive in a day dive I normally use my least brightest light on night dives.

 

[tbone1004]

Yes, no sense in turning a night dive in a day dive I normally use my least brightest light on night dives.

the UWLD has multiple outputs, so on "low" it's quite reasonable, though still about 50% brighter than the backup lights when they're on high. For me the cans are semi-permanently threaded into my sidemount harness, so if I'm diving backmount *which nearly all of my ocean/night dives are*, then I don't want to unthread everything

 

[SandyRobinson]

the UWLD has multiple outputs, so on "low" it's quite reasonable, though still about 50% brighter than the backup lights when they're on high. For me the cans are semi-permanently threaded into my sidemount harness, so if I'm diving backmount *which nearly all of my ocean/night dives are*, then I don't want to unthread everything

The low on my 35 is still too bright for me. I normally use a BX1 or an old UK pistol light for night dives.

 

[LanceRiley]

What are you using the light for. General daytime shine a light for a slightly better view of things, night dive, cave? (edit saw you said wreck, I'd say CX1 for backup and get a good can light)

I'd say the CX1 can be a 'primary' for when you can get by without a light.
When you can't get by without a light I'd only use it as a backup.

None of the lights listed are good for a primary light when you have to have a light IMO (cave, night, etc).

General use. Can be used in daylight, some night dives, some wrecks, some cave.

Anyway cx1 can be primary? Do you have any experience witht the other lights?

 

[LanceRiley]

I have 4 DGX600s. One is the tail button model that is no longer available. It is years old, perfect performance. I have 3 of the button model. I prefer the low power at night, high power is very bright. The strobe function could prove valuable. They advertise about an hour of burn time, I get more. I often get days or a week of intermittent daytime use. For $59, it is a bargain.

But do you own the other flashlights on the list.? Good enough for night dive?

 

[tbone1004]

General use. Can be used in daylight, some night dives, some wrecks, some cave.

Anyway cx1 can be primary? Do you have any experience witht the other lights?

not sure where his comments are coming from since they're all the same brightness.

of note, I do own a Dive Rite BX1, DGX 600, and the Cave Adventurers lights. I do use them as primary lights regularly in all environments. The only annoying part when cave diving with them is they are only good for 45-60mins on high, so if I'm using them as primary cave diving lights, I usually need 2 or 3 of them just to get the burn time. Not a problem, but you do have to swap them. For normal length dives in OW, they're more than sufficient.