Dive lights

[ReelDuel]

I am new to diving. (15 dives)The last couple dives a flashlight would have been nice to have. We are getting ready to do a night dive in our AOW/Enriched Air certification and would like some advice what to look for. Is rechargable the way to go? Is LED technology as good underwater as it is above. Like everything else in diving so many choices. We want the best quality for the money. Thanks for your help

 

[VooDooGasMan]

you'll have a few before you will be satisfied what works for you.

 

[stairman]

HID lights are better.See what your LDS has in stock for your budget.I have oxycheq 3-watt lights for backups and they are very brite.75.00.

 

[r2t]

Underwater Kinetics Sunlight C8 eLED Plus, Dive Lights, Underwater Kinetics, Underwater Kinetics Sunlight C8 eLED Plus

The UK C8 Eled Plus is a great light for new divers. Very good battery life and nice and bright.

 

[Trout]

I carried a PC light (Ikelite)...now my backup.... before using a Princeton TEC miniwave LED as my primary. Both are easy to handle and operate. I use a coil lanyard on the primary light. Just got an Ikelite PC LED..used it one time and really like it (nice size, easy to use, and great illumination).

I carry a small light on all day dives and use it regularly. We have low visibilties in Texas lakes.

 

[TSandM]

Intova is making a lovely little LED light. It's very bright and still illuminates a fair area. It has a magnetic on-off switch, and can be bought for well under $100 (less if you can find a sale). I dove with a friend who has one, and I was impressed with the little light. If all you want is a hand-held light, bright enough to use at night and small enough to be comfortable to handle and inexpensive, it's a great light.

 

[ReelDuel]

HID is new to me please explain how they are better. 3 watts seem like it wouldnt light up my face.

Thanks

HID lights are better.See what your LDS has in stock for your budget.I have oxycheq 3-watt lights for backups and they are very brite.75.00.

 

[foglesre]

Intova is making a lovely little LED light. It's very bright and still illuminates a fair area. It has a magnetic on-off switch, and can be bought for well under $100 (less if you can find a sale). I dove with a friend who has one, and I was impressed with the little light. If all you want is a hand-held light, bright enough to use at night and small enough to be comfortable to handle and inexpensive, it's a great light.

Yes, the Intova is a very nice little light, with a few caveats...

I purchased two Intova Novas (narrow) for backup lights for cave diving.

On one the switch assembly fell out on the first dive. Intova was very good about sending a replacement switch.

I checked the other one and the switch assembly was extremely loose and could be easily be plucked out with a fingernail. On Intova's recommendation I glued it in place.

Still, I liked the little Nova so much I purchased a Nova Wide for night reef dives. The switch assembly is much tighter, but I could still pluck it out so I will glue it in place as well.

Amazing how different the beams are between the Nova and Nova Wide. The Nova (narrow) has a very similar beam to the Oxycheq Raider I with a nice bright hot spot. As far as comparing them with a 10W HID (Dive Rite Sunspot), while not as bright, there was absolutely no trouble signalling against the 10W HID.

The Nova wide has absolutely no hot spot. Almost completely uniform. I look forward to trying it out on a night dive.

These are available at Buy.com for about $30 narrow and $40 wide with free shipping. I definitely recommend them, but glue the switch assembly in place.

Bob

 

[Nismo]

I'll second the UK C8 eLED as my wife and I each have them as well as the SL4 LED. The C8 is a large flood light, it can actually be too much light in the caribbean. At used it a first, then switched to the SL4 once I got a little more comfortable with the dive since it was second ever night dive. LED is the way to go as far as battery life, brightness, and durability. I liked the UK lights for how well it works and the price. You can easily go into the hundreds for a light. The UK C8 eLED is a good price for what you get. The SL4 is a great back up/fish finding light.

There's a lot here that like the Intova's. I haven't used them and if I needed to replace my lights would like to try them out. However, I wouldn't hesitate to make my purchase again.

 

[Noboundaries]

If you're just going to be night diving occasionally, don't spend a fortune until you know what you want and need. Here's what my wife and I carry.

Pelican Nemo with 8 "C" cell batteries and very compact. Price about $36 + shipping if you shop online. This sucker is bright with an output of 276 lumens. If I remember right the high intensity bulbs are good for about 60 hours. Burn time is 4-6 hours.
Pelican™*Products*Nemo™ 4300

We both carry an LED backup light that also has an emergency, high intensity strobe in case we find ourselves adrift (gulp). Cost is about $30 online. Here's an example. LS-3 2 in 1 Strobe & LED Torch Scuba Saftey Light: unrealfind Using Lithium AA batteries just about doubles the 24-30 hour burn time.

Instead of the chemical glow sticks, my wife and I strap the Underwater Kinetics Dive Beacon to our 1st stage. Cost is about $10 online at ScubaToys. They also have a nice selection of dive lights at good price. I believe you get a 10% discount if you're a ScubaBoard member.