Do I need a dive light?

[spectrum]

You don't need it for certification but you will want one shortly there after.

In your local water it will be nice to look under rocks, overhangs and into other dim places. It will also bring out some colors lost as natural light is filtered by the water. It is also handy to signal in a sweeping pattern if seperated from your buddy. It will penetrate the murk and perhaps save a trip to the surface.

In the tropics there can still be overhangs and dim spots and color loss is inevitable in any water.

Before long you will want to consider night diving so this 1st light light can be your long term back-up / day use light. For this I like a 4 C cell model.

You have great local diving available and an active dive community. Please seriously consider becoming an avid local diver. This is where you will be come a safe proficient diver. Besides diving is way too cool to only do on vacation.

Pete

 

[TSandM]

You can cheerfully dive in the tropics without a light, but you will enjoy having one to look in holes and crannies where a lot of interesting things hide.

It is my personal opinion, however, that anyone diving in the reduced visibility of either inland or salt water in the PNW should not only have a light, but a fairly good one. The biggest reason is that it helps ENORMOUSLY with keeping buddy teams together. A bright, focused light makes it much easier to locate a buddy who may have strayed far enough away to be difficult to see in the murk. Lights also make it easier to send unambiguous signals to a teammate, where hand signals may be more difficult to see (especially in black wet gloves).

Although I agree with the people who are saying there is no reason to go out and buy it right now, I would highly recommend investing in a Photon Torpedo LED backup light. They're small enough to be easy to carry, but bright enough and focused enough to use as a primary light. And if you ever decide to upgrade to a stronger light, the PT will remain in use as an excellent backup.

 

[Ed Hatfield]

I usually have a light in my BCD pocket on every dive. It sits beside a finger reel and a safety sausage. I just bought a new one in January - an Innova LED that uses two 3V lithium batteries. It has a bright white beam that works better than my C8. I paid $50.00 but it was worth it. It allowed me to leave my C8 at home when I went to Curacao. 2-3V lithiums instead of 8 D cells. On the night dive it was one of the brightest and smallest lights there. As I say it is still new - I'll know better in a year if I just recommend it, or if it is THE BEST LIGHT EVER. Stuff keeps getting smaller and better with white light LEDs getting cheaper.

 

[gedmondson]

Wow! TWO PAGES of great advice! Thanks everyone for taking the time to share your insight and advice.

Steve - I am located in West Linn, just south of Portland.
Pete - I will take advantage of the local diving opportunities and community. I did not realize it was so robust.

Gary

 

[jullian_pdx]

I dive mostly in the PNW. There are lots of good things to see but your not going to have even close to the viz that you experience in the carribean.

Most of my dives that I do during the day there is no ambient light although I am usually deeper than 100' on most my dives.

I strongly recommend that you get at least a 10 watt HID can light when you come to the PNW.

 

[Tigerman]

I dive mostly in the PNW. There are lots of good things to see but your not going to have even close to the viz that you experience in the carribean.

Most of my dives that I do during the day there is no ambient light although I am usually deeper than 100' on most my dives.

I strongly recommend that you get at least a 10 watt HID can light when you come to the PNW.

Then again, as a newly certified diver like the op, assuming (as hes not mentioned it) no more training beyond OW, he shouldnt even consider going below 100' in bad vis...

 

[Bob Vincent]

My opinion after you get certified to dive at night try different lights if you can rent are use someones, see which you like an how much night diving you'll do and then you can justify the dollar amount you'll spend.

As for a small light to carry on you for during the day ... go for it but will you be diving lakes? Ocean reef? Wrecks? One light might be better than another. Start with a not so expensive light and move up. There's lights on the market you can upgrade and increase the power by alot.

Ikelite, U/W Kinetics etc have upgradeable lights simply changing the bulb and type of battery makes a huge difference.

 

[gedmondson]

Yes Tigerman, I will be absolutely thrilled to get to 40ft under any conditions.

 

[on_two_wheels]

Better to have it and not need it than need it and not have it.

 

[Lucy's Diver]

Buy a simple, small, bulletproof LED light now. I have an older Princeton Tec LED twist on/off style light. I carry it on every recreational dive I go on, the only light for daytime non-penetrative dives, and as a backup at night or on any wreck or low viz dive.
If you stay with warm water regular recreational diving it may be the only light you buy. I you do night or other diving where more lights are needed it is a good backup.