Finishing my OW training at FL Springs-Do I need a light?

[tincupchalice]

Hello all. In a couple weeks I'll be completing my OW training in the Florida Springs (Troy and Blue Grotto to name two we will be visiting) I've completed my pool classes and it was a blast! I was reading up on some of the Springs online and watching some videos of some of springs divers on youtube just to get a glimpse of what it will be like when I get there. This brought up a question. I noticed on a lot of the websites it said the OW divers were not allowed to carry a light in many of the springs. It said that Blue Grotto had a lighting system installed. So, my question is do I need a small light in either of these springs to be able to see in cracks/crevices or not? I have purchased a wetsuit, bc, reg, mask, fins, etc. already, but have not gotten around to buying a light yet. Will I need to rent one? Next question, is it customary to tip your instructor? If so, how much is appropriate?

 

[fnfalman]

A small but powerful light is always nice in the day time to be used for looking at things in nooks and crannies. Something like the Underwater Kinetics LED EQ40 is fairly cheap, light and bright enough for those simple tasks and also make for a great night dive backup light.

 

[tincupchalice]

OK, WOW. I just read a separate post on tipping in this forum and it was pretty lengthy. So, let's ignore my tipping the instructor question and stick with diving in the springs, wether or not to carry a light as an OW dive student there, and any advise is welcome. Thanks!

 

[seaducer]

I have never been there but I should think you will not need one. You should not be in any overhead environment so it should be fairly bright where your training will be. You can always buy a cheap light and stuff it in a pocket, but that would be optional.

 

[Damselfish]

A light can be useful for looking in cracks and stuff in the daytime but I wouldn't worry about it just yet. I can't imagine they're taking you anyplace you need a light on an OW training dive. Nor do you really need one more thing to be messing with on those dives. Anyway the dives are first about completing a set of skills, so depending on the class you may not even have much time to be cruising around looking in cracks.

 

[ligersandtions]

Most of your certification dives will be spent completing skills, and not necessarily swimming around and peeking into cracks (unless your class is small, in which case, you'll be able to get through the skills portion fairly quickly and have time to swim around and look). Since you will be in a non-overhead environment, the ambient light will likely be more than enough....and you will probably be shallow enough that you won't lose a lot in the color spectrum.

I've never been in one of the Florida springs, but I would guess the visibility is good. That coupled with the fact that you'll be fairly shalllow means that you won't need a light. However, a good light is a great investment....so if you plan to continue diving, in maybe not crystal clear conditions, or go fairly deep, it will definitely come in handy.

However, I must warn you....you'll want to know what your ultimate diving goal is. If you want to cave dive, there's no reason to buy a cheap pistol grip light. Likewise, if you plan to do purely open water, tropical diving, there's no reason to spend your money on a 21W can light.

 

[boulderjohn]

You will not need a light for your required OW dives--if you do, there is something wrong.

However, I assume you will want to do some dives after you finish your certification. In that case, you might want to bring along a small light you can clip off or put in a pocket in case you want to use it to peer into things. You don't have to be in a grotto to find some use for this--you can sometimes benefit from a light while visiting an open reef.

I hope your instructor has made it absolutely clear how dangerous it is to go beyond your level of training in overhead environments. There is a wide range of overhead environments, though. At one extreme, you can swim through a simple arch in a few seconds, and that is safe enough for anyone. At the other extreme, you can enter a cave with a silty bottom and be totally lost within less than a minute if you have not had adequate training. I don't know the system that you will be visiting, but be aware and very realistic about what is there and what your level of training

 

[halocline]

Yes, you'll need a HID canister light and a Halcyon backplate/wing.

relax, it's a joke.

 

[vlad tenteris]

Yes, you'll need a HID canister light and a Halcyon backplate/wing.

relax, it's a joke.

i have been to blue grotto many times. there is a cable guide line to follow the whole way down. at the bottom(90ft) you will enter an opening so to speak and follow the guide cable and come out the other side to ascend. you will want a light. many dive locations here with caves will not allow divers to possess lights unless they show proof of cave certification. it keeps the un-trained and un-equipped out of a bad situation. i use the ukq40 as a back-up and the ikelite super8 as my main light. bear in mind these i judge to be fine for what i do which are swim-throughs on wreaks and the like. extensive cave diving is a whole other ball game requiring training and specialized gear. best wishes and dive safe.

 

[Jorgy]

Three things I never dive without a see-me tube (a Carter CBPF-35), a whistle (a Storm) and a light (a Princeton Tec Torrent).

Better to have them and not need them, than need them and not have them.....

I will eventually replace the Torrent with a LED light, just because of the robustness and burn time of LED lights........

I do have a small spool so I can deploy the bag from 40 feet, I would not recommend this initially, it is a little tricky and must be practiced to get it right, you don't want to get pulled to the surface by the bag......so learn that skill when you feel you are ready.

Surgical shears would be the forth item, but I have dove without them......

Hope this helps.........M