Greeting~and need some advice for new diver

[diversteve]

I find L&M lights high priced also.

I've owned Ikelite lights, Underwater Kinetics lights (my buddy still does) but lately I'm a fan of some of the less expensive CREE lights. Mine happen to be Dorcy but there's a lot of others. (HOG, Dive Right in Scuba etc) I personally prefer aluminum cased, twist-on lights now.

Piranha sells some: Lighting & Strobes I don't know wnything about their Black Star line but many of the others I've at least seen in use.

I'm not a Princeton Tech fan either - I've personally seen two Shockwave's break on dive boats - both something wrong with the trigger switch. They make a lot of light though for the money.

Big Blue makes a nice light if you want to spend that kind of money.

 

[Diver0001]

You're going to want a light.

... and a mask. I don't see a mask.

R..

 

[diversteve]

Do the BCD and SS1 require separate hoses? I was under the impression that they shared one hose.

They're separate, one connects to the SS1 at the end of the inflator hose and the other comes down the left side and connects to the I3 inflator so he can normally use the handle for buoyancy control. Either fills the BCD on demand.

 

[eelnoraa]

You are pretty well equipped, maybe overkill IMHO with the double AI computer and SS1+I3 choice.

I see you have integrated boots for your drysuit, maybe get a pair of fin keeper to help the boots stay snug on your feet. They are like $5.

 

[JamesBon92007]

I find L&M lights high priced also.

I've owned Ikelite lights, Underwater Kinetics lights (my buddy still does) but lately I'm a fan of some of the less expensive CREE lights. Mine happen to be Dorcy but there's a lot of others. (HOG, Dive Right in Scuba etc) I personally prefer aluminum cased, twist-on lights now..

I still have my old Ikelite Mini C Lite and my little Tekna lights and they are jokes compared to the CREE lights. I have a "Shallow Diver" yellow plastic light that cost less than $4 from China and I've had it on about 25-30 dives, down to over 90 feet, and it still works great. Actually, it still have the same 4 X AA batteries in it! I've only used it on one night dive but still the battery life is impressive. It has a magnetic switch. I replaced the wrist cord with heavy-duty cord. It's nearly bright enough for a main light.

I recently got a Trustfire DF008 (007 would have been better ) that uses a 26650 battery, has a nice, sturdy, aluminum case, and will go for about five hours on the "Low" setting. It also has a strobe setting to get attention. Although I have not actually used it in the ocean I think it will prove to be a good light and it probably did not cost a whole lot (it was a gift). It came with a charger and a hands-free holder. It also has a magnetic switch that rotates. It did not come with a wrist strap but I will probably remedy that with a stainless steel cable tie and some nylon cord.

Speaking of twist-on, I also got some small, yellow plastic lights that use a single 18650 battery and they must be tightened at the bottom to turn them on or off. They were sent by mistake when I ordered some more "Shallow Diver" lights. I do not care so much for the on/off on these however they should make a good back-up light and they were very cheap.