How powerful a light should I get?

[Jimmer]

I'm looking towards NAUI Tech 1 around March or so, and want to start getting some things together. High on my list is a primary light. I'm pretty much settled on Salvo, still up in the air over the HID/LED issue, but the main thing right now, is that I can't decide what power output to look into. I have seen a lot of 10 watt HID's around here, but I'm wondering if the 21 watt would be more suitable for the dark murky great lakes diving that I do.

Any input is appreciated.

Jim

 

[PerroneFord]

Buy as much as you can afford. I have a 21w and occasionally wish for more, but I dive in very clear water. The Salvo 10w is VERY bright though for a 10w.

 

[DA Aquamaster]

In murky/silty water, a tight intense beam will burn through a bit better than a wider beam. An enclosed non focusable reflector is also not as silt dependent. So in short, a simple non-focusable head like the MR-11 is not a bad choice in poor viz.

Otherwise yes, buying as much light as you can afford has some appeal, although the price almost doubles when you go from 10W to 18-21W. To be honest the real area where more watts is an advantage is in wreck diving where the viz may be less than perfect - if the wrecks are large. The hanger deck on the oriskany for example eats light and leaves you wanting 35W or 50W. In caves however, while you can readily see the difference between 10W 21W and 35W lights, I have never felt like 10W was inadequate as can be the case in offshore wreck diving.

LED is something I would avoid, in a primary at least. I ran a 10W HID and a comparable "10W" LED light head to head this weekend while cave diving (including switching from one to the other and also comparing my LED to another 10W HID in use by a buddy) The LED performs remarkably well in clear water but really falls down as the water gets murky or tanic colored. In both those cases the HID's much more intense center spot really makes itself apparent. So for low viz/murky conditions it is a no brainer to go with the HID.

I am however very impressed with LED as a back up and I am seriously considering using the cord attachment on my DR LED backup along with a Salvo goodman handle and carrying it in a dry suit pocket rather than as a handheld on the shoulder strap. Configured that way it handles and performs almost like a primary. I just have to get the Hog voices in my head to stop screaming "OMG NO...DON'T DO IT!!"

As an aside, I am so glad I was able to make this post - it got me off post number "6666".

 

[flareless]

I have a Salvo Havoc 21W HID primary and 2 Salvo Rat backup lights. Carrying the Havoc is like carrying a portable sun. Last Sunday we did a 30 minute drift at 170 in dark river water. I was behind the leader and I pointed my light so the beam focused just in front of him, obliterating the beam from his 50W halogen light. After the dive he told me he loved it because he had a ton of light. I told him I did it so that if it got dark he'd wondered what had happened to me

Seriously though, if you're diving darker, colder water then consider the 21W HID over the 10. I'm really glad I got the extra power!

As for the LEDs, I'd stay away from them too for a primary, at least for a while. The Rat LED backup lights are incredible. They're brighter than some main lights I've seen. My teammate grabbed my second backup for an unexpected easy penetration when he didn't bring his main. He was stunned (as were the rest of us) at how bright the Rat lit the way. I've been really thrilled with the Salvo set up.

 

[texdiveguy]

I use a DR wreck 50w halogen, it works fine but this is now for the most part a relic--lol.....I would look at a 21w unit were I purchasing tomm..

 

[Scared Silly]

We have a couple of Salvo 10w HID. Great little lights. Most of our diving is in clearer water so they are fine match. I think if I was spending more time in darker waters I would go with the 21w HID. But as was said there is a big price jump. Most of that is in the batteries.

 

[Rainer]

For tech diving in places without a lot of ambient light, a 10W is fine. If you do a lot of shallower dives as well in decently clear water, I much prefer a 21W.

 

[dab]

80% of my diving is in the Great Lakes. For a couple of years I was using a Salvo 21w hid and loved it. Until I got good deal on a Salvo 50w hid, now I wouldn't be caught without it. At first I was worried that it might be too much light, and actually decrease viz when there is a lot of backscatter in the water. I have not found that to be the case. On deeper dives where there is no ambient light, this light has been nothing short of incredible. I've never had a problem with a Salvo light yet. For Great Lakes diving, skip the 10w, go for as much light as you can afford. You'll see a lot more.

 

[Rick Inman]

I have a buddy with a 50w, and I hate him.

With more people buying the 35 & 50w lights, a 10w just doesn't get the attention when crossing their beams that it used to. I have the Salvo 21w, which when I bought it a sun stick. Now, it's feels like the minimum required to keep up, signal wise.

 

[ucfdiver]

I have a 10w HID for cave diving, and I had no issues signaling my buddy who has a 21w LED, and one who had a 21w HID. When it's really dark, there's not a big difference between the two, but in open water with ambient light, it's really obvious.