Inexpensive Primary Light for Rec Diving

[Robert H. Diver]

They're pretty close performance-wise, but while the 550 is 1000 lumens v. 1300, it also has longer burn time. And comes with two batteries instead of one. Probably can't go wrong with either.

I own a few of both, I prefer the 530 because of the button location, but they’re both good lights.

 

[Jake 10]

1000 Lumens Dive Light

The MAKO Spearguns 1000 Dive Light delivers a HUGE 1000 Lumens with 70 degree projection and 8 degree center beam. Rated to a depth of 150 meters.

makospearguns.com

Bought two (2) of these and they work great.

 

[lukeb]

DGX 600 and DGX 800 are both solid lights. I've used them for years with no issues.

 

[wetb4igetinthewater]

1000 Lumens Dive Light

The MAKO Spearguns 1000 Dive Light delivers a HUGE 1000 Lumens with 70 degree projection and 8 degree center beam. Rated to a depth of 150 meters.

makospearguns.com

So I like the items I have purchased from this company as they are well made and I like to support a company to maximize their profit margins.

That said, I prefer hard Goodman handles. Does anyone have experience with this product Cave Adventurers - Dive Rite Handmount, Goodman for MR11/H10/H1000 screwmount - Marianna, Florida USA - Never Undersold! or something similar for mounting a normally handheld light to a hard Goodman handle?

 

[RyanT]

The DGX lights are nice and they are priced well, but I haven't had them hold up. One flooded through the lens and one just died. I've had better luck with the Krakensports lights. I also like the batteries with a USB-C charging port. The Kraken NR-1000 has this feature.

 

[tursiops]

I too have an Ocratorch D530 (button on side, comes with 1x18650 with micro-USB charging port) and a D550 (button on tail, comes with 2x18650, strobe mode). The D530 has a slightly narrower beam, and the physical light is slightly smaller; I can't really tell the difference in the brightness. Both are well-made, with triple (!) o-rings. The Mako light (linked above) is a rebranded D550. Either is plenty bright for Bonaire, even on low power. Both fit easily in a Goodman sock. In a sock, I prefer the tail switch (D550). Clipped on a d-ring, I prefer the side switch (D530).

 

[Ontwreckdiver]

I have 2 Kraken NR 2000 lights and really like them.

Dive Lights – Kraken Sports

krakensports.ca

 

[Alaskan Scuba Dude]

I would just go for the DGX 300 lumens. Price is satisfactory, and if your children happen to lose it. No great loss. Make sure they use a lanyard.

 

[hdtran]

I use a Underwater Kinetics SL-4 eLED L-1 (I've had it for years now). It uses 4 C-cells, and the C-cells easily last for a one week trip (with use in daytime to highlight something, and for night dives). I don't know that they are easily available anymore.

What I like: The O-ring seal is really solid, the on-off switch is separate (not twist-to-turn-on) and very simple (no complicated failure modes). This light has been very reliable (no issues whatsoever). The rental light that my buddy rented in 2021 was iffy (on-off switch stopped working completely, and looked too complicated to fix--I want to say it was an Ikelite clone to the UK SL-4, but I don't really remember).

Not so much: Removing the batteris and putting new batteries in is a bit of an exercise.

I'm now looking for a backup light--my backup light flooded (it's a twist-to-turn-on, uses AA's, LEDs, but not greatly bright).

 

[rhwestfall]

no need for 1k LM in Bonaire... You will scare everything away...