Is a dual beam flashlight better than a narrow beam

[Daddyshak]

Would a dual beam flashlight be better for night diving versus a narrow spotlight type
Has anyone used the newer underwater kinetics C4 dive light? I’ve used them many years ago, but would like to upgrade.

 

[Outbound]

People have their preferences, but generally speaking a narrow-beam dive light is the way to go for just about every non-videographic application. I would skip the dual beam and just get a dedicated narrow beam light. For night diving especially this is important. The backscatter you get with a wide-beam is annoying and the wide-beam is annoying to just about everyone else you're diving with. You can also signal better with a narrow-beam.

 

[davehicks]

It depends on your needs. A light that can toggle wide/narrow is a good option in my opinion.

I prefer a wide beam light as it illuminates a large section of a reef to see the true colors. A narrow beam may overexpose a small slice and does not show you as much. For night dives or diving in darker waters (PNW emerald green overcast for example) a wide beam is far better. Switch to narrow for peering into cracks and caves or signaling.

 

[lucca brassi]

Zoomable light covers both lights. You just don't have to mess all the time between them

 

[Daddyshak]

People have their preferences, but generally speaking a narrow-beam dive light is the way to go for just about every non-videographic application. I would skip the dual beam and just get a dedicated narrow beam light. For night diving especially this is important. The backscatter you get with a wide-beam is annoying and the wide-beam is annoying to just about everyone else you're diving with. You can also signal better with a narrow-beam.

 

[Daddyshak]

Thank you for the info to all. I’m not that great at this and still learning how to navigate. Love the site and all the different views and preferences of the members and look forward to posting.

 

[datattack]

For photo and video applications, a 120 degree(or wider) angle light is preferred because there's no hotspots and has even lighting but the con about that is you aren't able to signal with it since it's just such a wide angle.

A flashlight with a hotspot like 20 degrees or less would be nice cause you can point to things or signal to your dive buddy(like for night diving or peering into cracks like other posters above have mentioned).

Zoomable lights are the best of both worlds but the downside is it might not be "wide" enough like a video light but would probably be good enough.

If you only had one option, I would probably go with a zoomable light so at least you can see what suits you better with the flexibility of having one light. Having one light also reduces your task loading not having to worry about multiple lights on the dive starting out.

I might go evening/night diving later this week so I will try to get a sample picture of a video light and tighter beam light side by side and post here if I can.

 

[lucca brassi]

For example narrow light at reef : beam is very tight and concentrated. You cover only a tiny part of whole picture ... and evry part you see is overilluminated... looking back in to darkness you stay blind because your eyes get to much backlight. And animals just to hide away from this intensive light beam.

 

[Wibble]

I like a primary light with both narrow and wide beam options. Aside from video, wide beams are good in a confined space such as inside a wreck where you see more without literally scanning a narrow beam to get an overview.

I currently use this light, which was a replacement for a Light-for-Me NW7 that broke.

AUDACIOUS - Anchor Dive Lights

Aimed at cave divers and night divers, the AUDACIOUS has the ability to optionally run both Wide and Spot together at the same time. This works because the color temperature is the same together with our unique design of the spot reflector. Also Aimed at creative underwater photographers because...

anchordivelights.com

 

[davehicks]

One other note on lights. As you get more lights, camera strobes, etc you start to collect a variety of battery types, some of which use proprietary chargers. In the last couple of years, I've moved to standardize on devices that use 21700 type batteries. I still have a few torches that use 18650s, but I moved those to backup. I won't buy anything that uses a proprietary charger/battery if I can at all avoid it.