Is it worth buying to use only once?

[freewillie]

Several comments. If you don’t think you will enjoy night diving, why sign up for the course? Alternatively, talk to the instructor to see if you can borrow or rent a larger light. You may go nuts over night diving and have an entirely different view of what kind of light to get. It is a kick.

On the other hand, I rarely carry a large light during daylight dives to 160-200' here on the central and north coast of California.

Actually, I think I'm going to love night diving. It's more of a question finding dive buddies. For now, the only time I think I will have opportunity to schedule night dive would be on vacation.

 

[freewillie]

It's against most agency's standards to count a single dive as both a deep and a wreck dive for AOW.

same trip. two tank dive.

also, found package at scuba.com (it's near my house, and can swing by pick up without paying for shipping). Princetec Tec LED Island Package, $140. Miniwave, Impact XL, and Eco flare. Wasn't quite sure if was going shell out extra $$ but leaning towards buying the box. Just want to make sure not wasting the $$

 

[TSandM]

Well, the most expensive item I've bought for very sporadic use was my scooter. I doubt I do a dozen scooter dives a year. But I have been on a handful of dives where the scooter was worth what I paid for it, just for that dive -- being safe and confident in a situation which would otherwise be stressful or impossible is hard to put a value on.

 

[scubadobadoo]

Use two small, inexpensive lights. Large lights are simply not needed in most cases. Large lights kinda kill the whole idea of a night dive for me and they usually just scare marine life away at times.

 

[g1138]

Most expensive 1 use item I've ever bought?
$1.89 glow stick, that's including tax

I would buy a good bright small light with a wide-ish angle beam. You can use that for your night dive and as a backup for all future dives day or night.

Examples that come to mind are:
- Intova Compact Torch (130 lumens; narrow beam; 3 AAA)
- Intova Tactical, Wide, Nova Wide, Mini (130-220 lumens; wide beam; 2 CRE 123)
- Dorcy Penetrator 220 (220 lumens; narrow beam; 6 AAA)

With all these examples I would recommend snipping the lanyard and tying a bolt snap to the light so you can clip it to your D-ring or strap and forget about it.
You can also buy a Oxycheq Raider III/IV light sock which will fit all the lights listed. That way you can hold the light and still have 2 hands free.


I wouldn't recommend pistol grip torches. Most pistol grip torches I've seen are bulky, not that bright, and cumbersome to use. You are forced to drop it at times when you deflate, check gauges, signal etc. Then you have to fumble around to get it back into position. You will have this problem with most lights actually, the one difference is, smaller lights are easier to get a hold of and reposition with one hand rather then the 2 it takes to reposition a pistol grip. YMMV

 

[hmarashi]

I love doing night dives here in San Diego. I use a princeton tec LED. I have my little gopro mounted on it.
I have a little intova as my back up. A decent open water primary light can be had for under $140. If you get serious about night or limited visibility dives, then go to the big light canons.

 

[p1p]

I've got a Big Blue CF250, around 150$ with a Goodman glove. Works well above water too. Small, easy to carry. I bulk buy Lithiums AAA's off of ebay.

If money wasnt an object, the Sola 1200 is just awesome.(675, get from scubatoys w/10% discount on top of that).

 

[ScubaBB]

Like with most equipment, with a lamp it is like this. You won't really know what you need/want until you've made at least a few nightdives. So my advice; rent or borrow first.

 

[Bombay High]

Borrow, rent , steal - in that order for a one time use. Do not buy. It will give your wife high blood pressure for the next 20 years, everytime she sees it !

 

[Garrobo]

I bought a small lite once which was a waste of money. Next I bought one with a 4" lense that holds 8 rechargeable D batteries. That one works pretty decently. I've only done a half dozen nite dives in five years but I keep the lantern in my pickup and charged up at all times in case I need one on the road at night. You see, they'll work in or out of water.