LED back-up light options?

[DevonDiver]

Ok, so I've been living in remote locations for a few years and my awareness of the most up-to-date technologies is a little sketchy.

I need to get several new LED back-up lights, but am unaware of the best options currently available.

I always used to use the Aquastar LEDs, due to size, brightness, ruggedness and cost-effectiveness. However, I am aware that LED technology has progressed and wondered if a better option (in the same approx price range) now exists?

Being a lowly paid scuba instructor, the high-end (halcyon etc) options are a it beyond my reach.

What LED light/s do you recommend that are cheap, effective and easily available (I am based in the Philippines).

 

[Buccaneer]

Gulftex photon torpedo
These will last you a lifetime

 

[Anti-Hero]

Intova makes a pretty solid light. But they don't have a tight enough beam to be a signalling device.

 

[Meng_Tze]

Gulftex photon torpedo
These will last you a lifetime

yup, the best around in my mind.

 

[DevonDiver]

Looks like a great torch, but inital cost and shipping put it into a different bracket than the Aquatech torches I was planning to replace....

 

[300bar]

The Aquastar has evolved with the rest,the new ones are even brighter then the old ones.
I love mine.
A little cheaper might be the UK mini Q40 eLED

 

[Mayor]

The new OMS vega k2 is a very nice little light just a little small. The brightness of the vega k2 is so much better then my H LED light. Of course it does not take the standard c battery set up. This from a guy who is not a big fan of OMS.

Underwater Dive Lights & Strobes http://www.OMSdive.com

 

[DA Aquamaster]

Photon torpedos are great but the LED versison is $150. A Halycon Scout 3 Cell LED in comparision is only $50 more, so both probably fall in the "too expensive for lowly paid instructor" category.

More importantly, in my experience smaller non-dedicated light companies tend to contract for the LED modules from a larger company and given the rate of advancement in LED technology they tend to be much lower performing than lights sold by the larger light companies.

So...the choice tends to be getting a light with a great delrin body versus getting one with a first rate LED module offer brighter light and more focus.

The Princeton Tec Torrent sells for around $60 and has a great LED module. The body is not the same quality as the Scout or Photon Torpedo, but unless you are going to 400' the difference is not going to be all that noticeable. The switch is an issue as it is easier to accidentally activate, but with the LED's burn time, that is not a major problem, and is one that is fairly easily avoided with some care in stowing the light.

 

[Mayor]

The Princeton Tec Torrent sells for around $60 and has a great LED module. The body is not the same quality as the Scout or Photon Torpedo, but unless you are going to 400' the difference is not going to be all that noticeable. The switch is an issue as it is easier to accidentally activate, but with the LED's burn time, that is not a major problem, and is one that is fairly easily avoided with some care in stowing the light.

Nice light but I had issues with the switch the two dives I used it on plus the size is a bit large in the rig.

 

[Jim Lapenta]

Checkout the DORCY lights. 6 triple A batteries, al body 300 ft depth rating. very tight beam and 180 lumens! Around 50 bucks each. I had an ad for them selling at 2 for 98 but can't find it now. Pissed cause was gonna order 2 more!

Amazon has em for 44.99 and found it! Pirahna dive has em for 2 fo 93.98