Lighting plan for rec diver in 15-30 ft vis

[Matt S.]

I am shopping around for lights and I was hoping to get some opinions on my strategy.

I dive in the Seattle area, where 30 ft of vis is a good day. I need a light for peeking into dark holes and occasional night dives. (I will also do tropical dives on vacation.) I'm not going into wrecks or caves and I don't need more than a couple hours of burn time.

As I won't do a lot of night diving, cost is a big factor.

My very tentative plan is to get a PT Miniwave for use as a primary light, and some kind of small and inexpensive halogen or LED as a backup--just to get me surfaced if he primary dies. (The UK eLED Plus looks nice too but is much bigger and I don't need the extra burn time.)

If warranted, I'll upgrade to something better (eg cannister) later. I don't want to spend that kind of money until I know I need to. I'm a new diver with plenty of other things to buy. And even other hobbies.

I very much want some kind of light that I can strap on my wrist instead of lugging around, but those of course all cost quite a bit more. I have been looking at the Nocturnal LED, which seems really nice, but it's almost 3x the cost of a bright handheld LED. Handsfree is a big advantage though, especially since one hand is often fiddling with my camera already.

(I'm open to used gear, but of course you just have to wait and see what deals come along.)

Thanks for your thoughts.

 

[lamont]

http://www.salvodiving.com/10_115_235

 

[scubak]

Hey...I love my Dive Rite Hid lite...
Small, compact and works well for nooks and cranys...
Spendy, but I know I won't have to buy another one until this one poops out or I want to...
My deal is to buy gear only once...
K

 

[TSandM]

Matt, as you saw when you dove with us, not only are good primary lights necessary for nighttime, or for looking into nooks and crannies, but they're a fantastic communication tool, and even more, they're REALLY useful for avoiding or fixing buddy separation. A good primary light can allow you to be seen a lot further away than someone can pick your outline out of the murk.

So, if you're going to go with something that has the brightness of a 10W HID (which I think is the minimum around here), you have a number of choices. I was actually looking at a backup-light sized and shaped 10W HID at NWSD the other day (can't remember who makes it) which was priced at about $370. The UK Light Cannon is a common light with a pistol grip. I think with the non-rechargeable batteries, it costs under $300; with the rechargeable unit, it's around four-something. For a little more, you can buy the Dive Rite 10W HID canister light, but it can be problematic to figure out how to mount a canister light on a traditional BC. I can't remember if your Zeagle has harness-type waist straps or not.

Because of the mounting problems, I started out with a Nite Rider 10W HID. You can put that one on most standard BCs, but the light head isn't very tightly focused. It's a good light at night, but not as useful for daytime communication as some of the others. It cost me about $700. In that same price range are the Green Force lights.

But I think we should all just realize we're eventually going to buy 21W Salvo HID lights and bite the bullet and do it first, before we spend money on a bunch of lights we're going to keep around for friends to use . . .

On that note, if you ever want to borrow my Nite Rider and try it, you're welcome to do so.

 

[dsteding]

http://www.salvodiving.com/10_115_235

Dammit Lamont, I just drooled on my keyboard. Again. Stupid 35w can light. I hope I never dive with someone with one-then I'd have to buy it (but it is almost half the cost of a scooter . . . )

 

[Blitz]

I really wish that my old can light had waited about 3 more weeks before it flooded.

 

[lamont]

Dammit Lamont, I just drooled on my keyboard. Again. Stupid 35w can light. I hope I never dive with someone with one-then I'd have to buy it (but it is almost half the cost of a scooter . . . )

Work is *really* pissing me off these days. I'm sorely tempted to buy one of those to cheer me up...

 

[TSandM]

Yeah . . . What happened to the days when a $150 pair of shoes was enough to make me feel better?

 

[TSandM]

Back to the OP's topic: There are some LED backup-type lights that are reasonably bright, although not as good as an HID. The Photon Torpedo with the LED upgrade is a bright, focused light for around $150. Halcyon has the Scout/Mini Scout with the LED, too, but I'm too lazy to go look up what it costs. My husband bought an Ikelite light that uses 4 AA batteries, and it was VERY bright and well focused, but it didn't last very long before the switch malfunctioned.

 

[Matt S.]

If I settle for a "luggable" HID there are some pretty affordable choices like the Light Cannon. There is also a 12W Darkbuster Jr.

I guess I need to decide if I want to compromise on a LED luggable, spend more on a brighter HID luggable, more still on a handsfree LED which won't be HID-bright, or drop at least $500 on a can. (I'm sure I can figure out some way to mount the can on my BCD if it isn't too big.)

The Sartek 10W w/ 2 hour battery pack ($600) looks pretty nice. I think the same thing is available for $500 as a "Sea Elite," though that version comes with a 12 deg spread instead of 6 deg. I sure like the smaller head and soft handle on the Nite Rider though. Too bad about the poor focus.

The Salvo 10W 4.5 AH is available for $650 locally too.

(If I start to consider 21W systems my head will explode.)

Thanks everyone.