Lights for OW diver

[dumpsterDiver]

One thing to consider, when diving in low visibility water (my definition 8 ft or less) a wide angle video light is pretty terrible. I was doing a night dive in bad vis not too long ago and was experimenting with different lights. The wide angle (video) light produced an incredible amount of back scatter and it ended up creating a big ball of illuminated haze in front of the light.

This bright blob, tend to compromise my night vision and it just didn't work well. A compact focused beam was much better for this type of night diving - even though it illuminated a smaller portion of the reef, it made the water look much clearer, because it penetrated further and I could see more.

Normally I am diving in 25 ft vis or better and the video light seemed to work quite well in those conditions, but in bad vis it sucked pretty bad.

 

[Diving Dubai]

I am just wondering if people can shed some light on what they use for OW lights. I would have posted in the equipment section but I guess tech/wreck divers would have a different set of light requirements.

Not looking for a can light or anything too expensive (I am already spending a fortune on gearing up) but just something for a bit of additional light for seeing into crevices or when swimming deeper.

Do you carry one or two? What strength of light? Switch type?

I'll also recommend the Underwater Kinetics Lights

I have the SL4 eLed which is easily clipped off and a narrow beam, great for looking under rocks and signalling. I also have the C8 eLed light canon which has a overhand grip, which is wide and great for night dives and wrecks. I attached a clip to the body for clipping off on my hip

Disadvantage for the C8 is the 8 C type batteries it takes ant the weight of it if you want to take it on holiday.

 

[Storker]

I just noticed that this question hadn't been addressed much.

Do you carry one or two?

For daytime dives, a light isn't necessary and a single light is just fine. For night dives, one should always carry a backup ("two is one, and one is none"). If you're at 20m, it's pitch black and your primary light dies, how are you going to find out where you are, what depth you are at and which way is up?

I usually carry two all the time, but that's for practical reasons. My backup is mounted on my harness, so it's more of a hassle to take it off and put it on, than to just leave it there all the time. Besides, being able to lend a light to a clubmate is sometimes appreciated

 

[Dirty-Dog]

For daytime dives, a light isn't necessary and a single light is just fine.

Agreed, mostly. Unless the place you're diving has swimthroughs of any length. And even if not really necessary, they're sure nice for peeking into holes.

For night dives, one should always carry a backup ("two is one, and one is none").

Agree completely.

If you're at 20m, it's pitch black and your primary light dies, how are you going to find out where you are, what depth you are at and which way is up?

Ummmm... my dive computer has a light (don't most?), my SPG glows in the dark, and your bubbles tell you which way is up. And your buddies lights tell you which way to go to tell them it's time to thumb the dive.

Besides, I've never really seen it "pitch black" on a night dive. And my buddies have lights. Hell, the LCD screen on my camera emits enough light to see by...

So it's probably not a huge deal. Unless there's an EMP that shuts off every light in the group at the same time, while at the same time the gravity is shut off and the moon is destroyed (cue Dr Evil...) to actually make it too dark to see.

I usually carry two all the time, but that's for practical reasons. My backup is mounted on my harness, so it's more of a hassle to take it off and put it on, than to just leave it there all the time. Besides, being able to lend a light to a clubmate is sometimes appreciated

I usually carry three, for much the same reason. My backups are on my harness, and my can light holds the longhose.

As far as lights for the OW diver go, don't get sucked into the cave diver mentality of brighter! Brighter! Must have more light!!!!!!!!!

If I turn on the aforementioned can light, the critters seem to think it's day time and go back inside the reef...

A few hundred lumens, with a broad beam and minimal (or no, if you're taking pictures) hot spot will work best. We've got lights from Princeton Tech, UK, Big Blue, DRIS and DGX that all work very well for night dives.

 

[Storker]

Ummmm... my dive computer has a light (don't most?),

Mine, too. But I'll be darned if I can find the light button by feel only. Drygloves with thick liners have a profound effect on your fingers' sensitivity to touch.

my SPG glows in the dark,

Mine doesn't. My "SPG" is my (not hoseless) AI computer.

and your bubbles tell you which way is up.

Provided you can see them. See below

And your buddies lights tell you which way to go to tell them it's time to thumb the dive.

Good point. So you'd better not lose your buddy

Besides, I've never really seen it "pitch black" on a night dive.

Try the type of night diving conditions I often have: 15-20m depth, 4-6m viz, overcast with no moon above the horizon. The only thing you'll be able to see if you turn off your light, is your buddy's light (if he's close enough), and the bioluminescent plankton. And of course your glow in the dark SPG dial...

 

[Dirty-Dog]

Mine, too. But I'll be darned if I can find the light button by feel only. Drygloves with thick liners have a profound effect on your fingers' sensitivity to touch.

You got too many buttons...
I used to dive a Nitek Q, now I'm using a Petrel 2. No need to find a button, but they're big and there's only two, so how could I miss?

Mine doesn't. My "SPG" is my (not hoseless) AI computer.

That's ok. You're headed up anyway, so your pressure is moot. And can't you feel your bubbles? I can, even with a hood on.

Try the type of night diving conditions I often have: 15-20m depth, 4-6m viz, overcast with no moon above the horizon. The only thing you'll be able to see if you turn off your light, is your buddy's light (if he's close enough), and the bioluminescent plankton. And of course your glow in the dark SPG dial...

If your buddy isn't close enough, then you had problems even before your lights all imploded.

 

[Storker]

You got too many buttons...

I've only got three. Still have a problem finding them by feel only, since they don't protrude from the face of the 'puter

can't you feel your bubbles? I can, even with a hood on.

I don't feel them much with my 10mm hood on. Heck, I can hardly hear them underwater with that hood on. And that's the one I use during the night diving season.

If your buddy isn't close enough, then you had problems even before your lights all imploded.

Totally agree.

 

[victorzamora]

5000 Lumen 60m CREE XM L T6 LED Diving Flashlight Torch Scuba Light Lamp US | eBay

That light looks awesome for the money....but please note that 2400lm is a pretty optimistc rating for that light and 5000lm is just hilariously wrong. At that price, though, it's pretty hard to go wrong!

 

[Colliam7]

I am just wondering if people can shed some light on what they use for OW lights. . . . Not looking for a can light or anything too expensive . . . but just something for a bit of additional light for seeing into crevices or when swimming deeper.

For recreational OW diving, I like a) flashlight-style, b) LED, c) 200-250 lumen d) push-button / slide / butt-rotation switch. I have an Intova, much like the one that tursiops referenced but with the slide swtich that they originally used, a Big Blue with a rotation butt switch, a Dorcy, and several others. The Dorcy is my least favorite simply because it takes two hands to turn on/off (front bezel twist switch), while I can manipulate side / butt switches with one hand. All of these are small enough to fit in a neoprene 'Goodman Glove' like doby45 mentioned, although I have attached a bolt snap to the base of each so i can also clip it to my right chest strap D-ring.

For OW diving, I usually carry 1 in my glove, and maybe one on my chest strap for darker conditions where failure of the '1' would compromise the enjoyment of the dive. None of them cost more than $125, and most of them were $40 - $70.

 

[tursiops]

I have an Intova, much like the one that tursiops referenced but with the slide swtich that they originally used

The slide-switch model uses the CR123 batteries, more costly and harder-to-find. The rear-push-button model uses AAA.
These days, the sweet spot seems to be the 18650 battery; see the https://www.divegearexpress.com/dgx-max-handheld-light for an 18650 light, with plenty of light, from a quality supplier, with a rotating ring switch (one hand!). this is probably my next backup light....until the next great thing comes along.