UWSojourner:
Simple question. Is the only DIR light a canister light? (Besides backup of course).
Ohhh... is the Surge backup OK, or is only scout lights ok?
Trust me, the last thing you need in the class is more task loading.
Many, many of us on the dark side dive without lights, or with the lights we can afford / have already - from small 2XC cell to the akward, front heavy, battery chewing LightBricks (light cannons...) I dove the latter for many months.
These days its a canister light for me, and one overrated scout light as my back up. The canister light is simply the best investment I've made in my scuba gear, and will be the last thing to go should I find myself needing to liquidate one day. No other single piece of gear delivers as much pleasure (its just fun looking into places) and better peace-of-mind for me and my dive buddies. I love it.
I poo poo'ed it (there's that word again... twice in one week. I rule) for quite awhile... I mean high three digits for a flashlight? Get a grip. But its been totally worth it.
The scout light is just a red dot that will always work. Its not for recreational illumination (although BWERB and I lit up a dive this fall with it...!) as much as for safety.
Get the best light you can afford. Canisters can be had for a few hundred dollars all the way up to over $1000. Get a canister if you can swing it, and integrate it with the rig. The best light sucks is you leave it on the deck. Since my light became part of my BC, its been on every dive for the last year+, and I've never once regretted taking it along. I don't always use it, but I always have it with me.
Headlamps... yeah right. Ask you buddy how much he likes yours, as soon as he can see again.
K
