night dive . dive light set up

[Gabriel90512]

I'm going on my first night dive on back beach with Mass diving next Sunday.

I have to get a dive light back up light and a tank light.

I wanted to ask for advice and getting lights.
I know LED lights are very bright and very expensive
what other lights are nice a bright.

also what is a good tank light.

I would like to get my stuff from leisure pro if they have it.
or scubatoys.

also dose this sound like a good dive light for 140$

40!!! Brilliant white LEDs for a bright and broad beam
4 C-cell alkaline batteries for 4-5 hours at full power.
Lamp life 10,000+ hours
Power: 84 Lumens
Double O-ring sealed, with Twist on reliability. Depth rated 300 feet.
Lock-off switch to prevent accidental light-on.
Wrist lanyard included.
6.25"L x 2.9"W
Weight: 1.0 lb (0.45kg)


Thanks
Gabe

 

[Soggy]

How much money do you want to spend? The reality, is that nothing beats a good HID cannister light. A 10W cannister can run from $400-$900 depending on features. My 18W HID was the best money I ever spent on diving and it looks like a light sabre under water.

What you want is something really bright with a very focused beam. Wide beams (like flood lights) cause a lot of backscatter.

Tank lights are also kind of silly...they can hardly be seen at any distance, and if you are actually practicing good buddy skills, there is no reason to have one, as you'll be keeping good track of each other.

 

[Gabriel90512]

How much money do you want to spend? The reality, is that nothing beats a good HID cannister light. A 10W cannister can run from $400-$900 depending on features. My 18W HID was the best money I ever spent on diving and it looks like a light sabre under water.

What you want is something really bright with a very focused beam. Wide beams (like flood lights) cause a lot of backscatter.

Tank lights are also kind of silly...they can hardly be seen at any distance, and if you are actually practicing good buddy skills, there is no reason to have one, as you'll be keeping good track of each other.

im looking to spend about 150-200$

 

[Soggy]

im looking to spend about 150-200$

Ooops, I just read that you are going on your *first* night dive. Probably don't need to buy a HID light quite yet, though you might want one shortly.....they are a beautiful thing.

I just used an Underwater Kinetics (UK) SL4 and an Ikelite PC for 2 years before getting a cannister light. Both are around $35 or so and are 4-C cells. They are very small and fairly bright.

 

[large_diver]

There are several options from Princeton Tec or Underwater Kinetics (UK) that run from $35-70 that fit the bill.

I've owned all three of these models and have had good experience with them:

http://www.leisurepro.com/Catalog.a...6&CategoryID=972&Context=965&Filter=1=291,293

http://www.leisurepro.com/Catalog.a...7&CategoryID=972&Context=965&Filter=1=291,293

http://www.leisurepro.com/Catalog.a...5&CategoryID=972&Context=965&Filter=1=291,293

You can spend more on LED, rechargeable or other lights with added power, but for basic, relatively shallow recreational night dives, these work well and are relatively cheap. One thing to think about when chosing a light is how you will carry them without tying your hands up when you want to do things underwater (check guages, dump/add air from BC, ascents/descents, etc.).

If you are looking for a tank light, you can try something like this, but I would recommend something that doesn't flash (this one is a flashing strobe) -- very irritating to your fellow doivers underwater.

http://www.leisurepro.com/Catalog.a...3&CategoryID=972&Context=965&Filter=1=291,293

 

[wedivebc]

How much money do you want to spend? The reality, is that nothing beats a good HID cannister light. A 10W cannister can run from $400-$900 depending on features. My 18W HID was the best money I ever spent on diving and it looks like a light sabre under water.

What you want is something really bright with a very focused beam. Wide beams (like flood lights) cause a lot of backscatter.

Tank lights are also kind of silly...they can hardly be seen at any distance, and if you are actually practicing good buddy skills, there is no reason to have one, as you'll be keeping good track of each other.

I agree about the HID. The led is a very good backup light but they don't have a very focused beam for a primary. If you are looking for something a lot less expensive I have had very good luck with UK lights the c-8 and d-8 are very reliable and quite inexpensive.
As far as tank light soggy is correct about its limited use except that the instructor may want you to have it to help him locate you during the dive.

 

[Soggy]

As far as tank light soggy is correct about its limited use except that the instructor may want you to have it to help him locate you during the dive.

Very true...I can understand having tank lights to make the instructor feel warm and fuzzy.

I would suggest, for the purposes of the class, go to your local iparty store (there is one in Burlington, likely one in Waltham), and buy a 6 pack of glowsticks to get you through the class. Things hanging off of your tank are an entanglement hazard and in a buddy team, you should be able to keep track of each other perfectly fine.

If you do get a tank light, get one that doubles as a strobe, so you can attach it to an anchor line if need be as an additional navigation aid.

 

[RDP]

Have you looked at the UK Fathom Pack? It comes with four lights: C8, SL4, MQ40, & a Becon for around $100.00. I bought the pack and it performs well. It is not LED though.

 

[jchaplain]

Gabe,
Better go to a LDS if you're going to need it for next Sunday.
I just bought a UKC8 from PG Dive Shop in Newton. Good prices there. I think I got their last UKC8 though...so call them if you wanted one of those to make sure they can get another by the coming weekend.
Ebay has some there too..I liked the looks of the Princeton Tec2 I saw on E-bay for a good price. But then you have to wait for shipment and might miss your Sunday dive.
John C.

I'm going on my first night dive on back beach with Mass diving next Sunday.

I have to get a dive light back up light and a tank light.

I wanted to ask for advice and getting lights.
I know LED lights are very bright and very expensive
what other lights are nice a bright.

also what is a good tank light.

I would like to get my stuff from leisure pro if they have it.
or scubatoys.

also dose this sound like a good dive light for 140$

40!!! Brilliant white LEDs for a bright and broad beam
4 C-cell alkaline batteries for 4-5 hours at full power.
Lamp life 10,000+ hours
Power: 84 Lumens
Double O-ring sealed, with Twist on reliability. Depth rated 300 feet.
Lock-off switch to prevent accidental light-on.
Wrist lanyard included.
6.25"L x 2.9"W
Weight: 1.0 lb (0.45kg)


Thanks
Gabe

 

[Soggy]

Gabe,
Better go to a LDS if you're going to need it for next Sunday.

LeisurePro orders usually get to me the next day via UPS Ground. Gabe and I live in the same town.