Kryssa
Contributor
I am going on my first night dive and need to buy a primary, back up, and marker light. Do you have any reccomendations? I'm on a budget an would love to them for under $150 total if possible.
Night diving lights
- Thread starter Kryssa
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The UK C-4 & C-8 lights (Retail for about $50- $70) actually have 2 seperate lightbulbs in them. 1 could be used for a primary & the other back up. If you prefer to have a seperate back- up light, then the UK Tech 40 does very well (retails about $40). The little LED tank marker lights do very well. They retail for about $20 or so.
All of that for $150? Lets see...
Primary: (until I get a Canister light this is what I use) Underwater Kinetics C8 eLED Plus Light...$186 w/ free shipping.
Back up: Intova Nova LED Torch w/Slide Switch...$49+$6 for medium SS bolt snap and free shipping (I love these as my back ups)
Marker: glow stick fro local convenience store...$1
Total: $242. Shucks. A quality recreational primary light under $150 is hard to find, let alone everything else.
If price is too limiting, try: Princeton Tec Adventure Pack Light Set. Be forewarned that I do not have experience with this system and recommended it solely on price limitations.
Primary: (until I get a Canister light this is what I use) Underwater Kinetics C8 eLED Plus Light...$186 w/ free shipping.
Back up: Intova Nova LED Torch w/Slide Switch...$49+$6 for medium SS bolt snap and free shipping (I love these as my back ups)
Marker: glow stick fro local convenience store...$1
Total: $242. Shucks. A quality recreational primary light under $150 is hard to find, let alone everything else.
If price is too limiting, try: Princeton Tec Adventure Pack Light Set. Be forewarned that I do not have experience with this system and recommended it solely on price limitations.
Bubbletrubble
Contributor
For a primary light, you can probably make do with an 8C LED light, such as the Princeton Tec Shockwave eLED or the UK 8C LED light. The Princeton Tec Miniwave LED light uses 4C batteries but has approx. the same output as the Shockwae eLED.
I use the Princeton Tec 40 light as a backup. It can be found for under $15 online.
Alternatively, you can choose to splurge a little on the light and get a more powerful UK Light Cannon. They cost about $180 online.
I prefer the LED lights because of the lower maintenance cost -- you don't have to worry about bulb replacement. Before purchasing a Light Cannon, research how much a replacement bulb is.
Scubatoys.com sells a nice Princeton Tec LED dive light package for $180. With a 10% ScubaBoard Forum discount, your final cost including shipping would be around $162 and it includes a couple of retractors. Not bad at all.
Ask other local divers what they'd recommend. In murky or low vis water, a stronger, more expensive light might be better (and safer) to use.
I use the Princeton Tec 40 light as a backup. It can be found for under $15 online.
Alternatively, you can choose to splurge a little on the light and get a more powerful UK Light Cannon. They cost about $180 online.
I prefer the LED lights because of the lower maintenance cost -- you don't have to worry about bulb replacement. Before purchasing a Light Cannon, research how much a replacement bulb is.
Scubatoys.com sells a nice Princeton Tec LED dive light package for $180. With a 10% ScubaBoard Forum discount, your final cost including shipping would be around $162 and it includes a couple of retractors. Not bad at all.
Ask other local divers what they'd recommend. In murky or low vis water, a stronger, more expensive light might be better (and safer) to use.
I would not consider a second light bulb in the same light as a "backup light," per se. The most common type of failure in a dive light is flooding. If your one dive light with two light bulbs floods...you're screwed. Much better to have a completely separate backup light.
I bought one of these a few months ago and highly recommend it. It is a bit above your price point but it comes ready to go with batteries, a nice lanyard for the big light, a retractor for the small, and the eco flare.
The freebie light is junk, but it works OK around the house.
Buy Princeton Tec shockwave led pack - with reviews at scuba.com
The freebie light is junk, but it works OK around the house.
Buy Princeton Tec shockwave led pack - with reviews at scuba.com
a22shady
Contributor
This is the brightest light for the money and is very reliable.
Piranha Dive Manufacturing
Penetrater 220
220 Lumens of Light Output! This light is bright!!
Dimensions 6.5" L X 1.5 W
Submersible (IPX-8) to a depth of 100 meters (328 Feet)
Uses Cree Q4 LED
New body with a Hard Anodized Finish
Our 220 model has a new head for easier turning it on / off underwater
Twist On and Off Funtionality (No Push Button Switch)
This light has dual o'rings (2) to prevent flooding
8 Hour Run Time
Piranha's Price: $49.99 (Suggested Retail Price:$99.99) For 1
Or 2 Light Special
Piranha's Price: $94.99 (Suggested Retail Price:$199.98)
Piranha Dive Manufacturing
Penetrater 220
220 Lumens of Light Output! This light is bright!!
Dimensions 6.5" L X 1.5 W
Submersible (IPX-8) to a depth of 100 meters (328 Feet)
Uses Cree Q4 LED
New body with a Hard Anodized Finish
Our 220 model has a new head for easier turning it on / off underwater
Twist On and Off Funtionality (No Push Button Switch)
This light has dual o'rings (2) to prevent flooding
8 Hour Run Time
Piranha's Price: $49.99 (Suggested Retail Price:$99.99) For 1
Or 2 Light Special
Piranha's Price: $94.99 (Suggested Retail Price:$199.98)
James Bond boat entry
Contributor
900 Lumens at 79.00USD, make sure you read the reviews.
DealExtreme: $78.83 Diving Cree SSC-P7-C-SXO 3-Mode 900-Lumen LED Flashlight Kit (2*18650/4*CR123A/4*16340)
DealExtreme: $78.83 Diving Cree SSC-P7-C-SXO 3-Mode 900-Lumen LED Flashlight Kit (2*18650/4*CR123A/4*16340)
kanonfodr
Contributor
If your water is clear enough (SF Bay Area...on occasion) you could just do something like two Intova lights, maybe three if you get a deal. They have a fair amount of punch for such a little light, and depending on how you dive and what training you have, work just fine for signaling and putting some extra light into a dark place during the day.
Also, beware of the bigger recreational lights. I did a night dive last night and my Salvo Rats were giving me just as much punch as the 4C- and 8C-cell lights, albeit the beam was smaller. Personally, especially in silty conditions, I'd rather have penetration over coverage. Coverage means more light getting reflected right back into your eyes as opposed to actually cutting through the muck.
Peace,
Greg
Also, beware of the bigger recreational lights. I did a night dive last night and my Salvo Rats were giving me just as much punch as the 4C- and 8C-cell lights, albeit the beam was smaller. Personally, especially in silty conditions, I'd rather have penetration over coverage. Coverage means more light getting reflected right back into your eyes as opposed to actually cutting through the muck.
Peace,
Greg
Hatul
Contributor
There are two lights I recommend:
1. The Dorcy 220 lumen someone else recommended
and
2. Amazon.com: Coast LED Lenser TT7456CP D14 Waterproof Flashlight, Neon Yellow: Home Improvement
Both are small bright LED lights for under $50 each. In fact you can buy one each and use one as a backup. I have both and can highly recommend them.
Adam
1. The Dorcy 220 lumen someone else recommended
and
2. Amazon.com: Coast LED Lenser TT7456CP D14 Waterproof Flashlight, Neon Yellow: Home Improvement
Both are small bright LED lights for under $50 each. In fact you can buy one each and use one as a backup. I have both and can highly recommend them.
Adam
AfterDark
Contributor
I bought this package based on the recommendations of a trusted long time LDS operator,the son of the man that taught me to dive. I have NOT had these lights in the water yet. I'm looking at Mon, Tues, or Wed. for a night dive this week. I can say the primary light in that package is BRIGHT. It has two settings bright and really f'in bright! The 1st setting is more than bright enough to dive. Why the second setting is beyond me. It also has a "safety" to lock the switch closed so that it can't be turned on accidentally. They are light and seem to be of good quality. My other dive light (retired) still works and can still be used for diving but, it's 38 years old and heavy. It has been used for camping and boating also. I don't think these will last as long but, not much does these days.
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