Primary Light - GUE fundies

[grantmac]

For me handhelds are cheap lights I'd lend or only be a bit upset dropping. My primary is always corded.
I watched $800 worth of handheld (not mine) descend into the black on deco during a night wreck dive and don't wish to experience that.

 

[floppa]

It’s not complex but I’ve personally had the following happen to me or observed them.

• Had the permanent tie come undone when jumping in the water. I don’t know if it broke or wasn’t tied right or what, but the cord made it so they didn’t drop there primary.
• I have and have watched others miss the clip going to the shoulder dring for temporary stowing the light
• Dropped the light while trying to use the thumb loop on my index finger because the the thumb trigger on blacktips.

If you dive often enough you will see this. If you drop your primary and can’t get it back you’ll be big sad.

The flare is perfect for some situations, but the corded light should be the default. I’ve got 4 corded primaries and 1 flare. Plus some other cheaper handheld lights.

I don't really have strong disagreements withwhat you say. Well, some of it anyways. I have had over 500 dives with a primary light and I have lost backup lights due to breaking cave line.

People should be checking if something is clipped when doing any clipping before letting go of things. After all, not everything has a cord (Go Pro, Backup light etc). Never used a black tip but haven't had issues on Seacrafts/Suexes/Genesises so I will take it on faith that that is a risk.


At the end of the day, there are scenarios where even considering all you talk about a handheld makes sense. Perhaps shore scootering where you are not doing whacky stuff midwater. At least, there are moments where I have camera gear, bottles on my left, a scooter on my right and I find shimmying the light cord between them to be annoying enough to wish for one.

 

[Nick_Radov]

.If you dive often enough you will see this. If you drop your primary and can’t get it back you’ll be big sad.

Yes, I have seen two divers fumble and lose expensive handheld lights on the surface. If nothing else a canister light cord makes a pretty effective lanyard.

 

[passedoutwookie]

I have also watched a brand new, very expensive handheld drop into swiss cheese of rock deep in a cave in Mexico. Not a good feeling. Thankfully it was recovered, days and multiple recovery attempts later.

You don’t have to go straight to the most expensive can light. The orca or dive gear express can lights are good entry level can lights and are probably cheaper than a lot of the more expensive handhelds.