Primary Light - GUE fundies

[crofrog]

I have pretty much the opposite opinion. I dove with a canister light or years and switched over to handheld specifically because they are much easier to live with. Here’s why:
1. My handheld, with an extra battery, cost 1/3 what a typical LM or UWLD costs

What does cost have to do with it once it’s in the water?

2. It’s much easier to fly with.

How do you figure. It’s carry on either way. Canister lights are fun to put through the xray though lol

3. Switching between BM and SM is a non-issue.
4. I carry a backup in my pouch, giving me full redundancy for most of my cave dives (first 120 minutes or so) If I’m doing two dives, I switch the battery out between dives.

5. No cord management means less task loading. This is true even if you’re good at task loading.

All fun and games until you drop your light switching hands on the scooter

Managing the light cord is not a complex skill.

 

[Lorenzoid]

Give both corded and cordless a try. Borrow a light if you have to for the course. Fundies is a great opportunity to try things out. Talk over pros and cons of each with your instructor.

 

[JoeTPhilly]

A primary light is not required for Basic - Fundamentals. For Tech - Fundamentals, the new standards require a corded light. Just do Basic Fundamentals without a primary or borrow one for the course.

 

[FEZ]

Who are you doing fundies with? Where are you doing them.

The Midwest GUE group is great. They orginized our fundies classes this spring, I just took the tech fundies and it was an incredible course.

I am doing good, progressing with the material and practicing my swimming. I am in pretty good shape but the swimming part is killing me . Have a lot of work to do to improve my technique

I talked to my instructor a no primary light is needed. Depending on how my first day goes I’ll might rent a canister to practice but I don’t want to try to do “too much” during class if that makes sense.

 

[Lorenzoid]

I talked to my instructor a no primary light is needed. Depending on how my first day goes I’ll might rent a canister to practice but I don’t want to try to do “too much” during class if that makes sense.

Good plan. I hated the corded light at first, then grew to prefer it. I think it would be worthwhile to have your instructor show you how to use a corded light just to see what it's all about. But no need to use it for the whole course if you don't want to.

 

[San Diego Climber]

I can’t really think of anyone who has a primary light who wouldn’t gladly let ya borrow it for class, myself included. Maybe not have as many non-cave-divers lend gear any cave classes though, first blind exit and your stuff is gonna look very much not new anymore.

 

[BabyLitigator]

I think it’s the other way around. Cordless lights are a specialized tool. They’re great as backup primaries, or when you’re in really confined spaces, but otherwise is a canister light is just easier to live with. Less weight and bulk on your hand, good for multiple dives without charging even recreational diving you really want 4 hours of burn time, and if you drop it it’s attached to you which is very nice.

There was something I was wondering about on this, especially as battery technology has progressed in the last few years. In terms of run time and weight on the hand, how much worse is a top-of-the line handheld light from 2025 (esp. with the good Chinese batteries that we aren't allowed to import) than, say, a top-of-the-line corded light from 1990?

To be clear, my primary is a corded light and it's what I use, but do wonder if the technology may be catching up. Obviously there is the part where the light is literally tied to your hip so you won't drop it but there are solutions to that problem that weigh less than a canister. Is there a GUE view of "at this level of battery weight/power/storage in the hand it would be okay not to have the cord"?