Purchasing a Dive light....I'm ready for the dark

[jsado]

Well, I did. Hopefully I like it when it gets here. It's the UK c4 eLED. It was in my price range and it was LED so I figured what the heck. Now I can night dive with my buddy (who prefers night diving over daytime). So, I have two questions....


1) Is anyone familiar with this light and is it any good?

2) Why are there dive lights that cost almost $1000.00?


OH!! and by the way...at my favorite online retailer, the light cost me less then half of what they were charging at my LDS.

 

[Blackwood]

1) Is anyone familiar with this light and is it any good?

I have one (actually, it may be a C8... I don't remember). It's now my downstairs "power-outage" flashlight, but it was decent underwater. Good color, adequate brightness. I didn't care for the form factor (found it cumbersome), but that's just me.

2) Why are there dive lights that cost almost $1000.00?

There are lights that cost well above $1,000. I have a middle-of-the-road primary light that cost more than that.

Why do they cost more? Different technology, different power requirements, ballast/igniter, etc.. Plus the bulbs themselves are costly.

 

[alphonsis]

I have the same light and it is pretty nice. It's strong enough to be a primary light, although it's rated at a backup light. I've yet to have any problems with it, although the one thing I've heard about it is that unlike most leds, it doesn't get dimmer when the batteries start running low. This gives you more time at full brightness, but it may surprise you when the batteries finally die.

 

[merxlin]

Well, I did. Hopefully I like it when it gets here. It's the UK C4 eLED. It was in my price range and it was LED so I figured what the heck. Now I can night dive with my buddy (who prefers night diving over daytime). So, I have two questions.....1) Is anyone familiar with this light and is it any good?

Yes and yes. Others will say no. I've had one for 1 1/2 years and no floods, good light, and works well. Great battery life. I use rechargeable C-cells and can do 4 night dives without appreciable loss of brightness without recharging the batteries. The amount of light you need is very subjective - in low viz situations this particular light might not be enough, in warm Caribbean clear water it can be too much. For me in So Cal its just about right. But then I hate night dives that look like daylight from too many HID's (Note- never dive with 3 guys with video cameras if you want a true night dive. You can come back with a sunburn through your wetsuit from some lights )

2) Why are there dive lights that cost almost $1000.00?

For certain dive situations this type of light is critical. In general, for a recreational night dive, it is not.
JMHO

 

[BGF]

I have a c8 and love it as a primary. Nice white light and like merxlin I use the rechargable batteries and they last for a long time. I use the Q40 as backup and they are also great. Overall, I'me very pleased with every UK light I have tried.

 

[Guba]

I've gotta admit...

On a trip to Coz, I'd feel pretty silly wearing an HID light that cost more than the trip itself.

But then, I'm just a recreational diver and my Shockwave and IQ40 do just fine for what I do.

 

[Blackwood]

On a trip to Coz, I'd feel pretty silly wearing an HID light that cost more than the trip itself.

I sort'a wish I'd brought my HID light with me on my last trip. I tried taking underwater photos, and the light would have been nice.

I'm planning either Honduras or Coz next spring, and will certainly bring my light.

 

[Air On]

Yes online is cheaper then LDS normaly... now try and return it if it breaks...

I did a bit of research into lights and ended up getting the Princton 3 LED light combo pack.
Has a nice 2 level brightness Pistol grip main light (that doesn't overhead out of the water) with a leash system included. A more flashlight shaped backup light that has a retractor included (Its compact enough to just leave on the BC) It has a small strobe light included too... Unfortunatly 6 out of 7 of these I've seen have a bad batch of plastic on the white lense. If it has ANY cracking at the threads, get the things replaced... Or get them to trade you for a discount on a Glow Tube. The glow tubes are better anyhow for the small take lights.

The really nice part about the LEDs, they are directional and bright so you can light up A spot without blinding your dive buddy. Then you can drop it down a notch and have a less intense flood light. It also isn't too hot to hold to your chest or filter through your fingers.

The scariest thing I've had on a night dive so far... moving with surge and seeing a urchin covered rock wall becoming viasble in my light... uh oh.

 

[crosing]

I travel with my HID cannister light. I love it!

 

[J.A.S.]

Save your pennies, get a 10Watt HID. It's worth it for all environments and will out last and save you more in the long run.

Safe diving. and enjoy the night!!