recommendations for dive light?

[CindyH]

I am planning on an artifact recovery river dive that will be a definate poor visibility dive (picture diving in iced tea) with a moderate current. I will need a very bright flashlight or lantern for the dive and was wondering if anyone had any suggestions for these conditicions. thankyou! Cin

 

[JamesK]

Well, it all depends on what you are willing to spend. I highly recommend a canister light on a goodman handle for the type of diving you will be doing. An 18watt HID is going to be the brightest light you can get. However, htey are going to be expensive. A 10watt HID is another choice. They are nice and bright, about the equivialnt of a 50watt halogen, and are less pricey.

You can get a good one from:

www.extreme-exposure.com

or

www.diverite.com

 

[pt40fathoms]

For a primary light, an HID is the way to go. Don't waste money on cheeper lights, you will be disappointed. But carry a back up as well, this would be used only to get you back to the surface in the event of a failure of your primary light. It should be small, but no smaller than a standard flash light, and fit in a BC pocket or some other storage area that is handy but out of the way.

But for a primary, go with an HID. A little expensive, but you will not regret it.

 

[Aquamaniac]

Cindy.
A HID for one or two dives a year is not a good investment, See your LDS and see what they rent out. A 50 Watt Halogen will more than suffice for the occasional diver.
Dont throw your money away on a HID, as good as they are, they are specialist equipment.

 

[Iguana Don]

Cindy,

If you are going to be diving in "tea", get all the light that you can afford. A halogen light will just not cut the mustard when you're in zero viz and current. Everything will appear yellow with a halogen as compared to an off white with the HID.

Just went through this experience. Dove the Cooper River in Charleston, S.C. Black tea and 7kt current.

ID

 

[Aquamaniac]

ID.
Can you honestly recommend purchasing a HID for a one off dive??????
Why not just rent one?

Seems silly to advise a diver to spend upwards of $800.00 for 45 minute "tea dive"

Just MHO.

Dave

 

[pt40fathoms]

A hand held HID light from UK (Underwater Kinetics) without the recharge pack is $325.00 Canadian Dollars. Not as techie as the canister lights, but will delliver the same amount of illumination.

So the answer is, yes, an HID light can be recommended for the diver who may need it only a few times a year.

I have purchased all forms of lights, with all types of claims of brightness, the bottom line is that I spent money on lights that I later sold at half price.

 

[JamesK]

Yes, I can honestly recommend a HID to the once a year diver. Even a cannister type. Think about it, you spend $400+ on a BC, anywhere from $250-$700 on a regulator, $120+ on fins, etc etc, why not $450-$650 on a good HID. You can purchase a Pro4 or Pro3 Halcyon 10watt HID for under $600. You can purchase a DR 10watt with wreck 1 cannister and MR11 head for under $600. You can purchase a Rennacker light 10watt HID for under $500. Why not get the best equipment for the job? If you are going to be diving any kind of low vis, it will make a LOT of difference. IF you are strictly doing high vis and just need a light for night dives, and peeking in holes, then no an HID is not necassary.

 

[mddolson]

I dive in the Kawartha, Muskoka Lakes area of Ontario.
The water is Black tanin stained (Like dark tea)
I recommend as a minmum a cannister light.
I use a 50 watt halogen MR16 lamp. I'd recommend a flood or narrrow flood lamp (40° - 25°) beam angle.

This will yield an even spot about 3-4 feet in diameter at 5-6 feet distance. The narrower beams produce a brighter, more intense spot but is very small (1 -1 1/2 ft dia).

Mike D

:blfish:

 

[Aquamaniac]

JamesK once bubbled...
Yes, I can honestly recommend a HID to the once a year diver. Even a cannister type. Think about it, you spend $400+ on a BC, anywhere from $250-$700 on a regulator, $120+ on fins, etc etc, why not $450-$650 on a good HID. You can purchase a Pro4 or Pro3 Halcyon 10watt HID for under $600. You can purchase a DR 10watt with wreck 1 cannister and MR11 head for under $600. You can purchase a Rennacker light 10watt HID for under $500. Why not get the best equipment for the job? If you are going to be diving any kind of low vis, it will make a LOT of difference. IF you are strictly doing high vis and just need a light for night dives, and peeking in holes, then no an HID is not necassary.

Or....... go to your LDS, rent a 10w HID UK handheld for 20 bucks and spend the other $500 on a trip to Cozumel or better yet on a new ATX200 set.