RED Laser VS Green Laser ?

[OrcaTorch]

Hey Guys, would you prefer Red laser or Green Laser for underwater use?
How do diving instructors and commercial divers think of laser used underwater?

 

[EireDiver606]

IMO a red laser would be more useful as it’s easier to see in a “green” environment. Green laser would be harder to see in greener environments.

 

[lucca brassi]

yeah sure .........Eire Diver 606 ...... start studying physics and optics........ primary school stuff

 

[RainPilot]

I have used both, I actually have an Orca green laser. The green goes further for signalling underwater and is much better as a night rescue signal for helicopters than the red. The red had less impact on the fish BUT if you want to play laser dot and watch the clownfish chase it around like cats, then the green is better.

 

[EireDiver606]

yeah sure .........Eire Diver 606 ...... start studying physics and optics........ primary school stuff

?

 

[D_Fresh]

I have used both, I actually have an Orca green laser. The green goes further for signalling underwater and is much better as a night rescue signal for helicopters than the red. The red had less impact on the fish BUT if you want to play laser dot and watch the clownfish chase it around like cats, then the green is better.

I voted Green because of RainPilot's input, that sounds awesome!! (when done responsibly for only a moment)

But I do agree with Eire, red would have better contrast, but wouldn't go as far. So I think it all depends on your needs. Sounds cool either way though!

 

[RainPilot]

when done responsibly for only a moment

As long as you don't shine it in their eyes, I have no problem. A lot of the smaller territorial fish genuinely start to act like cats around the dot. Clowns, damselfish and sergeant-majors in particular have a great time chasing it around.

 

[Wookie]

I didn't vote. They both have their place. You can't see as far as either one will point, and if you are using them to measure or film, the backscatter from the green shows up more easily on the video, but the reflection from the red on the actual object being filmed is more pronounced.

So in what context do you mean?

 

[James79]

I have used both, I actually have an Orca green laser. The green goes further for signalling underwater and is much better as a night rescue signal for helicopters than the red. The red had less impact on the fish BUT if you want to play laser dot and watch the clownfish chase it around like cats, then the green is better.

In regards to a rescue signal, more and more civil recue companies (in the US at least) use night vision goggles.... which filter out blue-green and see into the near IR (making red light show super bright).

 

[RainPilot]

In regards to a rescue signal, more and more civil recue companies (in the US at least) use night vision goggles.... which filter out blue-green and see into the near IR (making red light show super bright).

When I flew maritime SAR back in dinosaur days, we did a bunch of live trials for signalling gear. The overwhelming daytime winner was a heliograph (small mirror) and for night time was any laser pointer. We tried green and red lasers, the older gen1 NVG gear was definitely happier with red but the newer kit seemed to give much better beam visibility on the green. I suspect that the photon energy level of the green laser compensates for the frequency inefficiency. That's a WAG btw, and I also haven't tried the newest gen optics. I shall borrow a set in the next while and try it out, feedback will be provided.

One of the biggest advantages is that, unlike mirrors, lights etc, the whole beam can be seen. This means that if you think they are looking for you, you can shine the laser straight up and the searchers will see the beam and be able to track to surface location.