Seeking dive canister light recommendations for my GUE fundies course

[wetb4igetinthewater]

I'll be taking a GUE fundies course in Seattle in October. I'm looking forward to the instructor breaking some of my bad habits and having a dramatic improvement in dive skills. I want to get properly equipped for the course prior and dive the required configuration to get used to it. The only thing I'm missing is a dive canister light. I have the Halcyon Focus Handheld, but that is cordless.

I know there are 3 tradeoffs: price, burn time, brightness (and ability to focus/wider angle, and brightness levels).

I did a search and found some older threads:
Canister Light Advice & Metal Sub KL1256 vs KL1242
Sidemount canister light

Any newer lights that people would recommend? I do understand that battery technology is advancing rapidly. Would people recommend that I simply get the Halcyon canister for my Focus Handheld?

I was told by the LDS where I am teaching that they can get almost anything. I know they carry a fair bit of Hollis gear.

 

[Lorenzoid]

Are you taking it in double-tank configuration, with the goal of a Tech Pass? If not, then there is no requirement for a canister light. Have you asked your instructor whether it's required?

I'm not even certain it's still required for a Tech Pass. With the advent of handhelds like the handheld version of the Focus you have, they're not always necessary. My instructor wanted me to learn how to use a canister light based on the reasoning that you may need to borrow someone else's gear, and so you can't always count on having a handheld. However, I don't know if that was based on a GUE requirement or just his own preference.

Since corded/canister lights seem to be falling out of favor as technology continues to improve, for purposes of the above, I bought a used HID canister light for around $500. Good enough for Fundies practice.

 

[KevinNM]

In my opinion, there are two kinds of canister lights, lights suitable for actual use in cave diving, and those that are not. If you want one that is not - that is you want a canister light to practice with and show you know how to manage a canister light -, there is a $170 one on Ebay that I use that is fine. See this thread: Archon DH26 from ebay If you want a cave diving light, plan on spending $1200-1700 new and go with Halcyon, Light Monkey, or UWLD (or the few other comparable vendors).

Oh, and note there is no requirement that your light have a cord for a tech pass. You should be good with just the focus.

GUE Standards and Procedures, Version 7.4
93

Underwater lights:

Where required, back-up lights should be powered by alkaline batteries (not
rechargeable) and stowed on the d-rings at a diver’s chest.

Reserve lights should have a minimal amount of protrusions and a single attachment at its rear.

The primary light should consist of a rechargeable battery pack and be fitted with a Goodman style light handle.

Where burn time requirements create the need for an external battery pack, it should reside in a canister mounted to the diver’s right hip.

 

[wetb4igetinthewater]

Are you taking it in double-tank configuration, with the goal of a Tech Pass? If not, then there is no requirement for a canister light. Have you asked your instructor whether it's required?

I'm not even certain it's still required for a Tech Pass. With the advent of handhelds like the handheld version of the Focus you have, they're not always necessary. My instructor wanted me to learn how to use a canister light based on the reasoning that you may need to borrow someone else's gear, and so you can't always count on having a handheld. However, I don't know if that was based on a GUE requirement or just his own preference.

Since corded/canister lights seem to be falling out of favor as technology continues to improve, for purposes of the above, I bought a used HID canister light for around $500. Good enough for Fundies practice.

Yes, I will be in doubles and I will be shooting for a tec pass as well. I'll see the instructor on a tweak dive on Wednesday night and I'll ask him. Currenly, I have my reel on my right hip D-ring where the canister light is supposed to go. I'll ask about how to route the long hose.

 

[KevinNM]

Currenly, I have my reel on my right hip D-ring where the canister light is supposed to go. I'll ask about how to route the long hose.

You shouldn't have a d-ring on the right hip.

The continuous webbing should support five d-rings;
o
The first placed at the left hip
o
The second placed in line with a diver’s right collarbone
o
The third placed in line with the diver’s left collarbone
o
The fourth and fifth are placed on the front and back of the crotch strap where
divers plan to use advanced equipment like DPVs.

 

[wetb4igetinthewater]

You shouldn't have a d-ring on the right hip.

I know. I have that left over from PADI tec. But without a canister battery, how should I be routing my long hose without something there?

 

[KevinNM]

You either tuck it into the belt or you get something like the little delrin rod Halcyon makes for that purpose. But see what you instructor suggests.

 

[Lorenzoid]

I have seen the "little delrin rod" used in a Fundies class. For my first Fundies class, I used a pocket to tuck the hose under. So that's a third option.

 

[PfcAJ]

Yes, I will be in doubles and I will be shooting for a tec pass as well. I'll see the instructor on a tweak dive on Wednesday night and I'll ask him. Currenly, I have my reel on my right hip D-ring where the canister light is supposed to go. I'll ask about how to route the long hose.

Tuck it in your waist strap.

 

[halocline]

A canister light is a significant expense. Before you buy anything, I would determine what you want to use the light for long-term, then look for a light ideally suited to those conditions. And it's best if you can try a few lights in the type of visibility and conditions you'll be diving in, although that's not often possible. You might also have a look at cavediver.net. There's some good discussions about can lights on that forum.

I recently bought a used Light monkey 21W HID with a new battery. It was a good deal, and I'm happy with it. Light Monkey customer service is truly excellent. I remember reading some bad reviews of specific hollis lights; it was enough to make me cross them off the list immediately. The big first question you have to decide about is if you want LED or HID; almost everyone is heading in the LED direction, so there are some really good deals to be had with used HID lights if you look around. But the UWLD LED light heads have a great reputation, and LED is more practical in terms of durability. I just really like the character and color of the HID light.

There are some potential issues with flying with older canister lights. It's not so much that the older batteries are not safe to fly with, it's more that the airlines and TSA rules about batteries are complicated and you never know when you'll encounter someone who will kick up a fuss about traveling with your light. The new LM (and presumably UWLD) canisters are marked as UN test compliant and that usually shuts up the squawking TSA agents. To me that alone was worth paying extra for because 90% of the time I use my light I have to fly with it.