Question Strobes alternatives

[stuartv]

I agree, but haven't tried scootering with my group yet.

I am also the photographer of my group so us having the strobes would defiantly help me feel better about putting some distance between us for a photo or video clip and then being to easily regroup and continue.

If you can see them to photo or video them, you don't need a strobe...

In case you are not aware, strobes do have some downsides.

The BAF in particular is BRIGHT. It is legit annoying to be anywhere near it when it is turned on. If the water is turbid, it's even worse. It lights up all the particulate around it every time it flashes and makes it really hard to see anything. Think, the same idea why you want a really tight beam on your flashlight when you're in turbid water.

Following somebody that has a bright strobe flashing away in front of you sounds really annoying. And if it's not bright, is it useful at all?

If visibility is kinda low, that likely means the water is turbid. As mentioned, a strobe lights up all the particulate, making it hard to see anything else.

If you think you would need a strobe to keep track of each other, maybe you just all need good lights that you keep turned on during the whole dive? Lights with a nice, tight beam.

It IS true that scootering in low-ish viz makes it really easy to get separated. I am not sure that hanging a strobe on your butt is a good way to address that.

The most common way to get separated in that situation - in MY experience - is that everyone is ready to go, the leader takes off, and it turns out somebody's scooter doesn't start or they weren't paying attention or whatever. The leader goes for just 2 or 3 seconds (or longer) thinking everyone is going with them, realizes they are not all there, and then... can't find their buddy(s) again.

Having a strobe on your butt is probably not going to be much help for your leader to find you again after that.

Having good, strong, tight beams on lights means you should be shining your light ahead of the leader, and the leader can see your spot on the ground (or wherever) in front(-ish) of them to tell them that you are there behind them. Just like swimming without a scooter. In a group of 3, the middle guy is watching the spot of the guy behind him, too. If there are more than 3, then you split up into groups of 2 and/or 3.

If the leader starts to go and immediately loses sight of your spot beam, they know to stop immediately and flip a 180.

 

[flymolo]

I agree, but haven't tried scootering with my group yet.

I am also the photographer of my group so us having the strobes would defiantly help me feel better about putting some distance between us for a photo or video clip and then being to easily regroup and continue.

I totally get it. I just wanted to make a point that scootering as a team is easy if you set your mind to it.

 

[Dann-Oh]

If you can see them to photo or video them, you don't need a strobe...

In case you are not aware, strobes do have some downsides.

I'm looking to start both scootering and tech this year. so I'm sure there are downsides that I'm not aware of due to my limited experience.

The BAF in particular is BRIGHT. It is legit annoying to be anywhere near it when it is turned on. If the water is turbid, it's even worse. It lights up all the particulate around it every time it flashes and makes it really hard to see anything. Think, the same idea why you want a really tight beam on your flashlight when you're in turbid water.

Following somebody that has a bright strobe flashing away in front of you sounds really annoying. And if it's not bright, is it useful at all?

If visibility is kinda low, that likely means the water is turbid. As mentioned, a strobe lights up all the particulate, making it hard to see anything else.

If you think you would need a strobe to keep track of each other, maybe you just all need good lights that you keep turned on during the whole dive? Lights with a nice, tight beam.

I'm sure I'm getting ahead of myself, its something that I tend to do. I have 2x of the Light Monkey 5-12LED lights (1x standard and 1x sidemount), would you consider those good lights.

It IS true that scootering in low-ish viz makes it really easy to get separated. I am not sure that hanging a strobe on your butt is a good way to address that.

The most common way to get separated in that situation - in MY experience - is that everyone is ready to go, the leader takes off, and it turns out somebody's scooter doesn't start or they weren't paying attention or whatever. The leader goes for just 2 or 3 seconds (or longer) thinking everyone is going with them, realizes they are not all there, and then... can't find their buddy(s) again.

Having a strobe on your butt is probably not going to be much help for your leader to find you again after that.

Having good, strong, tight beams on lights means you should be shining your light ahead of the leader, and the leader can see your spot on the ground (or wherever) in front(-ish) of them to tell them that you are there behind them. Just like swimming without a scooter. In a group of 3, the middle guy is watching the spot of the guy behind him, too. If there are more than 3, then you split up into groups of 2 and/or 3.

See above comment, I haven't gotten into any technical diving yet. Im looking to start my tech training later this year.

If the leader starts to go and immediately loses sight of your spot beam, they know to stop immediately and flip a 180.

 

[stuartv]

I'm looking to start both scootering and tech this year. so I'm sure there are downsides that I'm not aware of due to my limited experience.

I'm sure I'm getting ahead of myself, its something that I tend to do. I have 2x of the Light Monkey 5-12LED lights (1x standard and 1x sidemount), would you consider those good lights.

See above comment, I haven't gotten into any technical diving yet. Im looking to start my tech training later this year.

Starting tech and scootering sounds like a lot at once. A lot of money and a lot of learning curve. Good on you if you have the budget for that.

But, my personal thought would be, if you're going to start tech training, do that first. It takes time. If you have never dived doubles before, expect to take a few months from starting on doubles to finishing your first actual tech class (e.g. AN/DP or Tech 1 or whatever you do). Expect to spend your time in between classes practicing the tech skills.

Get SOLID with your buoyancy before you start trying to scooter around. Scooters are awesome. But, they CAN be a somewhat dangerous crutch for someone who does not have SOLID buoyancy control.

If you get a scooter at the same time you start with tech, it is probably going to be really hard to convince yourself to leave the scooter at home and go just dive to work on your tech skills (which includes buoyancy).

Seriously - give yourself plenty of time to get your doubles skills totally dialed in before you start your first actual tech class - without any distractions (like wanting to go play with your scooter). I.e. take Intro to Tech or Fundies or whatever, then plan on spending some time diving in your new tech configuration and really dialing yourself in before you move on to AN/DP or Tech 1. "Some time", as in anywhere from half a dozen to 20 dives, at least. If you do that, it will make your actual tech class MUCH easier for you.

I cannot tell you how many tech students have come through my shop and not been able to finish AN/DP (on the first try) because they insisted they were "good to go" on diving doubles and had their buoyancy all squared away, and then they show up and spend two days trying but can't get past the basic skills dives.

As for LM lights, I have not owned one (other than owning a BAF strobe). But, my main dive buddy bought their top of the line can light a few years ago. A 32VF (?).

I thought the variable focus was a joke. It did not get especially wide. And it definitely would not focus down to a super tight beam.

And then it broke 3 times. He sent it to them the first time, they fixed it and sent it back. It died again almost right away. He sent it back. They fixed it again. It died again almost right away. The third time, he fixed it himself. Something in the wiring was breaking each time.

But, by then he was over it and had bought a UWLD Gen5 LD-36 (or whatever the top model was at the time - before the LD-40). I don't think he has used the LM light since.

I since bought 2 UWLD can lights myself. So, I don't expect to ever buy a LM light.

Side note: Both my UWLD lights have the "sidemount" lid. They work just fine for me whether I'm in sidemount, have it clipped to the side of my CCR, or am diving back mount doubles. To me, a "sidemount" gland can light is what I would probably buy for any and all purposes. I guess a straight gland lid might be just a little bit nicer when on my waist belt while diving BM doubles. But, really, the SM gland works just fine (for me).