Scuba Diving Lights - A Buyers guide to dive lights

There are several types of scuba diving lights to choose from so it will not be a problem finding your primary and backup lights. When choosing your dive light, it is important that you go for a brighter, wider beam light as your primary light source and a compact dive light with a narrower beam as your backup.

Be sure to choose a comfortably held rugged dive light which has a dependable switch with as few O-rings as possible.

In this article we will be looking at the most important features you should go for when selecting your primary and backup scuba diving lights:

Go for a Rugged dive light

An important feature to look out for when buying your dive light whether it is your primary or secondary light source is its durability. Today most dive lights are made from either plastic or aluminum to resist corrosion.

Regardless of which material your go for, choose a rugged scuba torch. Your dive lights will definitely get banged against other equipment, dropped and who knows what else. So go for one that is tough enough to withstand the occasional blows.

A dependable light source is important when choosing your scuba torch. Knowing what makes a dependable dive light is not difficult. First go for a reliable switch mechanism.

The three most popular switches are the magnetic or screw down lenses, O-ring gland and rubber covered switches. All types of switches are reliable and suited for diving. However I would go for the lock switch type of dive light to prevent accidentally switching on the torch when not in use.

As we have seen above, a dive light achieves water tightness through having O-ring seals. However a more dependable dive light will have fewer O-rings making it less likely to leak. A great advantage of having less O-rings is that it will be easier to maintain in the long run.

Size of your scuba torch

When choosing your scuba diving light you will have to also consider the type of scuba diving activities you will normally be conducting.

If you are the type of person that loves night, wreck or cave diving then a larger torch is what you should be looking at. If on the other hand night diving is a no go area for you but likes to explore in cracks and under ledges then a smaller dive torch emitting a narrow beam should be your obvious choice.

There obviously tends to be a relationship between the size and the brightness of the beam of the scuba torch. However with today’s advancement in technology, you can find smaller scuba diving lights that emit as much bright light as larger dive lights however this comes at a price.

Disposable or rechargeable batteries

If you intend to use your dive light very frequently then investing in rechargeable batteries is a wise option. Certain high-tech scuba diving lights will only take rechargeable batteries.

Although more expensive than their counterparts, you will save up on spending money in the long run. Believe me you will be running out of batteries pretty fast if you are going to use your dive light on a regular basis.

Another advantage for using rechargeable batteries is that you will get better performance out of your dive light. As the voltage weakens, the beam will not dim on you until it needs to be recharged.

If night diving or any other type of specialty diving is not for you but still want to invest in a dive light then high quality alkaline disposable batteries will do just fine. Some advantages for using disposable batteries is that they cost less than rechargeable and will also last longer.

Additional tips when using your batteries

§ When placing batteries in your dive torch be sure to use the same types of batteries. Avoid mixing partially used batteries with fully charged batteries.

§ In the case of rechargeable batteries, it is essential that you read the manufactures instructions. Rechargeable batteries will contain many different characteristics and as such will require different maintenance procedures.

Dive light Beam

Deciding on what type of light bulb you want will have a significant impact on the performance of your dive light and the costs involved. You may choose to go for a light bulb that can also be used on the surface but there will be a trade off in beam intensity. On the other hand you may invest in a specifically designed dive light which has a high intensity light that can only be turned on underwater

The factors involved will however depend on the type of diving activity and how often you intend on using it. For example if you intend on frequently night diving and you want greater visibility then go for a wide, bright beam that will penetrate the darkness. In this instance, LED or HID dive light bulbs are what you need.

With an unmatched brightness and longevity, HID dive lights or LED dive lights are even more efficient than your normal halogen dive lights. For example a 10 watt HID dive light puts out the same light as a 50 watt halogen light yet requires only a quarter of the power. The downside to using these types of bulbs is that they are far more expensive to buy.

On the other hand a halogen dive light is a cheap investment. Although they do not provide as much brightness as LED or HID dive lights, they normally use up far more batteries.

Desirable Features

You have to consider that especially during your night dives, you may be holding your dive light for the duration of your dive which may last up to 1 hour or so. So it is wise to go for a dive torch that feels ergonomically comfortable in your hands.

Check that the handle or mount has got adequate grip and is not awkward to hold.

Another handy feature to have on your scuba diving light is a wrist lanyard to prevent from losing it during your dive. This is a simple strap that attaches itself to the dive torch and which in turn you strap to your wrist so that you can momentarily release your light to focus on other tasks.