When you start making deeper dives, or if you plan to enjoy cave diving, wreck diving, or night diving, a good dive light can make or break the quality of your dive. Not only does a light allow you to see in color rather than in simple shades of blue, it can help you to find all kinds of hidden creatures inside little cracks and crevices. There are many different brands and types of dive lights available – here are some useful tips for choosing one that will work well for you.
Beam Width and Brightness
Just like the headlights on a car or other vehicle, dive lights come in a variety of beam widths and with different options for brightness. Underwater, dive lights designed for daytime use illuminate only a small area, while those designed for night diving are designed to give you a good view of a larger portion of the site you are exploring. Wide beam lights usually cover a wide area and are less bright, while narrower beams are best for illuminating smaller areas and investigating tight spaces. For daytime diving, a small light with a narrow beam angle is usually sufficient, while for night diving, you will need a way to overcome complete darkness.
Some dive lights have a variety of options, with different beam areas and a brighter spot right in the center of the beam. Depending on when and where you dive, you may find that you need a few different lights.
If you dive in areas with poor visibility, a wide beam works better than a bright one since all a very bright light tends to do is illuminate suspended particles. For diving in clear water, though, either type will work well, with a brighter light allowing you to see more clearly.
For underwater photographers, wider is definitely better than brighter, particularly if you are using a light to spot marine life in dark areas. Your flash will provide plenty of illumination, and very bright lights tend to spook fish. In addition, too bright a dive light can cause hot spots in your photos.
Size and Other Considerations
For day dives where you simply need to get a look at any unlit gauges, signal your buddy, or look at marine life, a small, inexpensive dive light that will fit in a BC pocket is a good choice. For night dives, wreck dives, and cave dives where you don’t need to use your hands, a nice canister light works well. If you need to keep your hands free then look for a light you can wear on your head or mask strap.
Some dive lights run on regular batteries, and others are rechargeable. Neither is better than the other – it all comes down to which is more convenient for you. If you go for a long time between dives, then be sure to take the batteries out of your dive lights and store them separately; test them to be sure there is plenty of power remaining before you dive the next time.
Bulbs are important too. LED lights use the least power and are extremely reliable, even though they cost a little more than tungsten or halogen lights do. HID lights cost a little less than LED’s and provide excellent performance while being more energy efficient than old style lights.
Depth Rating
Be sure that the dive lights you choose are rated for the depths you dive at. A light rated for 100 foot dives should not be carried into deeper water, even if it is not turned on, since it can develop stress fractures and malfunction. In addition, do not dive with a “waterproof” flashlight with no depth rating. It might work for the first few feet, but once pressure starts to build, it will malfunction, leaving you in the dark.
Extras
Always carry a backup light, whether you have illuminated gauges or not, and no matter where or when you dive. It can be small – you just need something you can read gauges with or use to signal other divers. In addition, never dive with a light that is not equipped with a lanyard. You can buy lanyards separately, reducing the risk of a lost dive light.
Maintaining Dive Lights
As dive lights are designed to be water tight, maintaining them is simple. Be sure to give them a fresh water rinse along with the rest of your equipment after you are finished diving. Dry your dive light and store it carefully to ensure that it is not jostled.
In addition, consider picking up rechargeable batteries for your dive light or choosing a light that has rechargeable batteries. These are more energy efficient and are better for the environment; in addition, when combined with an LED or HID bulb, they reduce the amount of maintenance a light source requires. Always keep spare batteries on hand so you are prepared in the event your batteries quit on you, particularly if you tend to dive in remote areas where there is nowhere to purchase batteries on short notice. Don’t forget to keep your batteries in a waterproof container to prevent damage.
Remember to follow the old rule regarding battery changes: Never mix old batteries with new batteries. You’ll reduce the life of the new battery and end up needing another battery change sooner.
Last but not least, always follow the manufacturer’s instructions for maintaining your dive light. Many models are equipped with o-rings that need to be dried and lubricated after each use. Be careful with disassembly, and only use approved substances for lubricating o-rings, or you could damage your light. Most use a silicone lubricant, which you can purchase at most dive shops.
After you have thoroughly cleaned, dried, and lubricated your light, reassemble it and check to be sure that it is working.
Most dive light manufacturers are happy to help; you can find specific model maintenance information on manufacturer web sites. Be sure to check out a variety of lights as you are making your initial choice – new models are available all the time, and selection is largely a matter of personal preference.