Beginners’ guide to buying a dive light

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Are you ready to explore the underwater world? If yes, then buying a scuba dive light is an essential step that you need to take.

A dive light will help you see what lies beneath the surface and ensure your safety in low visibility. That sounds like a big investment, right? Well, it doesn’t have to be!

By following this beginners’ guide to buying a scuba dive light, you can easily select the best option that fits your budget and requirements.

Why do you need a scuba dive light?

Before buying a dive light, let’s discuss why it’s necessary. While we are accustomed to seeing things clearly above water with sunlight, things turn pretty different when exploring the deep blue sea. Sunlight doesn’t reach beneath water beyond 30-40 meters in depth. As divers go deeper into the ocean’s depths, they rely on artificial light sources for illumination and safety.

Dive lights are designed for underwater use and come in varying power levels measured in lumens (brightness) and duration (battery life). Some of these lights are compact, while others come with additional features such as strobe lights or SOS signals for emergencies.

Factors to consider when buying a dive light

Now that we know why purchasing a good quality scuba dive light is crucial, check out some most important factors one should consider before getting one:

  • Brightness: The brightness level of your dive light depends on your diving needs. For shallow dives during daytime hours, ‘back-up’ flashlights, which range from 500-600 lumens work well, while if you’re planning night dives or venturing deeper down below them, opt for something that ranges from 800-1000 lumens.
  • Beam angle: Different beam angles serve different purposes; spot beams focus on illuminating specific objects, while photo beams work optimally in murky water conditions providing a wider coverage area.
  • Battery life: Depending on how long your dive is, you’ll want a power source that delivers your light constantly and won’t die midway. Moreover, going for lights with a minimum battery life of two hours or more is recommended.
  • Size and weight: Delving deep down below with heavyweights isn’t easy-breezy; hence the size and weight of your flashlight are critical considerations. You don’t want anything too bulky but still substantial enough to withstand the underwater pressures while being portable at the same time.
  • Type of dive: Different types of dives require different light sources, such as reef, cave, or night diving needs distinct features. Before purchasing a dive light, think about what type(s) of diving you plan on doing so that you have the right tool for every dive.
  • Budget: The price point varies from one product to another depending upon its features and brand value: Do some research by comparing different dive lights within your budget; it’s always better to opt for quality over cost-cutting in crucial safety equipment such as this one.

Types of dive lights

So far, we’ve discussed what to look for when buying a scuba dive light. Now, let’s discuss the types of scuba dive lights available in the market:

  • Primary handed diving light: They produce high-intensity beams with excellent waterproof capability making them perfect for most underwater activities plus, they offer longer battery life ranging from 3 -10 hours.
  • Secondary scuba dive light: These flashlights serve as backup sources supporting primary lights handling emergencies like losing visibility due to failure in the primary light. They are pocket-sized and contain varying amounts of lumens depending upon the purpose and the requirements.
  • Canister/technical diving light systems: These heavy-duty options offer unbeatable brightness/lumen outputs lasting up to 12 hrs built. They can be used in larger tanks providing extended-duration supplies. They have replaceable batteries that can be carried with divers in their BCD pockets and offer an uninterrupted diving experience.

Taking care of your scuba dive light

Finally, you’ve purchased your perfect scuba dive light! Great, now let’s make sure we take proper care of it:

  1. Rinse your flashlight with freshwater rinse thoroughly after every dive keeping it clean and free from salt or sand build-up damaging the exterior.
  2. Store in a cool, dry place to keep the battery life intact without letting moisture build-up within the item.
  3. Keep spare batteries available and always replace old ones that are beginning to lose their charge capacity before heading out on a long day trip.

Buy the right scuba light

Buying the right scuba dive light can undoubtedly elevate your diving experience. So, instead of purchasing any dive light, invest in high-quality equipment that can save costs while giving you excellent performance results in the long run.