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#648
Tourch/Light - Recommendation?
Hank-NYC - 8/18/2013 8:48 AM
Category: Equipment
Replies: 10

Hello,

I’m looking to purchase a torch for my upcoming trip to dive the Cenotes in Mexico. Can some recommend a good one that is under $100. Also, are there any features (strength of light, straps, etc.) that I shouldn’t over look.

Thanks
#20384
LatitudeAdjustment - 8/18/2013 9:19 AM
With my history I’ve settled on PrincetonTec because when they stop working PrincetonTec fixes it, free!

I also like NiteRider but they are outside your stated price range.
#648
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Hank-NYC - 8/18/2013 11:00 AM
Thanks for the warranty tip on PrincetonTec!
#15534
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Brian_V - 8/18/2013 11:03 AM
Underwater Kinetics C4 (Xenon) dive light is a good choice of a primary dive light for under $100.00, I believe you can get one for around $80.00. UK also has some pretty nice light packages if you also need a secondary light and a tank light.
#8906
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ScubaSteve63 - 8/18/2013 11:11 AM
I’ve had great luck with Princeton Tec too. Although they seem to have a weak point in the the internal switch breaks far too easily. However, as LA said they will replace any of their lights no matter how old and turnaround is under four days for me in Massachusetts. Currently I am using their MiniWave LED and like it a lot.
#1406
Green_Achers - 8/18/2013 8:40 PM
Bang for the buck, I bought one of these and bought a second one because I liked it that well (and the price is unbeatable). There are several versions of these CREE lights and the one you should not by is if it has a screw on switch (rather than this nice linked rotating switch). The screw in switch allows water in while rotating - I found out the hard way.
CREE XM-L T6 LED 1800Lm Diving Flashlight Torch - I’m not promoting this oany seller... it’s just the product that I like and use.
#15534
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Brian_V - 8/18/2013 9:04 PM
Dive lights can be dived into two types, xenon (incandescent, light bulbs) or LED (light emitting diodes). Now if you’re looking for brightness along with long battery life, LED is the way to go, with the a couple drawbacks being LED light gives everything a bluish tint, washing out the colors, it’s also quite a bit more expensive than xenon. The advantage of xenon lights is that they bring the colors out on deep or night dives, like having a little bit of portable sunlight, and they’re cheaper than LED. The drawback is that they use up batteries much faster, and the bulbs burn out. LED’s are rated for something like 10,000 hours vs hundreds of hours for xenon bulbs.
#648
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Hank-NYC - 8/19/2013 7:56 PM
Should I be looking for a particular number of Lumens?
#15534
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Brian_V - 8/20/2013 6:12 AM
...300 to 400 lumens is probably within your price range.
#15534
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Brian_V - 8/20/2013 6:16 AM
...another factor to consider is beam width. Read the specs on the lights you’re considering, they’ll define the beam width as either wide or narrow. If you are planning on mainly looking in holes in the reef, narrow is the way to go, if it’s for night dives and you want to illuminate as wide an area as possible, then wide is what serves you best.
#15534
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Brian_V - 8/20/2013 6:22 AM
...you might think of combining the different factors between your primary and secondary lights. A wide beam xenon for your primary, illuminating a broad area to see vibrant colors. A narrow LED beam for your secondary, so that you can look in nooks and crannies, which cab also serve as a pocket light for your daytime dives. Best of both worlds!