Equipment
Dive Light — What It Is and Why It Matters
A dive light is a waterproof flashlight or torch designed for underwater use. Primary dive lights provide wide, powerful beams for illuminating the dive environment during night dives, wreck penetrations, and cavern dives. Backup lights are smaller, simpler lights carried as redundancy. Signal lights and markers are used for buddy communication and surface visibility.
Modern dive lights use LED technology for brightness, efficiency, and long burn times. Key specifications include lumens (brightness), beam angle (spot vs. flood), burn time, depth rating, and battery type (rechargeable lithium-ion for primaries, disposable cells for backups). Canister lights with a separate battery pack connected by a cord are used for extended cave and wreck penetration diving.
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many lumens do I need for night diving?
For a primary night diving light, 1000 to 3000 lumens with a wide beam angle is a good starting point. A focused narrow beam of 500 to 1000 lumens works well for signaling and looking into crevices. Backup lights should provide at least 200 to 500 lumens.
Should I bring a light on daytime dives?
Yes. Even on daytime dives, a small light is useful for looking into crevices, under ledges, and inside swim-throughs. It also reveals true colors that water absorbs — reds and oranges disappear below about 5 meters without artificial light.
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