Back up lights - in the 3C or 2C size. What are you guys diving these days?

[Mo2vation]

Let me start with this: I'm not a caver. My life will never depend on my back up light working. When my primary light goes out (rarely these days) its merely an inconvenience.

I don't need it to be good to 900 feet.

I want it to be black. Preferably not metal cased, as it will get scratched and ignored most of its life.

That said, I've been diving Photon Torpedos forever - at least 6 or 7 years. Upgraded them to LED when that became an option. I sold one awhile back, as I don't need two back up's. My primary back up (that's fun to say) is now a bit long in the tooth, a bit crunchy and I'm looking for something else.

Its a back up - I don't need a 10 watt flame thrower disguised as a 3C or 4AA back up. Bright is nice. Long lasting is nice. Reliable is a must. I want to put batteries in it, and forget about it until the time change, when I replace its batts (like I do in my Smoke detectors.)

2C size is better for me, as I'm not tall. I won't buy something that doesn't use AA or C batts. I have no time and no inclination to buy some wacky batt I can't find at a 711.

Lighting has come a LONG way in 6 or 7 years. What's the Shiz today?

Thanks

-Ken

[AzTek Diver]

For price, quality build, and great customer service it's really hard to find a better light then the 1000 lumen backup from Dive Right In Scuba. This light has more punch with a great spread then anything else I have tried, and it's a 3 C cell pack. If you want something smaller just wait a little while and there will be a smaller rechargeable version available.

http://www.diverightinscuba.com/cata...ht-p-3380.html

[Valéry]

The only bkp light you'll ever need.
Check it on divegearexpress.

[LCF]

For a small backup light, Peter and I have been using the Dorcy Penetrators. You can get them on sale at Piranha for about $45 apiece. They're bright and focused, use AA batteries (I think, might be AAA) and have longer burn time than you need. We haven't had one fail; they do have a slightly irritating tendency to turn on at depth, until you figure out how much you have to back the head off to prevent it. You also have to dremel the hole for the cave line, because the edges are sharp.

[b1gcountry]

For a small backup light, Peter and I have been using the Dorcy Penetrators. You can get them on sale at Piranha for about $45 apiece. They're bright and focused, use AA batteries (I think, might be AAA) and have longer burn time than you need. We haven't had one fail; they do have a slightly irritating tendency to turn on at depth, until you figure out how much you have to back the head off to prevent it. You also have to dremel the hole for the cave line, because the edges are sharp.

I use the same ones. Never had the problem of them turning on at depth. I've got one of the older models, and one of the newer. I tried a number of different lights, and I typically carry one of the penetrators, and one of the upgraded LED scouts into caves. On OW or wreck dives, I just take one of the Dorcy's. I don't like any of the switched lights. I can never find the light switch by touch using drygloves, and I dive the MO caves in drygloves, so that makes it a non-starter for me. I tried one of the Intovas with the switch on the back, but it winds up turning itself on just about every dive because of the boltsnap.

Tom

[jimmytaroh]

I have a 2C Scout upgraded with a LED module from JJBlomquist on Scubaboard. It's as bright as my older 3C LED Scout. It's small, compact, reliable, bright enough. I use it for the same purpose, shore and boat diving in NorCal.

[Jax]

Let me start with this: I'm not a caver. My life will never depend on my back up light working. When my primary light goes out (rarely these days) its merely an inconvenience.

I don't need it to be good to 900 feet.

I want it to be black. Preferably not metal cased, as it will get scratched and ignored most of its life.

That said, I've been diving Photon Torpedos forever - at least 6 or 7 years. Upgraded them to LED when that became an option. I sold one awhile back, as I don't need two back up's. My primary back up (that's fun to say) is now a bit long in the tooth, a bit crunchy and I'm looking for something else.

Its a back up - I don't need a 10 watt flame thrower disguised as a 3C or 4AA back up. Bright is nice. Long lasting is nice. Reliable is a must. I want to put batteries in it, and forget about it until the time change, when I replace its batts (like I do in my Smoke detectors.)

2C size is better for me, as I'm not tall. I won't buy something that doesn't use AA or C batts. I have no time and no inclination to buy some wacky batt I can't find at a 711.

Lighting has come a LONG way in 6 or 7 years. What's the Shiz today?

Thanks

-Ken

Ken, I have both the DRIS 500 and the 1000 lumen.

I find the lights are too bright for open water diving. If I am illuminating something in a shadow for a picture, the pic gets a hot spot. They are so bright for night diving that you "white out" what you are looking at. For caves, they are awesome.

For open water, I prefer the Intova Ultra Nova for its three level settings - 100%, 30%, and strobe. It still has a center spot but the spillage is good to see whatever is around. I have pics and write-up on it . . . Here on the Matrix, I believe.

[b1gcountry]

For open water, I prefer the Intova Ultra Nova for its three level settings - 100%, 30%, and strobe. It still has a center spot but the spillage is good to see whatever is around. I have pics and write-up on it . . . Here on the Matrix, I believe.

Do you have any problems with the Ultra Nova turning itself on during a dive? My boltsnap does it every time.

[diversteve]

I have two Dorcy's also. They use 6 AAA batteries. I used the same set on 5 consecutive night dives and it didn't appear to dim at all. 220 lumens so it's bright enough for use as a primary light in clear conditions. Not the widest beam though. They're black anodized so don't really get too scratched up. The smallest plated quick link Home Depot sells fits thru the hole nicely so you can attach a lanyard etc.

[Jax]

Do you have any problems with the Ultra Nova turning itself on during a dive? My boltsnap does it every time.

Yes . . . I'm trying different things to fix that. I may glue a small pvc ring around the push-button.

[AzTek Diver]

Ken, I have both the DRIS 500 and the 1000 lumen.

I find the lights are too bright for open water diving.

Since most of us are using 18-35w hids for open water without any issues, I don't see either of these having any issue for most of us.

[Valéry]

Do you have any problems with the Ultra Nova turning itself on during a dive? My boltsnap does it every time.

The Hollis works on the reverse, I mean you unscrew to turn it on so it won't be turned on by the pressure.

[Jax]

Since most of us are using 18-35w hids for open water without any issues, I don't see either of these having any issue for most of us.

True -- to clarify, to light up things for photographing, for those who don't have a nice setup.

The two lights are excellent for signalling and wreck diving, as well as cave diving.