28 New Dive Lights

When it comes to shopping for a dive light, few things will make your head explode faster than trying to make apples-to-apples comparisons based on the information provided by manufacturers. They all use different terms and values to describe their lights (lumens versus lux; color temperature rated in degrees Kelvin, beam angle, wattage, etc.), and they offer so many different bulb and battery combinations that unless you¿re an engineer you¿re probably not going to be able to tell which lights burn the brightest and longest.

That¿s where Scuba Lab comes in. To enable you to make legitimate head-to-head comparisons of this year¿s crop of new dive lights, we¿ve cleared away the myriad technical specs and replaced them with a few simple comparison points that can be applied to all lights, regardless of bulbs, batteries or special optics. Here¿s how we do it:

To measure light intensity, we set each dive light, one at a time, in a darkened room six feet away from a white screen. With the light on and pointing center-screen, we take EV (exposure value) readings using a Sekonic L-308S digital light meter. For this review, readings were taken at the center of the beam, or the ¿hot spot,¿ where light intensity is greatest, as well as 12 inches out from center in the four compass directions. We also measured the diameter of the main beam, as well as the reach of the halo, or any useable peripheral light. We then took the lights in the water to check out how handles, switches, locks and other features work in real-world diving conditions. Finally, we¿ve also noted for each light the manufacturer¿s estimated burn time.

The ABCs of LEDs and HIDs

When it comes to dive lights, size, shape and special features are important, but what really counts is brightness and burn time. Finding the right combination of bulb type and battery power that will dial up beam brightness while maximizing burn time is what keeps dive light manufacturers awake at night.

Back in 2007, when we last looked at dive lights, it was pretty obvious that traditional incandescent and halogen bulbs were going the way of the double hose regulator in favor of HID (high intensity discharge) and LED (light-emitting diode) bulbs. Each has its pros and cons: HID bulbs were typically brighter than LEDs, but they required loads of battery power. LEDs, on the other hand, were reasonably priced and very energy efficient, but they couldn¿t hold a candle to HIDs when it came to burning bright.

That was then. Today, while HID bulbs still generate the brightest light, they remain expensive and power hungry. But in the last two years, engineers have managed to substantially increase the brightness of LEDs without sacrificing burn time. The result: While HIDs may be enjoying increased popularity in canister dive light applications where it¿s possible to carry lots of battery power, LEDs have clearly become the bulbs of choice for recreational dive lights. This year¿s review proves it: Of the 28 new dive lights submitted for review, 24 are LEDs.

Primary Lights

These are the heavy lifters, the biggest hand-held lights designed for night diving and deep diving. Most have a bright center spot that¿s surrounded by a large powerful beam backed by a wide halo for illuminating the periphery. Eight of the 12 primary lights reviewed here have pistol or lantern grips for easy handling; 10 of the 12 have locking switches to prevent accidental activation; and all come with wrist lanyards for security.

Big Blue 3x5W LED & 1x5W LED
They share the same unique lines, but if it¿s maximum illumination you want, count on the bigger of the Big Blue lights. Powered by eight AA batteries, the 3x5W¿s trio of 5-watt LEDs offers above-average brightness in a wide, two-foot-diameter beam with a useable halo. It comes with High (100 percent) and Low (70 percent) power settings, and even at reduced power, this beam smokes the underpowered 1x5W version. Both lights have aluminum housings with contoured lantern handles and locking magnetic switches. They¿re rated to 328 feet and are available in an Auto Flash Off (AFO) version that shuts off momentarily when being used as a focus light.

Price: Big Blue 3x5W LED, $314.99 ($329.99 w/AFO); Big Blue 1x5W LED, $139 ($149 w/AFO). contact: innovativescuba.com

Dive Rite LED 500
The LED 500 is a rugged torch that burns bright, produces a very useable beam pattern, and delivers the longest burn time at full power of any light in this category. Its lightweight, compact design loads a magazine of eight AA batteries into a durable Delrin body topped with a twist-on aluminum light-head sporting three LEDs. An optional cord attachment converts the LED 500 into a proper canister light, and in either configuration, you get a bright white beam that¿s two feet in diameter, with a faint, four-foot halo that allows for decent peripheral vision. The LED 500 is depth-rated to 1,000 feet and also comes with a nylon mesh carry pouch.

Price: $450; $599 with corded attachment. contact: diverite.com

Hartenberger Nano Compact
The Nano Compact offers more options in power levels, bulb choices and functions than any light in this review. It¿s also the only light with halogen bulbs, which tend to cast a warmer beam than LEDs. It comes standard with a rechargeable battery pack and 20-watt bulb that produces a uniform beam three feet in diameter¿almost as bright at the periphery as it is at the center. A bright halo extends a couple of feet beyond that, too. The case is rated to 330 feet and features a locking magnetic switch with four power levels, plus the light can be set to flash SOS. Small LED lights indicate power level settings, battery status and provide emergency lighting for gauge reading if the bulb fails. Bonus: You can replace the standard 20-watt bulb with an optional 10-watt bulb for a longer burn time, or an optional 35-watt bulb for use as a video light.

Price: $549. Contact: backscatter.com

& Oceanic" style="float:right;margin-left:10px;margin-bottom:10px;" /> Hollis H 3x3 LED & Oceanic OP 3X3 LED
These durable anodized aluminum torches use three 3-watt LEDs with a tri-lens reflector and require only three C-cell batteries to produce one of the most efficient light systems in this review. While the hot spot isn¿t as bright as others, these lights get the job done, emitting an 18-inch-diameter beam ringed by a bright halo that lights up a couple more feet of peripheral view. And you just can¿t beat the burn-time. Locking On/Off switches are located just behind the light-head for easy one-handed operation. The lights are rated to 650 feet and are the sleekest, most compact designs in this category.

Price: $284.95. Contact: hollisgear.com and OceanicWorldwide.com

Pelican Nemo 4300 & 4200
Both the Nemo 4300 and the Nemo 4200 sport stylish, futuristic casings made of ABS plastic, over-molded pistol grips and large, locking magnetic switches. They both also use Xenon bulbs, C-cell batteries and are submersible to 500 feet. The 4300 is more torch to carry around and uses twice as many batteries, but it also comes with a larger reflector that produces a brighter beam and a wider halo, while boasting the same burn time as the smaller 4200. On the other hand, the 4200 is a bonafide pistol grip primary torch that¿s compact enough to fit in many BC pockets. While both Nemos are solid middle-of-the-road primary torches, the 4300¿s superior beam characteristics give it the edge in our book. Either way, you can¿t beat the price.

Price: Nemo 4300, $64.95; Nemo 4200, $53.95. Contact: pelican.com

Princeton Tec Shockwave LED & Miniwave LED
These two stalwart torches have been upgraded with new optics and a trio of new Maxbright three-watt LEDs. The result: Our tests showed a significant increase in brightness over their predecessors. Both torches use the same high-performance light-head, and both use pistol grips with locking two-power switches that can easily be operated one-handed. They also both use C-cell batteries. However, the Shockwave has a larger casing and uses eight, rather than four, batteries. That means more power for a brighter hot spot¿one of the brightest in this category. They both produce wide, uniform, highly useable light patterns, and come with efficient locking switches and pretty good burn times.

Price: Shockwave LED, $139.99; Miniwave LED, $124.99. Contact: princetontec.com


Sartek EBL 6600
The Sartek EBL 6600 produced, bar none, the brightest hot spot in this year¿s review, and did it powered by only three C-cell batteries. It is, however, a very focused beam that drops off quickly beyond a narrow 12-inch perimeter. Beyond that, a faint halo extends out about four more feet. The light uses three LEDs in a Delrin light-head. An aluminum body gives the light heft, and contributes to its 1,000-foot depth rating. It¿s also available configured for D-cell batteries or as a canister light for even longer burn time. As a piercing spotlight, the EBL 6600 can¿t be beat, but it sacrifices beam width to get it done.

Price: $350. Contact: sarind.com



UK AquaSun eLED
When it comes to overall beam brightness, including hot spot, main beam and halo, the dual-power AquaSun eLED was this year¿s undisputed champ. This torch uses two high-intensity LEDs with a through-the-lens heat sink hooked to a rechargeable battery to produce a cool blue-white beam four feet in diameter, and a halo that reaches out well beyond that. The light comes with a pistol grip and a locking On/Off switch that¿s easy to operate one-handed. The light was tested on high power, but even on low power it registered an 8.2 EV, which is brighter than many full-power lights. The AquaSun eLED is depth-rated to 492 feet and comes with a rechargeable battery pack and charger.
Price: $399.99. Contact: uwkinetics.com

Pocket Lights

A good pocket light is an all-purpose tool compact enough to fit into most BC pockets, but able to generate a strong beam for exploring cracks and crevices during the day, or serving as a primary at night. Generally using fewer batteries, smaller lenses and reflectors, their hot spots often rival those of primary lights for sheer brightness, but their beams tend to be much narrower.

Green Force Ceto D
This versatile torch offers five different operating modes: 100 percent, 66 percent, 33 percent, signal light and SOS. Twisting the light-head on and off again advances you through each mode. The light runs on only two C-cells and comes in a mesh carry bag with three colored cones that slip over the light-head for signaling divers (or parking planes). The Ceto D throws a hot center spot, the second brightest in this category, with a very focused beam and not much peripheral light. The Ceto D is the most gadgety light in this year¿s review. With its five settings, all activated without a switch, plus the color cones, we gotta ask: Where¿s the secret decoder ring?
Price: $279.81. Contact: green-force.com


Ikelite PC Lite LED, PCa LED & PCm LED
These new Ikelite pocket lights each use a single, five-watt, high-intensity LED, and as a result, they provide the same light quality and brightness¿they just vary in their size and burn times. The largest, the PC Lite LED, runs on four C-cells. The PCa is about 30 percent smaller and uses six AAs, while the tiny PCm runs on four AAs. They¿re all super compact, yet produce a beam about 12 inches in diameter with a halo that reaches a couple feet beyond that. The PC Lite LED and PCa LED have locking On/Off switches, the PCm doesn¿t. All are easy to operate one-handed and are depth-rated to 300 feet. Bottom line: You can¿t go wrong with any of these mini torches. Simply pick the size that suits you and light it up.

Price: PC Lite LED, $80; PCa LED, $77; PCm LED, $74. Contact: ikelite.com

Princeton Tec Torrent LED
The upgraded Torrent LED uses a new and improved three-watt Maxbright LED that produces an exceptionally wide (four feet in diameter), unblemished beam for a pocket light. This makes the light well-suited for both day and night diving. It has a locking On/Off switch that¿s easily activated one-handed, and comes with eight AA batteries plus a lanyard for the lowest MSRP in its class. A bright, wide beam, compact size, and a good price. What¿s not to like about this light?
Price: $59. Contact: princetontec.com



Sartek EBL 2200
The EBL 2200 is light and bright and offers some pretty impressive burn times on only three AAs. Its Delrin body with twist-on polycarbonate lens is depth-rated to 1,000 feet. It weighs less than half a pound, including batteries, and measures only one inch in diameter, but it produces a bright hot spot, a 12-inch-diameter beam and a very useable halo. The EBL 2200 is one skinny light, but it hits all the marks on our checklist.

Price: $125. Contact: sarind.com



SCUBAPRO Fuego
The Fuego is a traditional-style pocket light that¿s powerful enough to be used as a primary light, yet compact enough to fit in most BC pockets. The light runs on four C-cells and a single five-watt LED delivered the brightest hot spot in its group with a two-foot-wide beam and enough of a halo (about three feet out from the beam¿s edge) to illuminate the periphery on a night dive. It has a rubberized co-molded body that allows for a good grip and a locking On/Off switch that you can activate one-handed. If we could only have one light for both day and night diving, the Fuego would be our clear choice. But deep divers should beware of its 200-foot max depth limit.

Price: $80. Contact: scubapro.com

Backup Lights

Backup lights are for when your primary light crashes unexpectedly and you have to illuminate your gauges, get yourself back to the surface, and then signal the boat. The following lights can do all this and more. When you need them, they shoot tight beams that focus like a laser, and when you don¿t, they stow easily in a pocket or pouch. Batteries and lanyards are included.

Aquatec AquaStar 3x
The AquaStar 3x is the largest light in this mini-light category and offers the brightest hot spot¿a blazing 9.5 EV. The beam is pretty small, about six inches in diameter, but it¿s surrounded by a very useable halo that extends a couple feet from the beam edge. It¿s depth-rated to 330 feet, uses a three-watt LED and runs on six AAA batteries that deliver substantial burn time for a light this size.

Price: $99.99. Contact: aaquatecusa.com





Nocturnal Lights M2 LED
The aluminum-housed M2 LED is light and compact. It weighs just over a quarter pound, fits nicely in the hand and stows in virtually any pocket. Three AAA batteries put out a focused beam six inches in diameter, with a faint halo reaching out a couple more feet. The twist-on end cap assembly is rated to 328 feet. Size-wise, the M2 LED is the epitome of a backup light. It¿s compact and durable and throws enough light to get the job done.

Price: $85. Contact: nocturnallights.com





Tusa TUL-300 LED
The TUL-300 is the exception to the rule that says backup lights can only throw narrow beams. While its hot spot isn¿t the brightest, the TUL-300¿s main beam measures a full three feet in diameter. A pair of lithium batteries loads into an aluminum body and powers the light for three hours at full burn down to 400 feet. A nice magnetic switch provides easy one-hand operation. If there is such a thing as a backup ¿floodlight,¿ this is it.

Price: $89. Contact: tusa.com




UK Super Q eLED
The Super Q eLED is super small, super bright, and rechargeable. Its hot spot is brilliant¿8.9 EV¿but it¿s pretty dark at the beam¿s 12-inch perimeter (UK says this lack of peripheral light prevents accidental buddy blinding). The light sports an ABS body and Lexan lens and is rated to 500 feet. It¿s pricey for a light this size, but it comes with a rechargeable battery and charger so it¿s worth it.

Price: $119.95. Contact: uwkinetics.com