An underwater flashlight is always necessary, regardless of whether one is diving during the night or day. Why? Because the deeper you dive down, the more the light fades away, up to a point where it is lost completely. The following are some of the things you should consider when buying an underwater flashlight.
Brightness
In most cases, having a brighter light is ideal. When night diving or deep diving, it is recommended to use bright light for maximum visibility. However, when the water is not clear, using a brighter light is counterproductive. Why? A bright light will hit the particles in the murky water, reflecting that light back to you. In such cases, using a dimmer light is preferred.
Beam Angle
The type of diving that you do determines whether you need a wide flood or a tight beam. A tight-beam underwater flashlight is suitable for use when looking under ledges and in crevices. Wide-beam lights work well when you need to light up a big area, like a cave, or to set up a video shoot.
Depth Rating
Choose a depth rating for your light based on how deep you usually dive. If the flashlight has a depth rating of around 100ft, it means that you can use it for shallow diving without a problem. On the other hand, you will need a flashlight with at least a depth rating of 200ft if you frequently go for deep dives.
Two Great Underwater Flashlights
Underwater Kinetics e-LED Light Cannon – it has a depth rating of 500ft, produces up to 875 lumens of light, and has C cell batteries that can last for up to 14 hours.
Princeton Tec-League LED Flashlight – it has a depth rating of 328ft, produces up to 260 lumens of light, and has four AA alkaline batteries that can last for up to 10 hours.
Getting the most suitable underwater flashlight not only improves your overall diving experience, but also enhances your overall safety.