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Review: Mares EOS 12RZ LED Dive Light

Mares is one of the leading manufacturers of primary dive torches out there today. The Mares EOS 12RZ LED Dive Light is the most powerful of the Mares EOS range of torches. What makes this device such a popular companion for an increasing number of divers? To answer this question, let’s look at its features, pros, and cons.

Lumens

The 12 RZ comes with three high-power LEDs that produce 1,200 lumens of light at full power. This is sufficient for navigating even the darkest of caves. The magnetic switch lets you control the lumen output with four different options: off, on, flash, and low.

Depth Rating

The 12 RZ has a maximum depth rating of 200 feet or 61 meters. Although not ideal for dedicated deep sea divers, it’s perfect for recreational divers.

Battery Type

This torch uses a rechargeable internal battery with a USB cable. The battery produces 3 watts and has a battery life of 8 hours when used on the lowest setting. At full power, this battery should give you 2 hours of reliable illumination.

Pros

  • This is one of the most powerful primary torches on the market; it provides the highest level of visibility in water when compared to other dive torches in its class.
  • The torch’s USB cable and the accompanying LED charge indicator allow you to charge it using a plug or computer.
  • The innovative adjustable system makes it possible to adjust the beam of light in response to the circumstances. You can adjust this beam to between 12 and 25 degrees with just a simple rotation.

Cons

  • The torch does not come with a backup battery. This, however, does not have to be a big issue if you time your dive within the torch’s burn time range.

If you want a reliable and powerful primary dive light with a host of useful features, the Mares EOS 12RZ LED Dive Light is certainly a great choice.

Scuba Dave: Dave had the good luck of growing up in a family of divers: his mom is a PADI instructor and his dad is a wreck diver. He started working toward earning his open water diving certification as a freshman in high school, and by the time he graduated college he was a certified master scuba diver and PADI instructor. Dave loves to try new things, and is just as happy dipping into a deep lake as he is deep sea diving to explore underwater wrecks and caves. He documents everything with his camera, making him our resident expert in videography and photography lighting.