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Review: Underwater Kinetics C8 eLED L2

The UK C8 eLED L2 waterproof light is one of the most superior underwater dive lights on the market. It is a must have piece of equipment for divers. To enjoy the beauty of the marine life, one needs to have a light that is bright enough to use both during the daytime and at night. During the day one can use the light to take a peek into dark caves and crevices while at night it is essential for navigation.

Features

  • Lumens: The light boasts 1200 lumens, which makes it one of the brightest dive lights out there. It is constructed to concentrate 90% of the lumens toward the center of the beam for enhanced brightness.
  • Battery: Comes with a long life alkaline battery that can last up to 20 hours. Additionally, it has an extra NiMH rechargeable battery pack.
  • Depth rating: The light can go down to 500ft/152.40 m.
  • It is a twin LED light meaning that it is relatively cheaper than some HID lights and also more durable.

Pros

  • The lumen output at the center of the beam helps the light to be brighter than most lights. It makes it ideal for peeking into crevices.
  • The rechargeable battery has an extended life lasting up to 10 years with recommended care.
  • The dive light can withstand abuse with its strong construction. Its rubber bezel also helps to protect it in the case of impact.
  • The C8 light has a pistol grip which is efficient in gripping the light under water without it slipping out of the hands, which many divers experience with stick-style dive lights.

Cons

  • Its standard battery only has an output of 900 lumens. Therefore, one has to fit in the rechargeable battery for increased efficiency and to get the maximum 1200 lumen brightness.
  • The light is limited in the width of its beam thereby limiting how wide a diver can see.
  • Being a primary light, it is quite heavy (1.02kg) compared to other lights.
NightDiver-Scott: Scott first experienced the thrill of exploring the ocean while snorkeling during his senior class trip in high school. After that, he threw himself into diving, working diligently to become a master scuba diver so he could achieve his goal of diving for a living. And that’s exactly what he’s done –a commercial diver by day and a PADI diving instructor by night, Scott loves taking his dips after the sun has gone down, and because of this, he’s super particular about the quality and functionality of the dive lights he uses.