September 2007

By Bill Kendig

Photography by Joseph Byrd

What a difference two years can make. When we last reviewed handheld dive lights in August 2005, the hot new thing was the use of high-intensity discharge (HID) bulbs and light-emitting diodes (LEDs) as a replacement for traditional incandescent and halogen bulbs. This time around, LEDs and HID-powered beams are the norm, but they have evolved in surprising ways. HIDs are now available in smaller packages, and LEDs are on steroids--coming in 3- and 5-watt versions that didn't exist in 2005. What else is new? In some cases, alkaline batteries are being replaced with smaller, high-powered (but expensive) CR-123A lithium batteries, or even rechargeable nickel metal hydride (NiMH) battery packs. Finally, it's not uncommon for newer dive lights to have internal circuitry to regulate the intensity of light and stretch burn times.

Putting Them to the Test

For this review of dive lights, we contacted every major manufacturer and asked them to submit their newest handheld designs in three categories: primary dive lights, pocket lights and backup lights. Following our standard test protocol, we first measured the intensity of each light in controlled conditions. In a darkened room, we set each light six feet away from a white screen. Using a Sekonic L-308S digital light meter, we took exposure value (EV) readings at the center hot spot and at 12 inches out from center in four directions. These readings are useful for comparing overall brightness, and they tell you much about the character of each beam. A high center reading with a strong perimeter reading indicates a wider swath of illumination; a high EV reading at the hot spot with low perimeter readings indicates a narrow, tightly focused beam. For the final phase of testing, we took the lights into the water for some nocturnal maneuvering and to evaluate the real-world quality of the light as well as the ergonomics of housings, grips and controls. The following reviews are the summary of what we found (for additional details, see In Depth, p. 91, section 3). Testers' Choice and Best Buy recommendations in this review were determined by the consensus of the Scuba Lab staff.

Primary Lights

Green Force F1
Green Force refers to its dive lights as "lighting systems" and aptly so. Every light head fits every battery kit, offering virtually unlimited configurations. They even offer umbilical cords to convert any light into a canister configuration. We reviewed the F1, the company's newest--and smallest--battery pack, in combination with three of its newest light heads. The F1 contains a compact, NiMH rechargeable battery that only needs two to three hours of recharging to get you back in the water. It comes in a durable plastic case with an aluminum lantern handle, fast charger and carrying case. All Green Force lights come with a one-year warranty on batteries and three years on parts.

F1 10-Watt HID (focusable head)

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| F1 10-Watt HID|
HID bulbs throw off serious illumination--with this focusing lighthead, you can direct that torrent of light any way you want. With just a few twists, you go from a narrow beam that measures just one-and-half-feet in diameter (perfect for probing crevices) to a more diffuse pool of light that's three feet in diameter but still registers an intense EV reading at the edges (perfect for general use). It's like having two lights in one. The twist on/off function is simple and well protected with three O-ring seals, and the aluminum handle is light, rugged and offers a comfortable lantern grip. Price: $773.

F1 Tri Star 15

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| F1 Tri Star 15|
The new Tri Star 15 light head uses three 5-watt LED bulbs that combine for a bright and balanced beam. This is the light for divers who want to see the big picture, as it throws a wide arc of white light two-and-a-half feet in diameter. According to our EV readings, it has the lowest drop-off from hot spot to one foot out of all the lights we tested. Bonus: The Tri Star 15 has built-in circuitry that monitors the battery and indicates the charge level by flashing the LEDs when you first turn it on: Three times indicates a full charge; two times indicates a half charge; and once means it's time to recharge. All this technology doesn't come cheap, however, and the F1 Tri Star 15 illuminates this point with a hefty retail price. Price: $823.

F1 Tri Star Plus

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| F1 Tri Star Plus|
This new light head features a trio of 3-watt LEDs (the original Tri Star had three 1-watt diodes), and the beam it projects is just as bright as the Tri Star 15 at the center, but much narrower. There is a substantial drop-off in brightness as you move toward the perimeter. At 12 inches from the beam's center, EV readings drop 30 percent. Burn time is slightly longer, and the twist-on/off lighthead has the same triple O-ring guard and battery indicator function as the Tri Star 15. Price: $587.

Nocturnal Lights SLX LED

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| Nocturnal Lights SLX LED|
The SLX may be the smallest primary light we tested, but it can light up the reef with the best of them. It uses a trio of 3-watt LED bulbs to produce a blue/white beam that brought out vibrant colors on a night reef dive. The beam is focused into an intense hot spot, and while the 12-inch perimeter measurements fall off about 50 percent, there is a visible halo that extends to almost four feet in diameter. Its aluminum case measures just 5.25 inches long by 2.5 inches in diameter and houses six AA batteries. Two O-rings seal the housing, and the on/off switch has a good lock to prevent accidental activation. A lantern handle provides a solid grip and can be replaced with a mounting bracket if you want to use the SLX as a camera focus light. Price: $260.

UK C8 eLED Plus

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| UK C8 eLED Plus|
The new C8 eLED Plus uses two 5-watt LED bulbs in concert to produce a strong, focused beam with a two-foot diameter and gradual drop-off in intensity as you go out toward the perimeter. For greater efficiency, UK has developed a through-the-lens heat sink that keeps the bulbs cool and burning brighter. The locking switch offers high and low power options for extended burn time. On the low power setting we measured a center EV reading of 6.2 compared to 7.9 at full power. The light comes with a pistol-grip handle, lanyard and 8 C-cell batteries. Offering an abundance of features, the longest burn times and the lowest retail price in the Primary Light category, the C8 eLED Plus earns both our Testers' Choice and Best Buy recommendations. Price: $169.99.

OMS Phantom HID

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| OMS Phantom HID|
The Phantom was one of the biggest surprises of this review, issuing a blazing white beam from a compact package. OMS claims it's the "smallest 10-watt HID flashlight in the world," and it was, in fact, the brightest light tested in this review, with a hot spot EV reading of 10.3. While the beam intensity drops to 60 percent at the 12-inch perimeter, the Phantom still provided a visible halo four feet out from center. One reason this light is so small is that it runs on six CR123 lithium batteries, which will give you about two hours of burn time. The stout aluminum housing has a double O-ring seal at its base and is depth rated to 1,000 feet. A nice touch: The large on/off switch features a screw- down lock to prevent accidental discharge in your dive bag. Price: $978.25.

Pocket Lights

Pocket lights have to be small, bright, durable and reliable. Typically, they work the day shift looking under ledges and pointing out critters, so most have a narrow, focused beam. Due to their size and limited battery power they won't be able to cover a broad area, but all of these will serve ably as a backup night diving light if needed in a pinch.

Green Force Diamond Plus

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| Green Force Diamond Plus|
The upgraded Diamond Plus has been upgraded with a 3-watt LED (the original had a 1-watt diode) and the result is a 20 percent increase in brightness with only a slightly shorter burn time. What's great about this light is its compact durability and large halo of usable light. While the glow drops off dramatically at the edges, there is still a visible ring almost three feet in diameter. The twist on/off light head is sealed with three O-rings, comes with two CR-123 batteries and a nylon carry pouch. Price: $160.

Pelican 2000 Sabrelite Photoluminescent

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| Pelican 2000 Sabrelite Photoluminescent|
With a 3.3-watt Xenon bulb in the lighthead, the Pelican 2000 Sabrelite emits a piercing yellow/white beam barely six inches in diameter. With a 9.1 EV reading, its hot spot is brighter than some of the primaries we tested, but the brilliance falls off dramatically as you move toward the periphery. If you like fish spotting and port hole peering, then this light is for you. It comes with three C-cell batteries, lanyard, belt clip and a glow-in-the-dark lens cover for a very reasonable price, earning one of our two Best Buy recommendations in pocket lights. Price: $41.95.

Pelican 2010 Sabrelite Recoil LED

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| Pelican 2010 Sabrelite Recoil LED|
If you like the Pelican Sabrelite housing but need a longer burn time on each set of batteries, pick up the new 2010 Sabrelite LED. While it's not as bright as the 2000, this new LED-powered beam keeps going and going and going--up to 50 hours on a set of three C-cell batteries. It shares the same pinpoint spot light characteristics, so don't expect to see much six inches outside of center, but you'll have plenty of time to look around. Both Pelicans are rated to 500 feet, but the twist on/off lens employs only one O-ring seal. Price: $62.95.

UK SL4 eLED

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| UK SL4 eLED|
The SL4 eLED has an intense center hot spot that's as bright as many primary lights, but hides comfortably in your BC pocket. This is the light for fish spotting or ledge leering but you'll also like it as a backup night torch. While most of the beam is focused within six inches of center, there is a faint circle of light that extends as far out as four feet. Ergonomically, it's as small as you can get while housing four C-cell batteries, fits nicely in the hand, and the on/off switch is right where you want it. Throw in the fact that it offers 10 to 12 hours of burn time and you have a Testers' Choice. Price: $76.99.

Princeton Tec Torrent Xenon

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| Princeton Tec Torrent Xenon|
The Torrent Xenon offers a powerful rush of yellow/white light that outshines its competition in this category with the highest measured brightness. The center is a dazzling bright spot for probing nooks and crannies. As with other lights in this class there is not much left for the periphery, but the Torrent Xenon still has usable light at the 12-inch boundary. Inside the plastic case are 8AA batteries protected with a double O-ring seal. A locking thumb switch does the job while a rubber cover shields the lens. It comes with batteries and lanyard and earns our other Best Buy recommendation for pocket lights. Price: $44.

Princeton Tec Torrent LED

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| Princeton Tec Torrent LED|
The Torrent LED emits a wider, softer blue/white light, which is not as bright at the center as its Xenon brother, but also falls off more gradually at the perimeter. Where it really shines is in burn time. The LED version will last as much as 10 times longer on a set of batteries than the Xenon light. It also comes fully loaded with lanyard, batteries and locking switch. With its wider beam it would be better as a backup night light than a daytime fish spotter. Price: $64.99.

Backup Lights

Their job is to go unnoticed until they are needed. They have to function when your primary fades and give you enough light to read your gauges and signal your buddy or the boat.

AquaTec Aqua-Star 3

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| AquaTec Aqua-Star 3|
We didn't expect much power from this class of light, so we were impressed when the Aqua-Star 3 lit up the light meter with a hot spot reading that rivals many primary lights. AquaTec uses one 3-watt LED powered by six AAA batteries to produce a blue/white beam and a respectable six to eight hours of burn time. Intensity drops off gradually between six inches and 12 inches, but there is a glow that extends out about three feet that keeps you from getting tunnel vision. Double O-ring seals protect this twist on/off light down to 330 feet, and it comes complete with batteries and lanyard. For overall brightness combined with a good burn time, we selected the Aqua-Star 3 as our Testers' Choice among backup lights. Price: $99.99.

OMS VEGA

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| OMS VEGA|
The VEGA proves there's a way to make it a backup light that's both small and bright. The single 3-watt bulb and larger reflector provide a strong center beam with a smidgen of light extending out as far as four feet. The twist-on/off light uses a double O-ring seal tested to 330 feet, and the durable aluminum body offers an excellent grip. Price: $93.10.

OMS Head Lamp

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| OMS Head Lamp|
This versatile light comes with mounting straps that let you wear it strapped to your forehead, to your hand or even to your BC chest strap. The 3-watt LED runs on two CR-123A batteries and posted the brightest EV readings in this category. The blue/white beam has a solid center and reaches out three feet from the center before fading. The twist on/off cap is protected with twin O-ring seals and is rated to 330 feet. Price: $75.25.

NiteRider Aqua Torch

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| NiteRider Aqua Torch|
This "pencil light" uses a 1-watt LED to back you up when all goes black. It works best up close for gauge reading, but still showed usable light at a distance of six feet. Double O-rings seal this rugged aluminum illuminator, and there are threaded holes at the base for mounting as a camera focus light. The AquaTorch stows readily in a BC pocket, and comes with two AA batteries and a lanyard. Price: $69.95.

Scubapro Nova

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| Scubapro Nova|
The Nova is the little light that could. Though one of the smallest in this review, it showed some good performance with a nice wide center that filled a 12-inch circle with a strong white light. The push-button on/off switch is glove-friendly and allows for easy one-hand operation. The all-aluminum body is tough but anodized with a nice finish. Three AAA batteries will provide one of the longest burn times for lights in this group, and the single O-ring seal is rated 393 feet. Price: $86.