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Ready for Anything. This group of gadgets and devices will handle many duties, from getting your kit to that dive paradise in travel-friendly style to the safety gear that makes sure you get back from each dive raring for the next one. And let’s not forget the stuff that’s just plain fun to play with.
What You Need to Know: Dive Lights
Dive lights are usually described as primary lights and backup lights. If you’re using the light throughout the entire dive, it’s your primary. Lights clipped to your BC or stowed in a pocket are generally thought of as backups.
Dive lights come in two basic configurations: flashlights — whether primary or backup, with either replaceable or rechargeable batteries — and canister lights, which supply a compact light with power from a wire connected to a canister battery usually attached to your BC or your waist.
Historically, canister lights — favored by wreck divers and cave divers — were the brightest, but this is changing as lighting technology advances, and lights become smaller and more powerful.
The cutting edge in lighting: A 10-watt HID (high-intensity discharge) puts out the same light as a 50-watt halogen, yet requires only 20 percent of the power. LEDs (light-emitting diode) are even more efficient and much more durable.
Having at least two lights for a night dive is a requirement, but having a light on every dive is a great idea.
