A decent LED torch?

[Erdi]

Hey, I'm looking to buy a decent LED torch before the summer this year.
I'll be using it off the coast of North Cyprus, mainly looking for Dusky Grouper in caves around 10 metres deep. I don't want anything too big, looking for something around £50.

I've seen a similar thread to this but it was made in 2009 and I know the LED torches have become a lot more popular since then so was hoping there might be a few people here who have tried some of the newer torches.

On a side note: I've found this German make torch in a shop in Turkey for roughly £35 (I'm currently on a short vacation)
Ultra Pro Germany® - Batterien, Akkus, Ladegeräte & Taschenlampen

I'm tempted to get it but figured there might be some better ones I can order off the net when I get back to the UK?

Any advice would be much appreciated!
Thanks in advance,
Erdi

 

[efattah]

I have tried many. Nothing comes close to the Big blue FL-107.

 

[Trelawney]

Aquatec Aquastar 5 - 5W LED Torch by AquaTec

This one gets quite a good review from the scuba boys.

 

[podge]

http://www.princetontec.com/?q=shockwave-led

This is a good one, bit more than you want to spend but a really good light, Old Man Dave used a Shockwave and he was king of the night dives.:king

 

[Erdi]

Nice, thanks for the suggestions

I'll look into the Aquatech and the Big blue fl. I think the princeton shockwave might be a little too expensive for me, the specs do look pretty good for it's value though!

efattah - why do you recommend the Big blue over the many other you've tried? What do you prefer about it? And which are the others you have tried?

Thanks again!

 

[devondave]

Erdi, have a look at the back-up torches scuba divers use.
The new LEDs are powerful enough for a main torch and most are under £50.
I saw some great ones at the London dive show, very small, very powerful.

 

[Trelawney]

Try and look at the specs of the beam angle too. For underwater use, you really need as tight a beam as possible (unless you want it as a video light).
I've got a PT LED Shockwave and its a great torch. The batteries last forever and its quite robust. I'm getting a new torch soon, so it will be up for sale when it arrives.

 

[settingsteel]

http://www.princetontec.com/?q=shockwave-led

This is a good one, bit more than you want to spend but a really good light, Old Man Dave used a Shockwave and he was king of the night dives.:king

I'll second that....but Podge tell me who's king of the night:chatup

 

[azapa]

Here is a consideration for you erdi, from another caved grouper hunter: you don't want anything too bright, it will scare the crap out of fish and they will bolt.

I have a old 4C halogen bulbed torch, no idea how many watts, but a softish yellow halogen glow. Worked fine. I then got fancy with a Beuchat 3W led jobbie. More like darth vaders light sabre! Just turning the thing on at 45 degrees to the cave and everything therin would bolt.

At 10m, any 20 dollar dive torch is probably fine. Do get rechargeable though. One feature I appreciate in a torch is the magnetic reed switch type activation, basically a slide with magnet outside the casing, there is no shaft or button going through.

 

[Erdi]

Thanks again for all the suggstions! Much appreciated

azapa - I had no idea the fish would swim away so fast when using a bright torch. I was told by some of the locals, when you find the grouper with the beam of the torch it will sort of 'stun' them for a moment or two in which you'll find the time to take the shot.
When using the Beuchat, how long would the fish be in the light before they swam away? Or wouldn't they be in the light at all, they'd just see it approaching the cave and make a run for it anyway?

I'm hoping to eventually use my torch down to the 20 metre mark or more once I find myself a diving partner that can dive as deep, so my torch will be used for deeper depths too, (hopefully )

Trelawney - Thanks for the tip on the tight beam, I didn't consider that! Does that shockwave offer a tight beam then? It looks like it could light up the Titanic if given the chance!

I'll do some more research using the info you guys gave, thanks again!

Erdi

 

[settingsteel]

I think it depends on the pressure the fish is getting. Here in Florida alot of guys that freedive don't take the time to "hole" hunt they instead hunt the edge. Every time I poke in a hole with my light the grouper just sit there, half stunned perhaps, or half knowing they're -----. Guys on scuba have a different story which is similiar to azapa, btw bud howz it going, when you headed over to Miami again???

 

[azapa]

Hey Tone bud, I',m close by in the Blue Hole in Bahamas for a freediving comp!! Won't have time on the way back, but will make the trip soon, gota love those warm waters..

Erdi, maybe its just my fish, in my spot (spooky) but since getting my new torch, about 6 months ago, I can say its helped get like 1 fish. All the others have bolted. I now just sit around until my eyes aclimatize.

 

[Erdi]

Thanks settingsteel, I heard the same thing happens when grouper hunting in Cyprus so I may take my chances with a brighter torch. Some of the caves/holes can get pretty deep.
Maybe I'll get a cheaper, less brighter torch too just incase. Thanks for the help guys Once I buy a torch and test it, I'll update this thread in September once I'm back from Cyprus.

Thanks again,
Erdi

 

[nyspear]

Erdi, maybe its just my fish, in my spot (spooky) but since getting my new torch, about 6 months ago, I can say its helped get like 1 fish. All the others have bolted. I now just sit around until my eyes aclimatize.

It's not just your fish. I can confirm this. My UK Light Canon scares fish, as well, even with a diffuser inserted. I noticed that others weren't having this problem.

 

[Trelawney]

I'm not so sure, at least over here in the UK.

I've taken out my Greenforce 21w HiD (about 1100 lumens), and have noticed no difference in the behaviour of the fish using that, compared to my PT Shockwave (400 lumens). Big bass are normally very spooky when in shallow water during the day, but at night, using a torch you can almost poke them with your spear tip.

I suppose it depends on how often they are hunted using this method. They might quickly learn that divers and torches mean trouble, especially if they have been in the same hole when other fish have been taken.

 

[settingsteel]

I now just sit around until my eyes aclimatize.

good to here brotha, Heres a tip you may already know, as you drop half way down close yours eyes to the point that you can hardly see once you reach the outer edge of the hole, shut them for a few seconds then open them and take a look...good luck on the comp, and be safe.

 

[azapa]

Thanks Tone. I am seeing how deep i can go without this fin things.. Nice tip too!

Regarding the torch Tralawny, don't get confused between night dives (when the fish are in other modes) and daylight cave searching. They are different things. Some fish sleep at night, others come out to hunt.

 

[Trelawney]

Ahh, now I see. For some reason I though you were doing it at night. In that case, my daytime torch for hunting under overhangs and tunnels is a small UK Mini Q40. Its a halogen, so not dazzlingly bright, just enough to see by and not spook things.

 

[Kars]

Scubapro Nova HP appears to be nice small light. I'm about to get one of those in a few weeks, to be used @ the Nordic Deep competition in the dark Swedish fjord, hopefully exceeding 60m+. I was considering another light, Cressi Micro Frogman - looks like great value!, but that one was 'only' rated to 60m, so I rather have the 120m of the scuba pro Nova HP light. Having a light at such total darkness is a kind of useful, some say a safety issue

I like the fact it has 3 AAA's, because my key chain light has the same cells so I can use a nice bunch of them, oh and they quickly recharge too, so that's neat.

 

[RWhite_25]

I had been to the NZ mountains a year ago.Got a Xtar Waterproof LED torch from Mr positive. It's still in the use, had zero issues with usage. Pleased with brighter light beam throw and over 1m deep in water.