Guernsey 2014

[Rockie]

You can buy a back up LED touch for under £10 & they are brighter than the ones we used 10 years ago!
I think I paid about £40 for the re chargeable one I use, but I stick to short dives in shallow water.


torch&_fscr=1

Thats the sort of price range I was thinking Mart. I will also be doing short shallow dives where sharks dont go

 

[Rockie]

For sure.
I'd be very surprised if no one else has an encounter at night in the Knife area. It just seems ideal habitat for them and close to deep tidal water.


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Dont tell me that Grant or I wont be buying a torch

 

[grantl]

Dont tell me that Grant or I wont be buying a torch

You'd be better getting one. You won't see em coming without one [emoji12]

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[Rockie]

ThanksOTE="Jonny250, post: 936208, member: 14189"]I think @jerseymike has used a backpack battery in the past - maybe message him for ideas.
Also @Magpie has bodged some wonders in the past and probably knows more on this than the collective of the rest of us...[/QUOTE]
Thanks mate I will ask them. I have found out what I wanted too about head and mask torches, lanyards, price, light intensity, battery life and type etc. Learnt alot today

 

[Magpie]

Trying to keep it short about torches....they key thing is not the ultimate power but the spread of light. Over here, in anything but absolute perfect viz, which I haven't seen for at least 8 years, you need a focused beam. A wide spread will just "white out" on the murk no matter how much power you have.

Of course, as long as it's focused, the more power the better. The good thing about the D6 mentioned earlier is it has a large reflector meaning narrower beam. Combined with the XM-L led (small die size compared to previous high power leds like the P7), it will work well. The downside of it is the battery power. As it only uses 1 18650 cell it will barely last an hour at full power. Obviously reducing brightness will increase run time.

Anything with an XM-L in it will be pretty decent but do not be tempted by the triple xm-l ones on ebay. By cramming in the 3 leds the reflector have to be tiny, which means they will be a flood style light, which is not what you need.

You can get a triple XM-L to work but you need to spend yer cash on decent reflectors and build a torch around them, and by doing that you can add a massive battery pack on an umbilical for loads of run time, but that takes plenty of time and research!

Personally I prefer hand held to wrist mounted, I find it easier to point where you want rather than moving your whole arm. If you have it on a short leash you can drop it and do your tidying up work in the silhouette of the light projected below.

Night diving general, go places you've dived in daylight, keep your head up to keep your bearings on shore light, and yes, take a compass. I've only used mine once, when an unexpected fog came in all of a sudden and I could see nothing. Without it I'd have been left trying to work out my way back based on knowing which way the ripples in the sand usually run....hardly a foolproof navigation technique!

 

[Rockie]

ThanksOTE="grantl, post: 936205, member: 7398"]Another vote for theXtar D06 from me - mines battered and abused but never let me down. Absolute bargain. http://www.torchdirect.co.uk/xtar-professional-range/xtar-d06-led-diving-torch.html
also get some kind of a hand mount or make one out of a bit of old neoprene.
a mask / head torch makes life easier, particularly when dealing wit a fish, lobster or tangle etc.
I use a mini q40 eLed. Brilliant little torch that I often use as my main light.
Compass - I've carried one for years but never used it in anger.......until I found myself past the point of the knife and the streetlights went off. Without it I would have been (more ) confused and maybe still swimming around in circles.

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Thanks Grant i saved the website to look at tomorrow i am off to bed to dream about sharks

 

[Rockie]

Trto keep it short about torches....they key thing is not the ultimate power but the spread of light. Over here, in anything but absolute perfect viz, which I haven't seen for at least 8 years, you need a focused beam. A wide spread will just "white out" on the murk no matter how much power you have.

Of course, as long as it's focused, the more power the better. The good thing about the D6 mentioned earlier is it has a large reflector meaning narrower beam. Combined with the XM-L led (small die size compared to previous high power leds like the P7), it will work well. The downside of it is the battery power. As it only uses 1 18650 cell it will barely last an hour at full power. Obviously reducing brightness will increase run time.

Anything with an XM-L in it will be pretty decent but do not be tempted by the triple xm-l ones on ebay. By cramming in the 3 leds the reflector have to be tiny, which means they will be a flood style light, which is not what you need.

You can get a triple XM-L to work but you need to spend yer cash on decent reflectors and build a torch around them, and by doing that you can add a massive battery pack on an umbilical for loads of run time, but that takes plenty of time and research!

Personally I prefer hand held to wrist mounted, I find it easier to point where you want rather than moving your whole arm. If you have it on a short leash you can drop it and do your tidying up work in the silhouette of the light projected below.

Night diving general, go places you've dived in daylight, keep your head up to keep your bearings on shore light, and yes, take a compass. I've only used mine once, when an unexpected fog came in all of a sudden and I could see nothing. Without it I'd have been left trying to work out my way back based on knowing which way the ripples in the sand usually run....hardly a foolproof navigation technique!

Thanks Magpie thats very useful to know. I am leaning towards the D6 because of what you have said above I also had to do lighting design at uni (a while ago now) so know a bit about lux/lumens etc the D6 grant tells me also shows you where the sharks are will definitely look at this torch thankyou for your time and advice. Chris

 

[Highlander]

I can only echo the remarks on the Xtar D06 LED. Cracking little torch. I find I only need to change the battery after abiut 1.5-2hours. But a couple of batteries, I have 2 x Senybor 3.7v 3100mAh. I use this in conjunction with a BestDivers mit, that slips over my hand, best option I have found with hands free use. I also have a mini UK Q40, but with xenon bulb attached to my mask as well. A simple twist if the lens cap turns it on. Torch mit as per below link D06 slides nicely into it.
http://www.divelife.co.uk/scuba-man...s/6219/Best-Divers-Neoprene-Hand-Torch-Holder



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[foxfish]

I had a visit from my brothers old diving partner on Sunday, we had two hours of stories
John Pommier is now retired but spent most of his life as a professional spear fisherman, using aqualungs, he and three other full time guys worked out of St Peter Port.
The only one left now is Richard Keen but he has to diversify nowadays as there are obviously not enough Brill & Turbot around anymore.
Anyway John has some great tales to tell, several shark stories too!
I was very surprised to learn that the old spearfishing club "The Blue dolphins" had a reunion recently, about 15 guys turned up at the Yacht Cub.
There were over 60 members in the 80s when spearfishing was really popular. Shame it was not advertised as I would of loved to have gone along!

 

[Spirit]

https://www.facebook.com/bluedolphinssac

Still going with about 50 members, but only a scuba club now. The event was the 40th anniversary of being affiliated to BSAC, I guess that there were between 60 and 100 people there including a few of the old spearo members.

 

[Rockie]

I can only echo the remarks on the Xtar D06 LED. Cracking little torch. I find I only need to change the battery after abiut 1.5-2hours. But a couple of batteries, I have 2 x Senybor 3.7v 3100mAh. I use this in conjunction with a BestDivers mit, that slips over my hand, best option I have found with hands free use. I also have a mini UK Q40, but with xenon bulb attached to my mask as well. A simple twist if the lens cap turns it on. Torch mit as per below link D06 slides nicely into it.
http://www.divelife.co.uk/scuba-man...s/6219/Best-Divers-Neoprene-Hand-Torch-Holder



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Thanks for the advice mate. It seems everyone has the D6 and Q40 so they are the ones I am going to go for with a sock like you said. Thanks for your help

 

[Highlander]

When using the mit/sock, I would pass the torch lanyard through the sleeve as well for added security & arm through the lanyard.


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[Rockie]

When using the mit/sock, I would pass the torch lanyard through the sleeve as well for added security & arm through the lanyard.


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Will do, thanks for all your help and advice

 

[Spirit]

Blue Dolphins picture from 42 years ago.

 

[foxfish]

John Pommier, third on the left, Richard Keen, second on the right.

 

[Spirit]

From left-Mick De Carteret, then Keenie, John Webster,Dave Roland

From right Roy Ferbrache, then Ed Rowe, Jean Pommier

Harry Lihou in the middle and Bob? in the wheelhouse.

 

[foxfish]

I don't remember Harry Lihou, but I do remember another guy called Lou Lihou ! He ran the Flether sports and was by far the deepest diver, going down over 100' he moved to the Bahamas...

 

[Spirit]

http://www.loulihou.com/

 

[foxfish]

Amazing what you can find on the net ah!
Although he must of come back to guernsey at some time because I don't think i would of remembered him when I was one year old!

 

[Sarnian]

Hi Mart, how is John doing now? I used to do a furniture restoration evening class next to his metalwork class for many years, and we used to go to the pub with a few others for a pint afterwards. He always had loads of jokes to tell! This was over 20 years ago, didn't realise he knew Dave.


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