Torch for newbie - (uk)

[portinfer]

Hi
I am tempted to go night diving (possibly spearing // but def. snorkelling / freediving).

I looked at the Halycon site (http://www.halcyon.net/lights/index.shtml) and saw the 10 watt HID lighthead.

What is a not too expensive (sub £120 torch/umbilical light) set up to get ?

looking for :

-- reliability
-- good burn time
-- easy of use
-- easy to recharge (ie with batteries that dont die after 10 recharges)

-- easy to use with freediving set up - ie where do you clip it ?

Any advice would be good - Cheers Ed

 

[ickledevil]

Hey dont know how much use this will be but.. i have three torches i use regularly, two made by same company who's name has escaped me but one is a 6 cell (D) and one 6 cell (AA) both real bright with ok burn time, smaller cost about £20 with batterys both came from bens shop, portland oceaneering in castle town portland the other is a 4 cell (C) from beauchat had it years and quite good, all of these are hand held not umbilical types, i cant afford one! but have the two larger ones mounted on my weight harness like headlights when needed! works quite well... bloody spookey though!
Joe

 

[Murat]

are you sure that night spearing is legal in uk?

 

[ickledevil]

Havnt got the foggiest......! But where i was diving was shall we say less than idealso was least of my worries! An in a country that still allows spearing on scuba (loophole.. but dont tell anyone.. i hate it!) shouldnt think they will mind.. or be arsed to come find me!
Joe

 

[Brian Hamilton]

You could try the Princeton Tec Surge which takes 8AA batteries and has a nice beam. It costs £30 - £35.

You can either stock up on alkalines (Duracell and Eveready are always on sale in my local supermarket for £3 for 8) or invest in a set of good nimh rechargeables which will increase runtime over the alkalines.

The torch has a nice wriststrap which you can slide up your arm to get it out of your way. deepbluedive.com sells them at a reasonable price.

Also consider those Mini Q40's (distributed in the UK by Hydrotech) which take 4 AA batteries and can be clipped to your mask. One of those on either side of your head will obviously point in the direction your head is facing whilst a Surge can be used to pick out fish on the periphery of your vision.

Good luck but remember to try to keep your equipment to a minimum to avoid bits of kit tapping against each other and freaking the fish.

PS - night time fishing is a bit scary, tends to play on your imagination but it rocks.

Good Luck

Brian