My first proper torch was to be a Kawalski, I went to buy one and came out with a Greenforce 10w HID on a F2 battery pack and an umbilical. I do all kinds of diving and I've never found it lacking. Nobody has ever complained that they can't understand my signals.
I've built on the Greenforce as I now have 2 F2 battery packs, 2 umbilicals and 3 different heads, I think the LED one burns for a 32 years before it needs charging (that's a joke). I have had one problem which was sorted out in a few days. I can't fault the service.
I don't think that you will get a bad torch with any decent manufacturer I got Greenforce before I'd heard of Salvo (Phil hadn't even joined YD then and the DIR lot were using lead acid Halcyon's) I have never needed anything else if I wanted a brighter torch I'd just buy a brighter head and as technology improves you just add to the Greenforce system, you don't need to change your torch.
However, for under £300 you can have
http://www.divingniknaks.com/proddet...rod=10.102.010 and with a burntime of three and a half hours it will last longer than than my scrubber and should be bright enough for most recreational diving uses.
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Simon TW
The thing about free advice is you get what you paid for.
http://www.sirenian.org
"I've seen things you people wouldn't believe. Attack ships on fire off the shoulder of Orion. I watched C-beams glitter in the dark near the Tannhauser gate. All those moments will be lost in time, like tears in rain."
Time to dive.