My first torch

[wokauvin]

OK, I know there's a sticky thread directly above this with the same title but i'm not feeling anything like as extravagant as J.D.!

I'm going to the Red Sea soon and need something for night dives as well as poking around shallow ledges & reefs in the UK. I don't really want to re-create daylight on the night dives & since 30m ish, low vis wrecks don't really appeal i'm not in need of a light sabre (though if anyone's created a real waterproof lightsabre, name your price!).

I've been looking at the Underwater Kinetics range in the LDS. Would an SL4/SL6 suffice or is it worth splashing out(!) on a C4? Have seen the rechargable version for £85 and this is the max i'd be prepared to spend.

Also, do I go LED or 'regular'?

Any advice on this or any other brands I should be looking at in this price range gratefully received!

Cheers,

[lloydwatkin]

LED will be a nicer light, plus the batteries will last alot longer.

Personally I'd go with the sl6 as I don't like a lantern (?) type grip on it. Add a piston thinggy and hide the torch in your pocket for when you need it.

Personally the £3 LIDL's LED torches have done great for me in Egypt. I tend to turn my torch off in the main on night dives as everyone takes big bright torches that blind everything in the area anyway (usually including myself, dumbasses ).

Lloyd

[PeeBee]

I completely agree re the LIDL torches, I bought two last year have taken them both to 50m and they are perfect as cranny illuminating/ mini back up torches.

Pete

[Kanga]

Another vote for the SL6 - they're brilliantly indestructible, and more than enough for a night dive in the Red Sea. I didn't even know you could get LED versions, but if you can, you should. I agree also about the pistol grip torches - they're a real PITA, especially if you need to do anything else with your hands like reeling out. It was my first torch, and at this rate, will be my last as other more expensive models stumble and fall in the face of my astonishing incompetence around electronics.

While you're at it, buy yourself a mini UK40 as a back up. I know I go on about them, but I'm constantly astonished at how bright, durable and Kanga-resistant they are. And I know you can get LED versions of those, with nifty little luminous collars so you can find them in the dark.

[Digger]

No no no no no. You don't want SL4/6 etc., you want Tektite. The same money and a million times better. Takes smaller batteries so less impact on the allowance, and more light. And better light. Whiter light. Burntime 70 hours or something, so no need for more batteries when it runs out on a night dive.

Speak to Brett at Divelife: Scuba Diving Equipment in Manchester, Lancashire & Cheshire - PADI, TDI & IANTD Diving Courses who will reach across and grab one, put it in a bag, and post it to you. All with a big smile on his face, because they're the daddy and he likes happy customers. What you want is the Trek 4 if you're on a budget (I think he has them at £28) or if you want to really really splash out I just found out they do them in aluminium as well for more money, and they look lovely. He'd need to get them in, but I'd be very tempted. Oh, and they're all rated to 300m or something ridiculous. So you're never goign to break it basically. I couldn't break one at all, it's like trying to damage a Maglite, there's nothing to break, and if you could they still would carry on working.

The mini Q40 is fine as a backup, but I wouldn't use one as a primary even in the clearest of waters.

Digs.

[Aquatic Mammal]

I'd have to say it's LED all the way for me. I've got the Peli Sabrelite 2010 recoil LED which is an awsome tool for the money! The clever bit is the lens design where the LED is facing backwards into the parabolic reflector (just like a lighthouse)!


Peli SabreLite Recoil LED Torch 2010

40+ hours out of 3x C cells and a brilliant focussed blue-white light.
The Lidl torches are OK for a backup but a bit puny for proper use (I've got 3)

It's all good fun

[gwilson]

Tektite 4, is a superb torch. I got one a month or so back and really impressed, I think it was £26 from Divelife he even sold it to me at web prices. Its alot more compact than the sl4/6 and IMO a better beam is given. Ive also a small Q40, which is a back ups back up, which also gives a decent beam.


Divelife had to order in the Tektie but i think i still had it in my grubby mitts within a week.

[wokauvin]

Thanks everyone for your comments, much appreciated. I'm sure the SL4/SL6 would have been fine but seeing a pic of the shiny aluminium Tektite tipped the balance! Found one in stock at Sussex Scuba. Ordered on Friday afternoon & delivered Saturday morning, superb service!

Cheers,

wokauvin (no connection with Sussex Scuba!)