First Torch

[Reeve]

<font color='#000F22'>Hello to a fellow Cardiffian.

I had a UK8R for a number or years (lost throught the scuppers while on the Skelligs last year), a very good robust torch that won't give you any problems, I have also got a Custom Divers ST1 HID although it's currently awaiting repair after fludding, great 35W beam. Currently using a Kowalski but am looking to purchase a new umbilical HID I'm looking at a Green Force, although this is slightly more than your budget.

Based on £200 you won't go far wrong with the UK8R for all but the most demanding of diving.

gareth

p.s what club are you with?

[J.D.]

Quote[/b] (Reeve @ April 02 2004,17:02)]Hello to a fellow Cardiffian.
p.s what club are you with?

Hi gareth

Im with the Cardiff Uni club. Although have to admit not originally from cardiff, just in uni here (originally from Llanelli).

James

[J.D.]

Quote[/b] (Snash @ April 02 2004,16:35)]Not sure what level of experience you are or what type of diving you do or how much other kit you have.

I would concentrate my dosh on other bits of kit (eg twins, wings etc etc) before getting a F.O. Mega torch. However if you have all the other kit, then I would go down the umbilical light sabre route  

Simon,

Im a BSAC club diver, and almost completed sport diver.  Got about 50 dives since qualifying, mainly in the sea (mixture of wreck/reef) but occasionally in the NDC at chepstow.

To be honest ive got most of the kit i see myself needing for the time being - Drysuit was the last big purchase, got a Mares Vector 1000 BC and Abyss reg as well as a couple of tanks.

I would like a wing/harness setup though, and maybe then go down the twins route in the future.  But i dont really see myself getting these this year, so for the time being a torch is the only main bit of kit i dont have.

James

[String]

Argghh a turk !!! Run away !!!

(i spent 4 years at Cardiff uni, now just up the road at pontypridd doing something else). &nbsp;Never knew they had a dive club when i was there.

Seems theres a few of us south walians lurking on the board.

[Helen F H]

<font color='#000080'>I have a FA&amp; Mi Stilio, which i find to be a little tempremental, but when it works you could bring down aircraft with the thing! &nbsp;Service from Denney's was cracking when the ubilical failed due to a fault. &nbsp;
I love the umbilical aspect of the torch, and the fact it has an inbuilt handle with lots of nice optical extras. &nbsp;Handy hint (cos i learned the hard way) - wrap the head in neoprene incase someone drops it - the bulbs are easy to break and will break if you drop it from a significant height. &nbsp;It wasnt me, and if i ever find who did drop it (you lot are safe, it was some tw@t from my club) i will insert it up their arse and turn the thing on so they glow like a bloody firefly.

[Reeve]

<font color='#000F22'>

Quote[/b] (Porg @ April 02 2004,20:27)]Handy hint (cos i learned the hard way) - wrap the head in neoprene incase someone drops it - the bulbs are easy to break and will break if you drop it from a significant height.  It wasnt me, and if i ever find who did drop it (you lot are safe, it was some tw@t from my club) i will insert it up their arse and turn the thing on so they glow like a bloody firefly.

Nothing to do with being narked and droping your head on the Rondo  

[Ian@1904]

<font color='#736AFF'>Just in case you are offered a cheap Scubalux torch HD 200 or HD350
Either by LDS or ebay etc

Avoid.

I am still waiting for my refund from LDS/Scubapro. Scubapro have quietly discontinued the product range cos they don't work proper. Refund will be used to extend my Greenforce set up-but this is out of your £200 price range

[Helen F H]

Quote[/b] (Reeve @ April 02 2004,21:05)]

Quote[/b] (Porg @ April 02 2004,20:27)]Handy hint (cos i learned the hard way) - wrap the head in neoprene incase someone drops it - the bulbs are easy to break and will break if you drop it from a significant height.  It wasnt me, and if i ever find who did drop it (you lot are safe, it was some tw@t from my club) i will insert it up their arse and turn the thing on so they glow like a bloody firefly.

Nothing to do with being narked and droping your head on the Rondo  

<font color='#000080'>Nah, that wouldnt bugger it. &nbsp;Needs to be dropped not dragged. &nbsp;Anyway i have that sorted with an idea i pinched from Jack Ingle with bungee for the torch. &nbsp;Would have been fine if i hadnt taken the lanyard off it.
Plus i think our descent rate of dropping like the proverbial brick may not have helped a whole lot with the narcs.

[J.D.]

Quote[/b] (String @ April 02 2004,20:21)]Never knew they had a dive club when i was there.

Yeah, i think its been going for quite a while. Pretty active too.

Cheers for all the advice guys. Think ill either go for a UK D8R or Fa-Mi (or something similar). &nbsp;Not in a rush to get one just yet (got a few weeks), so ill keep an eye out for a something second hand before deciding on a new one though. Might be able to get a Custom Divers handheld HID for close to £200 &nbsp; !

James

[bert]

<font color='#0000FF'>James,

You cant go wrong with the DR8, wer'e talking searchlight here, dived Scottish Lochs with it for nearly two years now, &nbsp;and until last week it performed perfectly, phoned Sea &amp; Sea, a Mr David Millan, who told me to send it down for a look at, sent it off on the Tues and got it back on the Friday, apparently the selector switch had came loose and the screw was causing a short circuit, he replaced the selector switch AND the reflector free of charge, considering it wasent under warrenty I thought this was excellent service.

Bert