Experienced divers know the significance of deciding on the best equipment, and deciding on the best LED dive torch is no different. To make your light selection, there are many factors to be considered. What works best for one situation may very well be inappropriate for the next dive. But, the first thing to think about is the depth of the dive you will be making. Not all lights work for all dives, and are in fact rated by the depth at which they are effective. They range from barely being waterproof to working at depths up to several thousand feet.
The type of diver you are will factor into the type of light you finally choose. A casual diver, who dives just for fun, will have different needs than the professional or commercial diver who uses light on every dive in order to do a job. Underwater photographers need adequate light to make their subject photographable, while other types of commercial divers could need a lot of light to be able to search for things or people.
Now that you know your lighting requirements for your type of dive, you need to determine how large an area you need to illuminate. Dive lights come in a variety of beam types that determine how much light is dispersed to how wide an area. They range from a narrow beam that is concentrated, to a wide beam that leaves a larger light pattern. If you do a variety of types of dives with different lighting needs, there is also an option for a variable beam light that could meet your needs. Another factor in the brightness of the light given off is the number of bulbs in the unit you select.
Batteries can be a very important component in your selection of a lighting unit. Lights come in all shapes and sizes, and so do the batteries that power them. Many units use standard alkaline batteries ranging in size from Triple A to D cell, while others use NiCad or lithium batteries that can be more expensive. There is also the option of using rechargeable batteries. Keep in mind battery life, battery cost, and battery weight when you make your decision. A unit that uses several D cell batteries will be considerably heavier than a unit that uses three triple A batteries.
How versatile and usable the light is should be considered. Will you easily be able to carry it while diving? Does the switch turn on and off easily under the situations you would be using it? The goal is to find a light unit that meets your requirements for the dives on which you will be using it. A further consideration is to select a second light to use as a backup in case your primary light fails in some way.
The durability of the light may or may not be important to you, depending on how you intend to use it. This may not be as important to a recreational diver as it is to a commercial diver who will use the light daily in order to do a job. Part of durability is how many hours of use the bulbs are supposed to give you. Bulbs are rated for hours of use, so be sure to check this feature on any units that you consider.
The net result is that there are lights for all types of diving. These come in all size and shapes, with different choices for batteries, beam and brightness. You will have many, many options when deciding on the best LED dive torch for your use. You can find product reviews and ratings, as well as more information online.
