Underwater torches are essential for communication, diving in low visibility, at depth, or when cave diving. As you descend below the water's surface, your surroundings become darker. A diving torch allows you to see exactly what lies ahead of you and restores the colours that get filtered out as sunlight is reduced. It can also be used as a tool for communication. We strongly recommend that you take a torch with you on every dive for safety. Shine it into a nook or overhang to see otherwise hidden marine life and to bring the colours of fish and corals alive! Most people carry a primary and a backup torch. Here is our take on the best dive lights and torches in 2024.
- Primary torches - typically larger and more powerful, have longer burn times. Many of these torches are umbilical, meaning they are attached by a cord. Cave and technical divers favour these torches because of their power and streamlined design, using them as their primary light source. The canister can be attached to a harness or the back of scuba tanks. While most umbilicals provide the best burn time, advancements in batteries and LEDs have allowed newer primary torches to be compact enough to be mounted on a Goodman handle without the need for an additional battery. These torches are equipped with bright LEDs (Light Emitting Diodes) that have a long lifespan and are very powerful, capable of burning for hours at full power.
- Back-up dive lights - compact and low-profile, a backup torch serves as a secondary source of light in case the primary one fails. Thanks to advancements in technology, many smaller backup lights can function perfectly well as the main torch for recreational divers. They can easily fit into your BCD/drysuit pocket or be attached to a D-ring for quick access in when needed. These torches typically feature an ergonomic handle, an adjustable beam, and straightforward operation. A backup torch should still deliver sufficient power for the rest of the dive and for effective signalling within a buddy team.
Best Umbilical Dive Light in 2024
No other torch offers more - a fantastic 5 hours of burn time and produces a whopping 5 hours of burn time than the OrcaTorch D620 Umbilical torch.
The OrcaTorch D630 V2.0 canister dive light is designed for cave and shipwreck exploration, boasting an impressive 4,000 lumens brightness and adjustable cable angles of 90° and 180°, making it suitable for side-mount and back-mount diving. The updated side switch features a new safe lock mechanism, replacing the previous twist switch. To activate the safe lock, simply hold the side switch for 5 seconds when the torch is off. The side switch will then be inactive until unlocked by a double press. With a large-capacity battery pack, this dive light offers up to five hours of bright performance on the highest setting. Additionally, the battery pack can be removed and used as a power bank. The LED indicator provides intuitive battery monitoring for added convenience. OrcaTorch, for sure, produces the best umbilical dive light in 2024.
Best Hand-Held Dive Light 2024
Light and Motion offers an extensive range of dive lights designed for scuba diving, underwater photography, and videography. The Light and Motion Sola Dive 1200 Dive Torch is highly regarded for its exceptional value for money and impressive lumen output. Ideal for travelling divers, this torch incorporates innovative features and unparalleled reliability for proven performance, producing 1200 lumens with 70 minutes of runtime. Additionally, it now includes the Light and Motion Ballistic hand strap. The Light and Motion Dive Torch range stands out in terms of build quality, compactness, lightweight design, and brightness. Unsurprisingly, these torches are making a significant impact on the diving market.
Best Primary Dive Light in 2024
One of the best, most comfortable dive lights that we use as our primary light is Light and Motion Sola 2500. The wrist-mounted light is more compact than the umbilical light, yet it produces enough power for a longer duration. This allows you to use both hands freely while performing tasks.
With an impressive 2500-lumen 60-degree flood output certified to the FL-1 Standard, the Light and Motion Sola 2500 is a significant piece of equipment. It also features a 1200-lumen 12-degree spot mode, powered by a powerful CREE LED array. For easy power management, the dive light includes a Coloured Status LED that indicates both battery life and mode. Thanks to its Fast Charge system, you can fully recharge the Li-ion battery in just 1 hour and 45 minutes. The torch also comes with three power levels in each beam, as well as an SOS mode for emergency situations.
Best Back-Up Dive Light in 2024
When it comes to backup lights, it's important for them to be compact. In this case, size matters more than brightness. One of the top choices for a backup dive light is the Scubapro Nova 250.
The Scubapro Nova 250 is a small and adaptable dive light that fits easily into even the smallest BCD pocket. It has a stylish aluminium body that can handle depths of up to 150 meters and can shine a maximum of 250 lumens of light. The torch is easy to use with a simple push button at the end. It has three different modes: full power, half power, and a flashing mode. Also, it's made with a safety feature - an over-pressure valve that releases any built-up battery gases, making it one of the safest small lights available. The Nova 250 runs on a single CR123A battery, which can be either rechargeable or disposable (neither type of battery is included). The disposable battery can last up to 10 years, so you won't have to worry about it if you leave it in your BCD pocket over the winter. This little Scubapro Nova 250 is this year's the best back-up dive light.
Best Compact Size Travel Dive Light in 2024
If you're going on a trip and need to save luggage space, you'll want a small flashlight that can fit in your pocket or hang from your diving gear. It should also be bright enough for communication and useful for night dives. The OrcaTorch D710 dive light does both jobs extremely well.
The OrcaTorch D710 dive light is a top-tier torch, boasting a maximum output of 3,000 lumens for 1 hour - thanks to its utilization of Luminus LED technology. This light offers multiple brightness settings, providing divers with customizable illumination options. Additionally, it features a battery power indicator light for easy monitoring of remaining power and utilizes a rechargeable battery with a Type-C charging port, allowing for convenient recharging between dives.
Best Fluorescent Dive Light in 2024
Fluorescence diving, also known as fluo diving, utilizes UV or blue dive lights to induce fluorescence in marine organisms containing fluorescent pigments. When exposed to specific light wavelengths, these pigments emit vibrant colours. This phenomenon is distinct from phosphorescence, where light is absorbed and then gradually released over time. If you haven't done any flue dive, you need to try it, and one of the best dive lights to do it is the Light and Motion Nightsea Dive Light.
The Light and Motion Sola Nightsea Light revolutionizes underwater night time diving, photography, and videography by providing the necessary lighting for high-quality fluorescent underwater photos and videos. This versatile dive light offers a strong beam for macro shots and can be switched to wide coverage for capturing larger subjects. It is an essential tool for fluorescence image-makers and can also function as a powerful white light dive torch when the blue light is not in use.
Best High-End Dive Light in 2024
Apeks is known for its exceptional dive gear, such as regulators, BCDs, and accessories. Their latest offering, the Apeks Luna-X Diving Torch, is a powerful yet lightweight solution designed to effectively illuminate wide areas while minimizing backscatter in turbid water. This torch is built to withstand harsh dive environments and is corrosion-resistant, making it ideal for cold water diving, strong currents, and low visibility conditions. The Luna-X is highly versatile and can be easily adapted for use with various diving setups, including BCD, cylinder, or sidemount applications.
Best Strobe Light in 2024
Strobe lights are very popular for boat diving OR in an overhead environment. In UK diving, they are a very popular tool to mark a shot line and attach to SMBs. They make it easier for the boat skipper to locate buddy pairs in the water or for divers to find their way back to the shot line. Additionally, strobe lights can be used as an emergency tool when lost at sea to mark your position for your boat or emergency services.
The Mares EOS Strobe is a compact, brightly coloured strobe that outputs 450 lumens in either a flashing or constant light mode, offering visibility over a full 360 degrees. The strobe has an anodised aluminium housing to protect the internal components down to 100m and is powered by a rechargeable battery that will allow the strobe to operate for between 15 and 20 hours. The battery can be charged within the housing via a USB cable, so any USB port can be used. The EOS Strobe has a magnetic rotational switch that eliminates the weak point in the housing and reduces the risk of flooding.
Best Marker Dive Light in 2024
Whether you are a recreational, technical, or professional diver, it is always good to have marker lights for extra visibility. By using marker lights of different colours, you can mark your team members and students, or in technical and cave diving, you can mark additional gear or stage deco bottles, making them more visible in low light and overhead environments. Marker lights enhance safety and organisation, ensuring that everyone and everything is easily identifiable during dives. They are especially useful in maintaining group cohesion, aiding in navigation, and preventing potential disorientation on night dives and challenging conditions.
The Mares Marker LED light is equipped with a safety leash that ensures it stays securely attached to your gear during dives. This compact marker light comes with a stop-flashing function, providing intermittent bursts of light for increased visibility. It is powered by LR 44 batteries, which are easy to replace and ensure long-lasting performance. The Mares Marker LED light is ideal as a backup for easy night dives, offering an extra layer of safety and peace of mind for divers navigating in low-light conditions. This practical and reliable marker light is a valuable addition to any diver's equipment setup.
The Scubapro Flashy LED is a mini-sized, white LED flashlight, which comes with replaceable batteries (3 x CR1220). This tiny light also comes with a key ring, plastic clip, and a cord, making it highly portable and convenient to attach to your diving gear or keys. It boasts a runtime of 12 hours and is designed to withstand depths of up to 100 meters, making it an excellent choice for divers looking for a reliable and compact light source. Its durable design ensures it can handle the rigours of underwater adventures, while its compact size makes it unobtrusive and easy to carry.
Best Long Beam Distance Dive Light in 2024
What is a long-distance dive light? It's a light with a high focus, long-distance water penetration, and a narrow-angle beam without any peripheral circle zone. It is great for signalling or pointing devices to any attraction on the reef or a wreck. The best long-distance dive light in 2024 is OrcaTorch D720.
The OrcaTorch D720 dive light is acclaimed for its super-focus beam, which makes it ideal for pinpointing underwater attractions without any peripheral light circle. With an impressive beam distance of 1300 meters, this torch can signal or highlight objects far in the distance.
The D720 uses a single 21700 USB Type-C 5000mAh rechargeable Li-ion battery, offering convenient and quick recharging capabilities. It features an adjustable signalling function, achieving 350 lumens at high mode with a runtime of 1 hour and 35 minutes, and 110 lumens at low mode with a runtime of 4 hours and 4 minutes. This dive light is engineered for those who require precision and long-lasting performance.
In summary, there are dive lights for everyone and for every occasion. Whether you need a high-powered torch for wide-area illumination, a versatile fluorescent light for capturing underwater beauty, a reliable strobe for marking your position, or a compact marker light for added safety, the dive light market offers a range of options to suit your needs. From technical divers to recreational enthusiasts, these lights enhance underwater visibility, safety, and overall diving experience, providing essential tools for every underwater adventure. Keep exploring and stay illuminated with these top dive lights in 2024. So, make sure to invest in a high-quality dive light that meets your specific needs and expectations to enhance your diving experience and capture incredible underwater memories. Happy diving!
