Torch to go on liveaboard with?

[Turtle Dude]

Am after a torch to take on liveaboard holidays (inc. wrecks and reefs). I don't want to take primary big umbilical on holiday, so am after a suitable second torch which would be good to take as the primary on hols.

Needs to be:
- not too heavy (baggage allowances are only going to shrink or disapear).
- robust (given holiday travel)

Q. LED a better bet than bulb, as more robust?

Q. Given it will be on the occasional liveaboard would it be better to take a dedicated charger model or one that uses standard chargable batteries?

Am happy to pay a fair amount £100-£300

Any views, comments and recommendations?

[MSutcliffe]

I just bought one of these for exactly this purpose
https://vault2.secured-url.com/mtcsl/dw/dw-det3-.asp?tnum=26270&topt=0

It's quite nice and chunky to hold, but only weighs 400grams!!! Good light (40W equivalent)

[Turtle Dude]

I just bought one of these for exactly this purpose
https://vault2.secured-url.com/mtcsl/dw/dw-det3-.asp?tnum=26270&topt=0

It's quite nice and chunky to hold, but only weighs 400grams!!! Good light (40W equivalent)
Sorry the link does not work - what is the make and model?

[Ian bitmead]

I can recomend this type of torch

http://www.simplyscuba.com/ProductDetails.aspx?StockID=12082

1 set of 4 C type batteries bought in duty free will last a week, or take a set of charged up rechargable batteries amd save the planet :D .

Ian

[graham nurse]

I did a week on Whirlwind on the wreck tour using a Frogner led, the new type with the switch are really bright and put some very expensive lights to shame. They can be picked up for less than £40.00 on the night dives they were great as they gave plenty of light to see and be seen with without dazzling every other living thing in the water. Spent 20mins in the engine room on the Rosiley Muller and even with the rust in the water towards the end you could still see really well.

Graham.

[Fiona]

I use Heser torches as backups. They use 3 C cell batteries and when I did a burn test I turned it off after 42 hours so more than enough for a holiday.

I got mine from Dublinbaydiving (http://www.dublinbaydiving.com) for around a £100 although could be a bit more now because of the Euro.

http://www.dublinbaydiving.com/images/index/dbd29hp.jpg (http://www.dublinbaydiving.com/salvo_lights.htm)

[MSutcliffe]

Sorry the link does not work - what is the make and model?

Fa&Mi POCKET 40.12 DIVING TORCH

[Todor]

I would highly recommend highly the Led Lenser frogman. i used it in jan on typhoon and it put some expensive torches to shame...
About £40, which will leave you some spare beer money!

[No Waiting]

Rechargables and associated charger will eat into your backage allowance - leave them beind, so less weight in the plane therefore less Carbon footprint.

Buying batteries when you get there means less to check-in, but more carbon footprint than recharging rechargable ones.

:confused:

[Turtle Dude]

Thanks for all the tips.

Although it would be nice to take a decent sized aluminium beast with a handle, which I can fasten the camera to (a nice advantage on some of them), they do eat at the baggage allowance, including the charger. (0.6kg-1kg)

Decided to get something smaller like the Lenser Frogy' thingy, which uses std AA batteries, as I have a small travel battery charger for AA batteries (which is also what the SW radio works off). Also like the fact that the smaller ones are LED and that bit more robust.

Just need a way to attach one of the smaller torches to the camera housing (small canon housing for a digital compact) - any ideas for attaching a small LED torch to a camera housing?

[No Waiting]

any ideas for attaching a small LED torch to a camera housing?Cable ties & gaffer tape :D






Your toolbox needs only 4 items -

If it moves and it shouldn't - cable ties & gaffer tape
If it doesn't move and it should - WD40 & a hammer

[Maria CM]

Hello:) :)

I was quite happy with my SL4 LED

best wishes,

Maria

[C Forrest]

I use Heser torches as backups. They use 3 C cell batteries and when I did a burn test I turned it off after 42 hours so more than enough for a holiday.

I agree with Fiona.
I've brought my Heser backup torch out to the Red Sea as my primary umbilical is too heavy/too bright. It didn't weight too much, and is robust enough to last me the 2 months I'll be out here, and batteries are easy to obtain. It will also be bright enough for a night dive without blinding all the fish/your buddy if you will be doing any of these!
HTH

Claire

[Janos]

Hello:) :)

I was quite happy with my SL4 LED


Where did you get this from? I'm looking for a supply so that I can upgrade some of my backup torches.

Janos

[Maria CM]

Where did you get this from? I'm looking for a supply so that I can upgrade some of my backup torches.

Janos

Got mine from Norwich Scuba - doubt that is any help as they don't sell online

best wishes and good hunting

Maria

[Turtle Dude]

Just to finsh this thread off, I went with a Lenser Frogman in the end.

Darn bright, not that heavy (getting more important with flights now), robust LED (don't worry about a bulb going while there), not that expensive and uses only 4 common AA batteries (easy to use and carry rechargables and a travel charger).

Thanks for all the help.

http://images.ifguk.co.uk/products/1643/1643-thumb1.jpg