Looking for a dive torch

[Scoobie Diver]

I am looking for a new dive tourch. At the weekend I found mine less than adiquate. I am looking for a tourch that has at least a four hour burn time and one that has an adjustable beam. I could buy a torch that has a 1000 lumen beam but if it's focused in a tight spot it wont be very useful. Any pointers.

PS it needs to be light enough to take to the Red Sea

[Dammyla]

You might need to give a little more information before we can help you

What is your budget?
What do you plan to use it for? A primary for the next x years or just a cheapy holiday torch for back up in teh UK
Max depth requirements
Do you want umbilical or handheld
etc. etc

Basically there will be as many answers as posts as most people favour what they use.

Generally speakng though, you get what you pay for, although you could take a punt with an EBay import one, but don;t be overly surprised if it isn't the same build quality as one from the more well known manufacturers

[PeteM]

You might need to give a little more information before we can help you (snip...)

And when you say "needs to be light enough to take to the Red Sea" you probably need to qualify that a bit more. I've taken a Halcyon Proteus 6 on holiday - I can take 2Kg off my weight belt when using it and at a guess it weighs 4-5Kg out of the water.

[ChristianG]

I am looking for a tourch that has at least a four hour burn time and one that has an adjustable beam.
That qualification (alone) probably means that you are looking at LED torches, unless you want to drag around a significantly heavy battery pack which rather goes against the grain of "take to the Red Sea".
]
Even so, four hours of burn time (why, incidentally?) seems like a significant amount of overkill for conventional "take to the Red Sea" diving.

[Fiona]

I took my Heser backup torches to the Redsea they are great for holidays, no idea how many lumens, but definitely bright enough and I burn tested mine for over 40 hours but it doesn't have focusable beam because it is just a backup torch, however they are apparently now about £150.

The other week I saw a lovely little backup torch which I am considering swapping to, it was an Agir Brokk backup, again isn't focusable but small and light for holidays. I was informed they were about £80 so good value.

Agir Brokk backup lights (http://www.agir-brokk.com/9b42a2ea-f5a6-4abb-be1d-72c938d5858f-9.html)

[Fiona]

Even so, four hours of burn time (why, incidentally?) seems like a significant amount of overkill for conventional "take to the Red Sea" diving.

The amount of people they seem to loose over there I would want at least 12 hours :)

Besides good burn time means only 1 set of batteries for the trip, if used over several night dives.

[ChristianG]

The amount of people they seem to loose over there I would want at least 12 hours :)
Chuckle. :)

Mind, whose fault might that be? Wouldn't, surely it couldn't, be that of the diver/s? Could it?

Besides good burn time means only 1 set of batteries for the trip, if used over several night dives.
True enough if you don't use rechargeables, personally the first thing I would stick in a torch is NiMHs or better.

[PeteM]

Mind, whose fault might that be? Wouldn't, surely it couldn't, be that of the diver/s? Could it?

Most of the stories I've heard no.

Far too many stories of people surfacing a few minutes late to see a boat buggering off in the distance because no one on body apparently can count