Kevin R
Guest
Seabear70:There are times when too much light can be a problem.
As an example, you have 6" of visibility, and you need to check your gauges. If you light up an 18w can light it'll be like driving down a foggy road with your brights on. A little 1w penlight allows you to see those gauges without completely blinding yourself.
Obviously you haven't tried it. First of all, you don't "light up" a primary light during the dive. It is turned on at the beginning of a dive and not turned off until you surface. The greatest chance of a bulb failing is when they are turned on. In addition, the primary light is used as a form of communication. Try finding your buddy in 15 feet of vis with your 1w penlight. If you are behind him and more than 3 feet away, try getting his attention. The idea is to keep your lighthead focused in a tight narrow beam which is perfect for signalling. If you are illuminating your gauges you use the dimmer outer edge of the light cone, not the full force of the center beam. This means I do not need to change lights, fumble for a specific light or loose the use of my left hand which may also be running line, manipulating a stage, etc. That is the true beauty of a cannister light, as well as why it is better to have an uncluttered, balanced rig. Try to focus (no pun intended) on the big picture rather than the small points.