Dive Rite's 10W HID and 500 Lumen LED beams comparison question

vioch · Aug 12, 2008

Could manufacturer or anybody provide with photo comparison of the beams of the Dive Rite's 10W HID and 500 Lumen LED.

BLOWN03GT · Aug 12, 2008

I think I'm in the same boat as you. I'm stuck between the 2 lights, not sure which one would be better for cave diving.

vioch · Aug 20, 2008

Requested the same information from the Dive Rite support. Here is the answer:

Thanks for your inquiry. The three lenses (diodes) on the LED are 12
degree each, however the output visually appears to be 6 degrees (which is
customary for LED).

I do not have any comparison photos at this stage. We will be able to
provide a comparison photo later in September.

Anyway this led is not suitable for cave diving.

KVdiver · Aug 22, 2008

vioch:
.................................................................Anyway this led is not suitable for cave diving.

Where do you get this??? I have made quite a few cave dives with it and it works just fine. Illumination is good and signalling is just as affective.

Jerry

Tienuts · Aug 23, 2008

I took my cave class with a fellow who had a LED 500. It is suitable for illumination, but much harder to see his signals than using a standard HID light. It is very difficult to use the "one spot over another" signaling with the LED 500. I personally would not use it.

KVdiver · Aug 23, 2008

It is called cave-awareness. You are in an environment totally devoid of light any one paying attention to their surroundings can and should see light signals. Additionally you should know where your budd is at ALL times.

Jerry

vioch · Aug 24, 2008

KVdiver:
Where do you get this???

Most cavers prefer lights with the more tighter than 12 dergree beam for better communication, moreover tighter beam works better in poor visbility conditions.

Tienuts · Aug 24, 2008

KVdiver:
It is called cave-awareness. You are in an environment totally devoid of light any one paying attention to their surroundings can and should see light signals. Additionally you should know where your budd is at ALL times.

Jerry

Thanks for the lesson in buddy awareness from someone who knows nothing about how I dive.

However my teammates and I prefer the more precise spot of a tight HID beam for "signaling" not just a beacon letting us know he/she is alive.

KVdiver · Aug 27, 2008

I do quite a bit of cave exploration with your rebreather cave instructor; so I have a fair idea. For what it is worth; Jill had nothing but good things to say.

I have used the 500 on quite a few cave dives; some where I switched lights in the middle of the dive (and no one noticed) and others where the 500 was my primary throughout the dive and there was never a communication issue.

Jerry

KVdiver · Sep 1, 2008

It had been a while since I used my adjustable focus light; I took out for a little fam dive at our exploration site. I pulled out the LED 500 on exit and compared it to my adjustable focus; the LED was actually tighter than my adjustable focus!! I do not have it totally defocused; I have it opened a little to give an even beam and good reflection off of the cave walls.

My 20 years of cave diving experience says this light is more than acceptable for cave diving.

Jerry

Dive Rite's 10W HID and 500 Lumen LED beams comparison question

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