Dive Rite 300 LED Hand held Review

[kmitch]

Greetings!
I recently purchased one of the new Dive Rite 300 LED handheld lights from Dive Rite Express. I would never considered this light if it hadn't been for a few things:

1. Dive Rite is planning to release a modification to this light which allows the diver to unscrew the light head from the battery compartment and attach it to a battery canister, giving tech divers the freedom to have the light in a canister form. DR hasnt announced a price yet, but expects release before the end of '07.

2. What I read on this light made it sound like it could rival many HID lights on the market in terms of output.

3. Unlike canister lights, I can carry spare AA batteries in my gear bag easily and cheaply.

4. Unlike canister lights, LEDs are not prone to short striking.

5. Unlike HID lights, LED bulbs are very resilant, have a long burn life. HID bulbs don't take well to a beating.

6. The LED light has goodman handle mounts for those who would like to mount it on their hand.

7. It is EXTREMELY bright. I work in a dive shop and have turned on many lights in my days-- this light rivals HIDs for output. It easily cleans house among other LED lights.

8. Well built, I feel like I could throw it out my 4th floor window and not worry about damage.

So far I dont have any complaints. Usually I can produce a critique or two about a piece of gear, but none yet. I am taking it out for a test dive in some murky water Sunday, I will report back on it's performance.

I took a comparison shot of it against the UK C8 Xenon bulb light. Roughly 4 ft away from the ceiling where I took the shot. Clearly the LED is bright!

I definately would not hesitate to suggest this light to divers who want a nice bright light without the cost, size or overhead of a canister light. I would call it similar in size (smaller) to a C cell Maglite.

POUCH INCLUDED WITH LIGHT (I added the snap):

FRONT OF THE LIGHT HEAD:

GOODMAN HANDLE MOUNT:

SIZE IN HAND (I am an average-small sized woman):

JUST LIGHT HEAD (for when DR releases the canister modification):

COMPARISON (Left, DR LED. Right, UK C8 Xenon Bulb- 4ft away)

http://filebox.vt.edu/users/kmtchll/DR%20LED%20003.jpg

Kristen

 

[kmitch]

So I took the light diving today in 8-10ft viz.... I could not have been happier with how it performed. Sliced right through the water as good as any light I have ever used previously-- I'd definately say it competes with 10W HIDs for performance. I also made my own goodman handle for $20 for it and I was really happy with how that worked for me.

Kristen

 

[HenrikBP]

A tad pricey for me at the moment, but looks like a very nice light. Thanks for the review.

Henrik

 

[UaVaj]

kmitch

In the "JUST LIGHT HEAD" photo.

Looks like this light be wrist mounted so I can have both hands free?

If so - this may be my first light.

Your input is appreciated on

http://www.scubaboard.com/showthread.php?p=3074960#post3074960

I would like to hear your story on how/why you choose this light of all light. Thanks.

 

[kmitch]

Yes this light is designed for use with a goodman handle, hence the two screw holes in the base of the head. I actually made my own goodman handle for about $20 at Home Depot and it worked pretty well for me. I really liked how bright it was on some of my dives this weekend, you can see just in the pics that it was a monster of a light!

https://filebox.vt.edu/users/kmtchll/NR%20Diving%20058.jpg
https://filebox.vt.edu/users/kmtchll/NR%20Diving%20066.jpg

I chose it because I wanted a powerful light without having to give up durability. HID lights, while mfgs will love to boast about their strength, are only as strong as the bulb which is pretty weak and those bulbs run $100+. While the initial cost of this light is more, I will get more dives on one set of batteries and get more bulb life than any other light, making up the price difference in my mind.

 

[UaVaj]

I do want hand free mounting.

Is there any advantage to the goodman handle compare to having it fully wrist/lower arm mounted (just like a knife)?


Given your experience working at a dive shop plus that side by side photo. Although pricy - I think I am gonna run with this as my first light.

When you get the chance since you do work at a dive shop and have access to multiple lights. Can you at least post a photo of this LED vs a HID. I would appreciate it.

 

[John_B]

COMPARISON (Left, DR LED. Right, UK C8 Xenon Bulb- 4ft away)

I'd like to see a comparison between the new DR LED and a focusable 10W HID like a Salvo. It'd be interesting to see how focused the DR LED can be for use as a signalling light.

John

 

[kmitch]

None of the lights that can mount to your wrist or hand like the mini Q40 are going to compete for light output bc they are so small.

I work at a dive shop seasonally, but right now I am back at Virginia Tech so I dont have access to an HID to do a comparison. I work for Divers Supply who makes a Salvo knockoff 10w HID and while that is brighter, it is not significantly brighter. Plus HIDs are fragile, have shorter burn times, are subject to short striking and are $$$.

 

[MMDiver]

None of the lights that can mount to your wrist or hand like the mini Q40 are going to compete for light output bc they are so small.

I work at a dive shop seasonally, but right now I am back at Virginia Tech so I dont have access to an HID to do a comparison. I work for Divers Supply who makes a Salvo knockoff 10w HID and while that is brighter, it is not significantly brighter. Plus HIDs are fragile, have shorter burn times, are subject to short striking and are $$$.

Do you really want to discuss this?

It isn't by ANY means a Salvo knockoff, it is a SEA ELITE light which is spec by me and made by Salvo to our specs. We do warranty coverage on the light.

HID bulbs are more fragile than a LED (we use a BS bulb which is MUCH more robust than the WA bulbs that really are fragile), no question but there is no LED yet on the market that will penetrate water like a HID. The Sea Elite HID is not a focusable so for those that are diving in REALLY crappy silty conditions may want to get a focusable unit (and we will make a deal on that as well ) That being said there is NO, ZERO, NADA question that our SEA ELITE HID will penetrate better the LED in water.

Regarding burn times, is 4.5 hours an issue? If so you already have the lights you need.

Best

Mark McNatt
General Manager
Divers Supply

 

[UaVaj]

there is no LED yet on the market that will penetrate water like a HID.

Mark McNatt
General Manager
Divers Supply

Can you elaborate on that. I need to buy a underwater spotlight real real soon. Like today if I can get all the facts straight.