freewillie
Contributor
How big a flashlight? You may not want to pack a big pistol grip style dive light unless there is a specific need. For almost all recreational diving a standard hand held dive light is more than adequate.
I typically carry a small Aeris A4 light. Takes only 4 AAA batteries and have taken in airplane with me, batteries included. I also pack an Ikelite PCa, also small and takes 6 AA batteries. Both put out more than enought light for standard night dive. If the lights go in packed luggage then I remove the batteries and put I plastic Baggie with the light.
If you want a bigger light check with your dive shop you booked your dives. They should provide lights as part of a night dive, and at least two shops in Hawaii also marked our tanks with light markers as well. It made my own night cayalume markers unnecessary. I did use them in Cancun for that night dive since lights were provided but tank markers were not.
Huge lights that light up the night reef also bother the night light so more Lumens is not always desired. Because the fish and creatures you see are nocturnal they don't like bright lights. I've had more than a few critters swim away immediately when our lights shined on them. You just need enough to see where you are going. You might also find that you can see better than expected if the moon is full. Bigger is not always better.
I typically carry a small Aeris A4 light. Takes only 4 AAA batteries and have taken in airplane with me, batteries included. I also pack an Ikelite PCa, also small and takes 6 AA batteries. Both put out more than enought light for standard night dive. If the lights go in packed luggage then I remove the batteries and put I plastic Baggie with the light.
If you want a bigger light check with your dive shop you booked your dives. They should provide lights as part of a night dive, and at least two shops in Hawaii also marked our tanks with light markers as well. It made my own night cayalume markers unnecessary. I did use them in Cancun for that night dive since lights were provided but tank markers were not.
Huge lights that light up the night reef also bother the night light so more Lumens is not always desired. Because the fish and creatures you see are nocturnal they don't like bright lights. I've had more than a few critters swim away immediately when our lights shined on them. You just need enough to see where you are going. You might also find that you can see better than expected if the moon is full. Bigger is not always better.