Looking for night diving light + focus light

[uniqueimaging]

I will be going to Bonaire in August, and I'm looking for some suggestions on what my options are for lighting at night.

In a perfect world, I'd like something that will provide enough light to safely complete the night dive, but also that will allow my camera to focus at night for pictures. I will be carrying a back up 4xC cell light just in case.

Will the ikelite mini-c light provide enough light to safely dive at night? I'm not looking to break the bank on the light, as I will still have to buy a mount set up for my dual handles.

Thanks for the help
-Mike

 

[Nocturnal Lights]

You can check out our SLX 800i focus light, it comes with the 12, 60, and 90 degree beams so you can use it as both a focus light and a dive light.

 

[uniqueimaging]

Yeah, not going to spend $450+ on a light.

Anyone else?

 

[Kukuisa]

Will the ikelite mini-c light provide enough light to safely dive at night? I'm not looking to break the bank on the light, as I will still have to buy a mount set up for my dual handles.

The water around Bonaire has good visability, so a big beam is not necessary.
Diving with a small light (4 x C) is enough for me and won't scare the nightlife away. For my camera I'm still looking for a guiding light, like the fisheye focus light.

K.

 

[fisheyeview]

I use the Fisheye focus light. I know they are more expensive than most people want to spend, but for me they can't be beat. The intensity of the light can be adjusted. I did a night dive last Saturday. Total dive time was 2 1/2 hours. I mounted two focus lights. The first one lasted 2 hours.

You can also use them with color filters. I use a red filter when I am shooting skittish subjects.

 

[under water]

This will work
Fantasea LED 360 Light #6036

$50 and shuts off when it senses strobe.
Or this

http://www.adorama.com/FENFL.html?searchinfo=nano

$40 (older model but works well)

 

[jimorus]

I can second the 50$ Nano from fantasea. I added one to my set up this year and used it instead of the modeling lights on my 2 ys110's. It can be a little disconcerting when the flash shuts it down for a second or so at night but it privides plenty of light and 4 AAA batteries lasted at least 14 hours in the water. I did 27 dives of at least an hour each with it a few weeks ago and only used two sets of batteries.

Mine came for Optical Ocean Sales

jim

 

[bmchugh]

The Fantasea 44LED or the newer version works well and at about $50 from Optical Ocean Sales is a good deal. Mine works good even in the murky water hear in CA. Eventually I'll upgrade to something like the Fisheye but they are pretty expensive.

Brian

 

[CheddarChick]

I'll second the $50 Nano..It's all I use in a night dive. I do carry a backup light in my pocket, but have never turned it on. It works great. Mounts on my hotshoe for the PT030 so I don't have to touch anything but the camera

 

[JohnQPS122]

I've been looking for a very inexpensive light to attach to my strobe arm so when I shoot video with my Canon A570IS I can maybe get a little better color.

Those of you who use the little Fantasea 6036, is it bright enough to use during the day to just make colors appear a little better? I'd be using it in shallowish water in the Florida Keys. Plenty of light there but my videos tend to be a little greenish.

Thanks!