Is an LD20 OK for casual snorkeling?
- Thread starter wyager
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BigHonu
Flashlight Enthusiast
wyager,
If you are snorkelling in 15ft depths, out in open water, then you will need some pretty good output to see stuff on the bottom with any kind of detail. If you are in a lagoon or something, then there may some auxiliary lighting that may make a lower powered light good enough.
I understand that this is not something you want to put a lot of funds into, but I have gone out spearfishing at night numerous times using 10D and 8D incans (mostly Underwater Kinetics), and always wished I had a bit more light. My backup light was a 4C model with a very focused beam because the water has a way of cutting down on the throw and output of a light. Renting may be a good idea.
Also, which part of the islands will you be visiting? If in Waikiki, then there are numerous places to get a light if you need one. Walmart is pretty close by as well as Sears if you like mainland chains. If you are going to one of the resort areas on the other islands, you may have to travel to find a place to get a decent light.
If you insist on bringing your own and having something relatively compact then I would suggest looking at some of the AA/AAA based Underwater Kinetics stuff. Relatively inexpensive and made for underwater lighting with tough polymer bodies that stand up to great abuse, reliable switches, and impact resistant lenses.
Most models come with a leash/lanyard of some sort, but still, get something in yellow or bright green or even pink. If you do happen to drop it, it will be WAY easier to find. When you and your equipment are wet, things tend to slip and fall at the worse possible times.
My main light was bright green, and my backup was pink. Used to get snickers from the guys, until they would put their black or dark blue bodied light down on dark lava rocks in the dark.
If you are snorkelling in 15ft depths, out in open water, then you will need some pretty good output to see stuff on the bottom with any kind of detail. If you are in a lagoon or something, then there may some auxiliary lighting that may make a lower powered light good enough.
I understand that this is not something you want to put a lot of funds into, but I have gone out spearfishing at night numerous times using 10D and 8D incans (mostly Underwater Kinetics), and always wished I had a bit more light. My backup light was a 4C model with a very focused beam because the water has a way of cutting down on the throw and output of a light. Renting may be a good idea.
Also, which part of the islands will you be visiting? If in Waikiki, then there are numerous places to get a light if you need one. Walmart is pretty close by as well as Sears if you like mainland chains. If you are going to one of the resort areas on the other islands, you may have to travel to find a place to get a decent light.
If you insist on bringing your own and having something relatively compact then I would suggest looking at some of the AA/AAA based Underwater Kinetics stuff. Relatively inexpensive and made for underwater lighting with tough polymer bodies that stand up to great abuse, reliable switches, and impact resistant lenses.
Most models come with a leash/lanyard of some sort, but still, get something in yellow or bright green or even pink. If you do happen to drop it, it will be WAY easier to find. When you and your equipment are wet, things tend to slip and fall at the worse possible times.
My main light was bright green, and my backup was pink. Used to get snickers from the guys, until they would put their black or dark blue bodied light down on dark lava rocks in the dark.
Zendude
Enlightened
I spent all day getting thrown around by the shore break in Maui. I forgot I had my l1d in the back pocket of my swimming trunks. My pocket was filled with sand but no water in the light.YMMV
kramer5150
Flashaholic
They are rated under static pressure conditions... not dynamic pressure. The two are not the same and should not be confused.
COAST
Enlightened
Maybe you shouldnt go THAT deep with it 
shark_za
Enlightened
I threw my LD20 into the pool the other night.
Drunks can prove points too !
But it sat there for about an hour (6ft) and was dry when I got it out.
o-rings are fantastic pieces of engineering, you will not leak at either of the ends if they are properly lubed up, even with turning.
The problem is the rear tailcap, this is only sealed by tightening the switch in place. With an 0-ring the more pressure the more it seals.
Not so with the tailcap.
The front lens is a question too, I dont know how that is sealed.
A bag would not need to be vacuum sealed, 1m down its going to be flat.
Tighten the switch inside the tailcap properly, lube the o-rings and take it down. Floating on the surface a lot will be fine, how deep can you dive?
Drunks can prove points too !
But it sat there for about an hour (6ft) and was dry when I got it out.
o-rings are fantastic pieces of engineering, you will not leak at either of the ends if they are properly lubed up, even with turning.
The problem is the rear tailcap, this is only sealed by tightening the switch in place. With an 0-ring the more pressure the more it seals.
Not so with the tailcap.
The front lens is a question too, I dont know how that is sealed.
A bag would not need to be vacuum sealed, 1m down its going to be flat.
Tighten the switch inside the tailcap properly, lube the o-rings and take it down. Floating on the surface a lot will be fine, how deep can you dive?
wyager
Flashlight Enthusiast
- Joined
- Feb 10, 2010
- Messages
- 1,114
^I'm not super experienced, I used to do this kind of thing when I lived in California, but I haven't for a couple years so I doubt I'll really be going much deeper than 10 or 15 feet. I think there are enough people here discouraging the idea that it's safe to say you should avoid this use.
Robin24k
Flashlight Enthusiast
Perhaps you should put it in a ziplock bag just to be safe? Might lose a couple lumens in the interest of safety. :thumbsup:
If you do that, I wouldn't worry about leaking...but if the bag starts leaking, just surface and put it in another bag.
If you do that, I wouldn't worry about leaking...but if the bag starts leaking, just surface and put it in another bag.
Use a REAL dive light. The last thing you want is to mess with a rigged setup (flashlight in bags). You need a light with a lanyard around your wrist so if you do happen to see a shark or eel, you don't panic and drop your light to the bottom.
Some dive lights are cheap, but the more expensive LED ones are worth it. I've used a few of the UK lights and they've been plenty bright and never had a leak even when diving 80+ feet on the Santa Rosa Wall down in Mexico. Make sure you turn the dive light on before getting in the water and don't turn it off in the water and you will be assured to never have a leak if your o-ring doesn't have contaminates like sand in it.
I prefer the twisty UK lights with the double O-ring but here are a few that are fairly reasonable.
http://www.divers-supply.com/Underwater-Kinetics-Sunlight-SL6-Dive-Light-P1643.aspx
http://www.divers-supply.com/Underwater-Kinetics-Sunlight-SL4-Dive-Light-P1642.aspx
http://www.divers-supply.com/Underwate-Kinetics-Mini-Q40-Eled-Dive-Light-P1653.aspx
http://www.divers-supply.com/Underwater-Kinetics-SL3-Eled-P5353.aspx
http://www.diversdirect.com/scuba-diving/princeton-tec-mini-wave-ii-dive-light/
http://www.diversdirect.com/scuba-diving/uk-q40-eled-plus-dive-light/
http://www.diversdirect.com/scuba-diving/uk-sl4-dive-light/
http://www.diversdirect.com/scuba-diving/uk-mini-q40-xenon-dive-light/
I did a night dive for 52 minutes at 30 - 60 feet on a reef and had no problems with my UK dive lights. As a tip, look for a light with lots of throw if you can so that you don't have to get as close to see the nice colors of the reef. The water has some what of a diffusing affect.
If you do use your non-dive light let us know if it leaks. Snorkling I typically went down 20 - 40 feet (with fins) to take underwater photos of the wrecks in the bay.
Some dive lights are cheap, but the more expensive LED ones are worth it. I've used a few of the UK lights and they've been plenty bright and never had a leak even when diving 80+ feet on the Santa Rosa Wall down in Mexico. Make sure you turn the dive light on before getting in the water and don't turn it off in the water and you will be assured to never have a leak if your o-ring doesn't have contaminates like sand in it.
I prefer the twisty UK lights with the double O-ring but here are a few that are fairly reasonable.
http://www.divers-supply.com/Underwater-Kinetics-Sunlight-SL6-Dive-Light-P1643.aspx
http://www.divers-supply.com/Underwater-Kinetics-Sunlight-SL4-Dive-Light-P1642.aspx
http://www.divers-supply.com/Underwate-Kinetics-Mini-Q40-Eled-Dive-Light-P1653.aspx
http://www.divers-supply.com/Underwater-Kinetics-SL3-Eled-P5353.aspx
http://www.diversdirect.com/scuba-diving/princeton-tec-mini-wave-ii-dive-light/
http://www.diversdirect.com/scuba-diving/uk-q40-eled-plus-dive-light/
http://www.diversdirect.com/scuba-diving/uk-sl4-dive-light/
http://www.diversdirect.com/scuba-diving/uk-mini-q40-xenon-dive-light/
I did a night dive for 52 minutes at 30 - 60 feet on a reef and had no problems with my UK dive lights. As a tip, look for a light with lots of throw if you can so that you don't have to get as close to see the nice colors of the reef. The water has some what of a diffusing affect.
If you do use your non-dive light let us know if it leaks. Snorkling I typically went down 20 - 40 feet (with fins) to take underwater photos of the wrecks in the bay.
