PT Impact XL as dive light -- any thoughts?

Gave my sister in law a Princeton Tec Impact XL (the 4AA job) that's been sitting in my surplus bin. She's a university science student, doing some basic salt-water stuff off the west coast of British Columbia.

I told her to get an opinion from her instructor, dive shop, fellow divers as to whether this light was suitable. I know nothing about dive lights. All I know is what the PT website says.

Any advice from the dive crowd?

Well, i have a Princeton Tec Impact XL, and i love it.

But i've never taken it diving.


It's rated waterproof to a depth of 100 meters, which is 328 feet.

So THAT'S not a problem.


But it's also rated (by the manufacturer) at a MAXIMUM of 17 Lumens.


Now, that's certainly adequate for LOTS of indoor and outdoor uses,

-- at close range

-- in total darkness

-- in non-threatening situations


But i kinda' think it won't be enough for diving use.



BTW, be advised that Energizer Lithium L91 AA cells

are totally fine for use in this flashlight.


There was some earlier mis-information circulated on that subject.

Now, i've gotten it straight from Princeton Tec, that Lithiums are fine.


(thanks to Atomic Chicken for his initial tip !) :twothumbs



Regardless, hope that your sister enjoys her Impact XL as much as i do.

(edit: oops, i mean sister-in-law)

Thanks for the reply.

You're right, the XL is definitely not a spotlight. The light output is modest, but with a long run time.

I thought it might be suitable for close-range work -- reading a dive computer or compass, checking gear, signalling, etc. Or perhaps as a backup light.

Anyway, there was no sense having it gather dust in a drawer.