10 Best LED Dive Lights Reviews For Scuba Diving in 2020
Photo Credits: Aqua Lung
There are many types of diving available for you to experience once you have your own set of scuba gear such as the best LED dive light for your needs and this is what makes diving more interesting and addictive.
With your own scuba gear, you can have the options of going for interesting dive such as wreck diving, cave diving or night diving. The ability to explore the little known night activities of the aquatic creatures or explored uncharted underwater caves or wrecks. It is very important for you to have the appropriate scuba equipment and dive accessories that are reliable and durable to have an enjoyable dive.
In our previous articles, we've shared and
To see the true and magnificent colours of the underwater world, a quality, reliable dive light is a really a must to illuminate your surrounding with the right beam.
With the wide selection of dive torches that comes in different sizes, specs and price tags, it is often confusing and overwhelming to find the best dive light that fit your dive purposes.
With this yet another quality, quick and easy consumer guide by Aqua Junkies for you to discover how to find the best LED dive light on the market for your wreck exploration, cave diving, night diving or other dive needs.
Remember Aqua Junkies is there to help you find what you need rather than buying the most popular or expensive model.
Editor’s Note
Thank you for visiting Aqua Junkies. We've done our best to provide you with the most in-depth consumer guide with honest and accurate information relating to the best LED dive lights currently on the market. A significant amount of time has been invested in providing you with this information, so We do hope you find it useful.
Most Recommended: If you haven't got the time to read our entire buyer's guide then I would suggest that you check out our editors' choice, Light & Motion GoBe 850 LED Dive Light, the most versatile dive light because of its decent brightness of 80 lumens with up to 12 hrs battery life.
It is easy and handy on the hand that weighs a mere 178 g. FL-1 Standard Certified up to 120 metres in depth.
Now,
Best LED Dive Lights - Latest Buying Guide
January 2020 Dive Lights Deals
Each month we update this section with the best recommendations within various price brackets and also include the best dive lights deals currently on the market, check out below for this month's recommendations!
Please note: These discounts were sourced on the 1st January 2020 and may have changed.
- Under $200
- Under $100
- Under $50
The Top Buying Guide To Find The Best LED Dive Lights For You in 2020
Here is the short list of the best LED Dive Lights that we have uncovered during our research through many nights of coffees.
| DIVING LIGHT | TORCH MODEL | LUMENS | BATTERY TYPE | BATTERY LIFE (Hrs) | RATING | PRICE |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ScubaPro Novalight 720 Dive Light | 720 | C-Cell | 10 | 5 | $$ |
 | LED Lenser D14 Scuba Dive Light | 135 | Alkaline | 4 | 4.9 | $ |
 | Dorcy 411467 Dive II Submersible | 220 | Alkaline | 8 | 4 | $ |
 | Light & Motion Sola Photo 1200 | 300 - 1200 | Rechargeable | 1 - 2.5 | 3.6 | $$$ |
 | Light & Motion Sidekick | 400 - 600 | Rechargeable | 1 - 4 | 4.4 | $$ |
 | Princeton TEC Sector 5 | 550 | C-Cell | 24 | 4.4 | $$ |
 | UK SL4 eLED L1 Scuba Dive Light | 400 | Alkaline | 10 | 4.7 | $ |
 | UK Light Cannon eLED Dive Light | 825 | Alkaline | 9 - 14 | 4 | $$$ |
 | SubGear Prolight SP30 | 500 | Alkaline | 14 | 5 | $$ |
 | Tusa TUL-600 LED Dive Light | 125 - 600 | Rechargeable | 1 - 4 | 5 | $ |
 | Intova LED Waterproof Action Video Light | 640 | Rechargeable | 2 - 4 | 4.6 | $$ |
 | UK Mini Q40 eLED PLUS Dive Light | 40 | Alkaline | 4 - 5 | 4.7 | $ |
 | Light and Motion Sola Dive Light | 500-800 | Rechargeable | 1 - 2 | 4.2 | $$$ |
 | Ikelite Gamma Scuba Diving Light | 220 | CR123 Lithium | 10 | 4.8 | $$ |
 | Light & Motion GoBE 850 | 850 | Rechargeable | 1.5 - 12 | 5 | $$$ |
How To Choose The Best Dive Lights
Type Of Dive Lights
For many people, a dive light is simply a tool that provides the source of illumination during a dive when needed. However, there are 3 main types of dive lights.
Primary Dive Lights
Primary dive lights can be used for day or night dives and are usually larger and has higher lumens. There are often designed with a pistol grip or a lantern grip.
The Primary light should be the brightest and have a long burn time, and durable.
Secondary (Back-up) Dive Light
A secondary dive light serve as a back-up light to protect the diver during night dive when the primary dive light fails. It is usually small, compact and featherweight with a narrow beam.
Underwater Photography and Video Dive Lights
Underwater photography and video recording dive light provide bright and wide beam light to illuminate the subjects and are often designed to be easily mounted on existing strobes.
Beam Angle
Dive lights with narrower beam angle
A dive light with flood mode or wider beam angle is useful during night dive to provide a wider field of view for maximum visibility.
Battery
There are three main categories of batteries that are been used by dive light and each has their own pro and cons.
Alkaline | C-Cell Lithium | Rechargeable ​ | |
|---|---|---|---|
Performance | Poor | Excellent | ​ Excellent |
Battery Life | Poor | Decent | Decent |
Cost Savings | Average | Average | ​ Best |
Conclusion | For Occasional Dives | For Occasional/Frequent Dives | For Frequent Dives |
Alkaline Batteries
Alkaline batteries are inexpensive but they have faster burn rate and low level of performance for dive lights. However, they can be easily found and replaced as it is still a common battery type widely available around the world.
C-cell Lithium Batteries
C-cell lithium batteries have better performance but are slightly more expensive and are not widely available in remote locations. You will need to plan and have a handful of spare batteries with you just in case.
Rechargeable Batteries
If you dive frequently, then getting rechargeable batteries is your best route for performance, cost savings and environment friendliness. The only disadvantage is the recharge time requires before use.
Materials
The best dive lights are built with Xenon (incandescent), HID (
However, LED dive light is getting more popular than ever and is almost the defacto dive light materials used by manufacturers. It has the same brightness and longevity as HID dive lights, but show greater and higher energy efficiencies and are more robust and durable.
Even though Xenon dive lights are still around, it is less expensive but is not as bright as LED or HID and have shorter battery life. The only reason why it is still around is partly from the demand of underwater photographers and videographers looking for warm natural
What Are The Advantages of a Good Dive Light?
A good dive light should fit the right objectives of your dive and provides an awesome illuminating experience as long as you need it. Therefore, choosing and having the right and best dive light is crucial.
For day diving, there are times where perhaps there is a family of lobsters under the rocks and you are curious to take a look under the rocks to have a better view of the lobsters.
A small handy dive light with
If you are planning for night dives, you will need to have a broader view of the seascapes, thus you will need a bright dive light with a wider beam angle.
If you into underwater photography or video recording such as using your new GoPro Hero camera, you will need at least 2 video dive lights to provide a wide, consistent beam while recording. You will probably need to get strobes or rig to set them up together.
Check out our top picks for underwater diving cameras to capture that fascinating moment.
For technical divers, it is important to get a primary dive torch that has very long battery life with strong bright and tight beam.
5 Steps to Take Care of Your Dive Light
1. Rinse your dive light with fresh water as soon as possible after every dive.
2. Inspect the battery contacts and clean them when needed with a pencil eraser.
3. If the dive light uses rechargeable batteries, battery longevity is your top priority. Make sure you follow the owner's manual instructions for your batteries to get the best performance.
4. Remove and inspect the o-rings for any nicks, cut or wear.
5. Store your light in a cool, dry place out of direct sunlight. If you won't be using the dive light for an extended time, remove the batteries and store it separately.
Dive Light Reviews
Top 10 Best Dive Light 2020 Qualifiers
ScubaPro NOVALIGHT 720 Dive Light
The ScubaPro Novalight 720 Dive Light is the replacement for the Scubapro Novalight 700.
Various improvements include a massive upgrade in lux from 10.5 to 13.8 lux 1m as the beam is bit tighter.
It has also enhanced the dive light with the
If you would like to have more battery life during your dive time, you can try out the new additional mode that
FEATURES
CREE XPL LED, 2 Brightness Modes
Brightness
720 Lumens
Battery Type
C-Cell
Battery Life
10 hrs
Things We Liked
- 720 Lumen Brightness
- Heavy Duty Aluminium Body
- Easy to Use
- Handy and Lightweight
- Long Battery Life
- XPL LED
Things We Didn't Liked
- Tight Beam
Light & Motion Sola Photo 1200
The Light & Motion Sola Photo 1200 is a reliable monster scuba dive light in a compact, ultra lightweight body.
It has two light modes, either a red beam or a white beam at 226 lumens or up to 1200 lumens respectively.
You can simply inter-change the beam with a light tap of the slider. If power consumption is a concern, it comes with 3 power settings with a dashboard display to monitor the battery life.
Sola Photo 1200 is factory sealed and eliminated any flooding. Ideal for your underwater camera or video recording.
FEATURES
Red or White Beam, Multiple Power Levels
Brightness
300 - 1200 Lumens
Battery Type
Rechargeable
Battery Life
1 -2.5 hrs
Things We Liked
- 300 - 1200 Lumen Brightness
- Powerful and Compact
- Certified to FL-1 Standard
- Heavy Duty Aluminium Body
- Easy to Use
- Handy and Ultra Lightweight
Things We Didn't Liked
- Rather Short Battery Life (likely because of the high lumens). May Need a Stand by Dive Light.
Light & Motion Sidekick
The Light & Motion Sidekick is designed for action camera market with its robust and durable built. If you are looking for a well-lit and optimal bright dive light that shows the true colors of the underwater world for video extraordinary.
This is not just a dive light, it is as good on land as well. It integrates with all Go Pro Hero camera housings and has spot and flood beam than can be easily switched with a quick touch.
The 600 Lumen light will illuminate all of your night adventures on land or underwater.
A popular choice for action camera users with it dual functionality and robustness.
FEATURES
Dual Beam Modes, Multiple Power Settings
Brightness
400 - 600 Lumens
Battery Type
Rechargeable
Battery Life
1 - 4 hrs
Things We Liked
- 400 - 600 Lumens Brightness
- Certified to FL-1 Standard
- Great Accessory for Go Pro Hero Cameras
- Easy to Use
- Robust and Sturdy
- Handy and Lightweight
- Decent Battery Life
Things We Didn't Liked
- Rechargeable Battery
Princeton TEC Sector 5
Princeton TEC Sector 5 is a mean dive light with powerful
It is lightweight and handy which requires only 4 C-cell batteries while providing 24 hours of burn time.
With or without gloves, you can easily hold it with the handle and tap on the trigger to light up the underwater world.
A precautionary feature is thoughtfully designed on the switch to prevent accidental illumination. Thus, conserving battery while in transit or storage.
FEATURES
MAXBRIGHT LED
Brightness
550 Lumens
Battery Type
C-Cell
Battery Life
24 hrs
Things We Liked
- 550 Lumen Brightness
- Heavy Duty Aluminium Body
- Easy to Use
- Handy and Lightweight
- Long Battery Life
Things We Didn't Liked
- Waterproof up to 100 Meters Depth
UK SL4 eLED L1 Scuba Dive Light
The UK SL4 eLED L1 Scuba Dive Light is suitable for both work and play.
Designed to be lightweight and compact size, its narrow penetrating beam is painfully bright. A popular hot choice not just for cave or night divers but also used in a variety of industrial, fire or utility applications that require a lot of light, along with complete waterproof reliability.
FEATURES
High Intensity White LED, Extended Battery life
Brightness
400 Lumens
Battery Type
Alkaline
Battery Life
10 hrs
Things We Liked
- 400 Lumens Brightness
- Reliable Waterproof Construction
- Easy to Use
- Handy and Lightweight
- Long Battery Life
Things We Didn't Liked
- One Beam Type
UK Light Cannon eLED Dive Light
The UK Light Cannon eLED Dive Light delivers an even brighter illumination as close as sunlight and maintains this brightness throughout the battery life due to advance engineering.
The beam is wide enough for scanning the reef at night or exploration of the interior of a wreck and travels further underwater than the traditional dive light.
It has a dovetail handle attachment with
Robustly built for diving, the dive light is waterproof with a tough O-ring sealed ABS and polycarbonate case with a front lens protected by
FEATURES
Dual eLED, Tough O-ring sealed ABS and Polycarbonate Case
Brightness
825 Lumen
Battery Type
C-Cell
Battery Life
9 - 14 hrs
Things We Liked
- 825 Lumen Brightness
- Easy to Use
- Handy and Lightweight
- Hardy and Robust
- Long Battery Life
- Dual eLED
Things We Didn't Liked
- 8 C-cell batteries
Light & Motion GoBE 850
Light & Motion GoBE 850 is designed to be the ultimate waterproof dive light that divers can rely on during their cave diving or night diving.
Not just for diving, it can be used for almost all scenarios at night with its handy and lightweight design.
Featuring a 60° flood beam optimized to fill your entire field of vision with smooth, even lighting.
Perfect for illuminating base camp, taking videos or photos, and exploring open areas.
FEATURES
CREE XPL LED, Certified to FL-1 Standard, 60 Degree Flood Beam
Brightness
850 Lumens
Battery Type
Rechargeable
Battery Life
1.5 - 12 hrs
Things We Liked
- 850 Lumen Brightness
- Certified to FL-1 Standard
- 60 Degree Flood Beam
- Easy to Use
- Handy and Lightweight
- Long Battery Life
- CREE XPL LED
- SOS Mode
Things We Didn't Liked
- Waterproof to 120 metres
Tusa TUL-600 LED Dive Light
The Tusa TUL-600 LED Dive Light is a Lightweight-Compact Handheld Light is a mid-range dive light suitable for the Budget-Conscious Diver yet delivers powerful strong beam underwater.
The TUL-600 contains 3 Lumen Levels with a Built-In Rechargeable Lithium-Ion Battery and Anatomically-Designed Pistol Grip.
The Tusa TUL-600 LED Light provides 4 Power Level Switch and an SOS Emergency Mode.
FEATURES
3 Lumens Levels, Anodized Aluminium Bezel
Brightness
600 Lumens
Battery Type
Rechargeable
Battery Life
1 - 4 hrs
Things We Liked
- 600 Lumens Brightness
- 3 Different Lumens Level
- Heavy Duty Aluminium Body
- Easy to Use
- Handy and Lightweight
- Decent Battery Life
- SOS Emergency Mode
- 12 Months Limited Warranty
Things We Didn't Liked
- Waterproof to 90 Meters Depth
Light and Motion Sola Dive Light
The Light and Motion Sola Dive Light is a powerful, ultra lightweight (approx. 10 ounces), hand free, SCUBA dive light.
With the versatility and duality of having a flood and spot beam in one body.
It is factory sealed and 100% tested for extreme reliability, virtually eliminating any possibility of flooding.
This light is just right for either your underwater camera or video recording while
FEATURES
Certified to FL-1 Standard, 2 Beams Type
Brightness
500 - 800 Lumens
Battery Type
Rechargeable
Battery Life
1 - 2 hrs
Things We Liked
- 800 Lumen Brightness
- Hand Free
- Certified to FL-1 Standard
- 60 Degree Flood Beam
- Powerful and Durable
- Easy to Use
- Handy and Lightweight
- Perfect For Travel
Things We Didn't Liked
- Average Battery Life
Ikelite Gamma Scuba Diving Light
The Ikelite Gamma Scuba Diving Light is a tactical aluminum dive light with over 220 Lumens in a light body frame of 4 oz (113.4 g).
This scuba dive torch boasts the highest
You can easily slip an Ikelite into your pockets with snagging. At its butt, there is a heavy duty mechanical tail switch providing either continuous or momentary lighting at the touch of a button.
Extremely effective for signalling to buddy divers.
FEATURES
Aircraft-Grade Aluminium Body, Military-Grade Anodizing
Brightness
220 Lumen
Battery Type
CR 123 Lithium
Battery Life
10 hrs
Things We Liked
- Aircraft Grade Aluminium Body with Military Grade Anodizing
- Easy to Use
- Durable and Tactical
- Handy and Lightweight
- Long Battery Life
Things We Didn't Liked
- Waterproof up to 120 Metres Depth
- 220 Lumens
Aqua Junkies Favourite Dive Lights
Never let yourself be in an unfavourable situation where you can't even see your fingers underwater in pitch darkness. You are now armed with the knowledge to find the best dive light that meets your needs and brighten your diving experience.
Here're our editors' top picks for the best LED dive lights that may serve as a reference for your process. Remember to check out our tip right below.
UK Light Cannon eLED Dive Light
- - FOR NIGHT/TECHNICAL DIVE -
- 825 LUMENS BRIGHTNESS
- 8 C-CELL BATTERIES
- 9 - 14 HRS BATTERY LIFE
- DUAL eLED
- HARDY, ROBUST AND LIGHTWEIGHT (1.02KG)
- WATERPROOF UP TO
150 METRES DEPTH
Light & Motion GoBE 850 Dive Light
- - FOR ALL DIVES -
- 850 LUMENS BRIGHTNESS
- RECHARGEABLE LITHIUM BATTERIES
- 1.5 - 12 HRS BATTERY LIFE
- 3 HRS CHARGE TIME
- HIGHEST LEVEL CREE LEDs
- FL-1 STANDARD CERTIFIED
- HANDY, DURABLE
AND LIGHTWEIGHT (0.178 KG) - 60 DEGREE FLOOD BEAM
- WATERPROOF UP TO
120 METRES DEPTH - SOS MODE
Princeton TEC Sector 5 Dive Light
- -FOR NIGHT DIVE -
- 550 LUMENS BRIGHTNESS
- 4 C-CELL BATTERIES
- 24 HRS BATTERY LIFE
- MAXBRIGHT LED
- DURABLE AND LIGHTWEIGHT (0.63KG)
- WATERPROOF UP TO
100 METRES DEPTH
Aqua Junkies Tip
Before your cave diving, make sure that all your dive lights are functional and bring lots of them as required.
Cave are dark and always assumed
Feeling helpless in a pitch dark cave is a daunting experience and finding your way to safety exit can be difficult.
We recommend that for cave diving, you should always bring at least 3 dive lights. One primary diving light and two backup dive lights to ensure safety exit.
