Best Scuba Diving Lights

The best scuba diving lights from the 2020 Scuba Diving magazine Gear Buyers Guide.

A good dive light makes many types of diving possible — from wreck penetration to night diving — and helps keep you safe. Our 2020 scuba diving Gear Buyers Guide will help you find the best scuba diving light that fits your style.

BIGBLUE DIVE LIGHTS AL 1200NP II CAMO

BigBlue Dive Lights Camo — Light comes with a dry bag. Credit: Jon Whittle

This 1,200-lumen torch is perfect for general dive duty, yet small enough to stow as a backup. The narrow 10-degree beam is good for peering into crevices. The push-button control cycles through four power options and features a colored battery indicator light. The light is rated for 330 feet (100 meters) and can burn for up to two hours on high.
bigbluedivelights.com | $178.95

IST SPORTS T-60 TORCH

At just 5.2 inches long, this compact torch puts out 1,200 lumens of light with four power levels (including an SOS flash), controlled by a twist of the magnetic rotary switch. It comes with a sliding beam shade and a removable light diffuser, and has a rugged aluminum housing that’s rated to 300 feet (100 meters). It runs on a rechargeable 18650 Li-ion, or single-use CR123A batteries.
istdivingsystem.com | $180

Caption: Powerful, yet small enough to slip into any BC pocket

SCUBAPRO NOVA 850

Scubapro Nova 840 Dive Light — Powered by three C batteries (not included), with a burn time of up to seven hours on full power. Credit: Jon Whittle

Depth-rated to 492 feet (150 meters), this 850-lumen dive light is more than capable in any environment. The 9-inch (230 mm) aluminum body with rugged black-matte finish is lightweight and tough enough to withstand years of rigorous use. The narrow 8-degree spotlight cuts though the darkness and features an extended light head shroud to prevent the beam from blinding the divers around you.
scubapro.com | $210

SCUBAPRO NOVA 850R

The 850R runs on a rechargeable 18650 Li-ion battery (not included) and can burn for two hours on full power. Rugged, lightweight aluminum construction and double O-ring seals ensure durability over time. This compact light is powerful enough to be a primary torch, but easily fits into a BC pocket for use as a back-up. The push-button switch features a safety lock to prevent accidental activation.
scubapro.com | $215

SEAC R40

The 2,300-lumen Seac R40 torch is perfect for general dive duty and is also small enough to stow in a BC pocket as a backup. The adjustable beam can be set anywhere between 12 and 75 degrees wide. The push-button control cycles through four power options and features a colored battery indicator light. The light is rated for 330 feet (100 meters) and can burn for up to two hours on high.
seacsub.com | $239

SEALIFE SEA DRAGON MINI 1300S

SeaLife Sea DragonMini Dive Light — High-intensity 8-degree beam lets this compact light cut through the dark. Credit: Jon Whittle

This 1,300-lumen dive light outputs a tight, high-intensity beam. Made of anodized aluminum with a rubberized grip, it’s compact enough to slip into a BC pocket. The one-button operation features a colored battery indicator. The light can run for eight hours using a 3500mAh battery and is rated to 330 feet (100 meters).
sealife-cameras.com | $99.95 (light only), $119.95 w/ battery and charger

UNDERWATER KINETICS AQUALITE PRO2

Compact and versatile, the 1,300-lumen Pro2 lets you change lenses from a 90-degree video beam to a 20-degree dive beam. With a push-button tail switch, three power levels and a corrosion-free composite housing, the Pro2 is powered by a rechargeable Li-ion battery. It’s 6.5 inches long and weighs only 6 ounces, and has screw mounts for imaging use.
uwkdive.com | $189.95

Text and photos originally appeared in the March 2020 issue of Scuba Diving magazine.