The small spotted eagle ray clearly wasn't used to swimming in the
spotlight. Scurrying to find cover, the ray seemed amazed by the powerful beam
of light that had suddenly transformed the inky blackness of night into high
noon.
I have to admit that I also was surprised by the performance of the Pelican
Nemo 8C dive light. This compact light packs a major wallop, as I found out
during a recent night dive on the Bahamian island of San Salvador. The Nemo's
bright beam went beyond merely illuminating the dive site's steep wall and
shallow reef -- it also captured all of the vibrant underwater colors.
The Nemo gets its punch from a xenon bulb and an efficient silver reflector.
Its compact size comes from ingenious engineering that places two of the eight
batteries in the rear of the hemispherical canister, reducing the length and
bulk of the case.
In the water, the Nemo boasts a more powerful beam than many similarly sized or
larger lights. Having one of the brightest lights on a night dive adds to my
sense of security and also enhances the chances that I'll find rare marine life
other divers probably won't see. Another bonus is the Nemo's sleek, lightweight
design.
Submersible to a depth of 500 feet, the Nemo's ''no-leak'' construction
includes an exclusive electronic switch, an O-ring seal and safety switch lock.
Its 13.8 watts of power come from 8 C-cell batteries that fit snugly with a
spare bulb behind the lamp. The batteries should last about 3-1/2 hours.
Summary: Pelican's Nemo 8C is ideal for the diver who wants a reliable, powerful and compact light. The light comes in metallic pewter gray, goldenrod yellow or bahia blue. MSRP: $79.95. See your local Pelican Products dealer or call 800-473-5422. On the Web: www.sportdiver.com/ebrochure/pelican
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