CLICK HERE FOR THE LATEST DIVE LIGHT REVIEW

Goldilocks would love shopping for dive lights. For the rest of us, finding the perfect balance of brightness, beam diameter, light size and shape, switch function, and battery type can be a chore. And it’s not made any easier by the wide range of terminology that manufacturers use to describe their lights’ performance: lux, lumens, watts, etc. To help you find the dive light that’s just right, ScubaLab evaluated the latest models to compare light output, beam dimensions and ergonomics. To download our Dive Lights Review Test Data, click here.

CLICK HERE FOR THE LATEST DIVE LIGHT REVIEW

How We Test Dive Lights for SCUBALAB
Manufacturers use different terms to describe performance — lux, lumens, watts, etc. — so it can be hard to compare. Our test is designed to create an objective comparison. In a dark room, we place each light on a platform 6 feet from a white screen, and use a Sekonic L-308S digital light meter to measure the  exposure value (EV) at the  brightest point of the beam (the hot spot) and 12 inches from the center at the four compass points. Then we measure the diameter of the main beam as well as the diameter of the outer halo of light. This gives us comparable data about each light’s maximum brightness and beam, and how quickly it drops off moving away from the hot spot.

SCUBAPRO NOVA 230

MSRP $129
scubapro.com
A polished-aluminum body gives the Nova 230 its sleek appearance, but this light is more than good-looking. Its main beam was one of the narrower of the primaries we tested, but it also put out a wide series of concentric halos of useful light. Designed as a recreational primary or a backup for more-technical use, at about 8.5 inches, the light fits into a largish BC pocket. It would benefit from some knurling or rubber on the grip, especially for divers who wear gloves. But you can’t expect everything for this price; it was the least-expensive primary light we tested.
EV: 11.8
Main Beam: 10"

UK LIGHT CANNON ELED

MSRP $205.99
uwkinetics.com
The latest version of UK’s big gun is blasting out even more light with an upgrade that increases output — 825 lumens — and maintains brightness as battery power drops (burn time is up to 14 hours). You get a broad beam with the Light Cannon, which had one of the widest outer halos in the test. The thick rubber boot protects the wide lens, and the locking, two-position switch is simple and secure. A dovetail slot on the housing accepts a pistol or lantern grip or a photo arm. If you get tired of reloading it with C batteries, there’s an optional rechargeable NiCad.
EV: 12.4
Main Beam: 30"

PRINCETON TEC SECTOR 5

MSRP $109.99
princetontec.com
An update of the Miniwave LED, the Sector 5 has a new locking trigger switch and 550 lumens — about 40 percent more output. It’s as compact as you can make a pistol grip with four C batteries, but it still weighs in at less than 11⁄2 pounds and has good ergonomics, with a hand grip that’s well shaped and comfortably angled. The new on/off push button is easy to operate, even while wearing heavy gloves. You get a lot for your money from the Sector 5 — no other light we tested put out more light per dollar.
EV: 12.0
Main Beam: 22"

SEAC SUB R6

MSRP $200
seacusa.com
A scaled-down version of Seac’s R10 light (at far right), the R6 shares the anodized-aluminum construction and magnetic push-button switch, and also has two power levels plus a strobe. The R6 gets just one LED bulb and half as many AA batteries as the R10 but still manages to crank out an intense, very concentrated main beam. At just a shade over 1 pound, and with a 1.75-inch diameter and 2-inch shorter length, the compact R6 is a bit more comfortable to hang onto than its big brother. The price is trimmed down as well, making the R6 a lot of light for the price. 
EV: 12.5
Main Beam: 10"

DIVE RITE RX8

MSRP $675
diverite.com
Designed to deliver the performance of a canister light without the complexity of a separate battery pack and cable, the RX8 pumps out a main beam broader than any light of comparable brightness in our test — a full 36 inches wide at 6 feet. While it has a well-textured handle for use as a hand-held light, the RX8’s large rechargeable battery makes it a chunky package in your hand. But the QRM neoprene hand mount, which is easily reversible for use on either hand, is comfortable and has a quick-release latch that’s secure and simple to operate.
EV: 12.1
Main Beam: 36"

SEAC SUB R10

MSRP $250
seacusa.com
With its trio of LED bulbs and eight AA batteries, the R10 had nearly the brightest hot spot we tested, with an intense but very compact main beam. Its nicely machined aluminum gives the R10 a high-quality feel, especially considering its relatively modest price. The magnetic push-button switch, which toggles between two power settings plus a strobe, is easy to operate, although the twisting switch lock is a little tricky to work with gloves. At nearly 2.5 inches in diameter the R10 is a handful, and its smooth han- dle would benefit from some texturing or nonslip surface to help with the grip.
EV: 13.4
Main Beam: 10"

SUBGEAR PROLIGHT SP30

MSRP $139
subgear.com
At just over a pound and a little more than 8.5 inches long, the Prolight SP30 keeps a tidy profile. The aluminum body is only about 1.25 inches in diameter along the well- knurled grip, which makes it easy to hold, even with thick gloves. Three C batteries and a single LED bulb put out a relatively narrow main beam of about 12 inches at 6 feet. For its modest price, the Prolight SP30 has well-designed details, like the hexagonal rubber end grip, which is helpful when twisting the light on and off, and also keeps the light from rolling around on deck or bench.
EV: 12.1
Main Beam: 12"

IST SPORTS DOLPHIN TECH T-24040

MSRP $855
istsports.com
Careful where you shine this light when night diving, or you’ll quickly become unpopular. It’s blazing, with a hot-spot meter reading higher than any others in our test, though some had broader main beams. The push-button switch on the hand-mounted light head illuminates when on, and toggles between three well-spaced power levels. While it’s tec bright, its standard battery — rated for 1.9 hours on the highest setting — is rated for a more rec-friendly max depth of 130 feet (there’s a range of optional batteries with ratings to 490 feet).
EV: 13.9
Main Beam: 13"

AQUA LUNG ALU TRIO

MSRP $359
aqualung.com
The Alu Trio packs four C batteries into a housing less than 7.5 inches long with three LED bulbs that cast a main beam as broad as a car headlight. In fact, the main beam was the widest of any light we tested, with minimal dropoff. Its elliptical shape allows the Alu Trio to fit into a modest-size BC pocket and a diver’s hand — deep notches along the grip also help those with small hands to hold the light comfortably. The well-designed, lock- ing magnetic switch is secure and easy to use one-handed, even when wearing bulky gloves.
EV: 12.0
Main Beam: 60"

SEAC SUB R2

MSRP $150 seacusa.com The R2 had the brightest hot spot of any compact light we tested — registering higher than even some of the primary lights. It also had the smallest main beam. Powered by four AAA batteries, the R2 has a broad outer halo of useful light, although it might not seem so to the eye because of the main beam’s intensity. Like its larger siblings, the R2 has an all-aluminum body and push-button magnetic switch with a twisting lock.
EV: 12.5
Main Beam: 7"

AERIS A3 LED

MSRP $79.95 diveaeris.com The first three things we noticed about the A3, in order, were: it’s really tiny (less than 5 inches long); its aluminum body and crisp tail switch give it a quality feel that belies its price (the lowest of any we tested); and it puts out a surprisingly bright beam given its Hobbit-like size and three AAA batteries. In fact, its hot spot was one of the brightest of any compact we tested, although, like the A3 itself, the main beam is on the small side. The push-button switch toggles through two power levels and triggers a strobe when held for two seconds.
EV: 11.5
Main Beam: 9"

UK VIVID ELED

MSRP $149.99
uwkinetics.com
UK’s newest compact, the Vivid eLED delivers a lot of performance in a small package. While its hot spot wasn’t the very brightest com- pact we tested, it produced a much wider, more even main beam for a very usable light pattern. The Viv- id’s large push-button tail switch is easy to operate one-handed, and it toggles through three power settings to help conserve the rechargeable Li-ion battery. The Vivid is our Testers’ Choice in this category.
EV: 11.3
Main Beam: 24"

NOCTURNAL M700T

MSRP $179.99
nocturnallights.com
Nocturnal took a minimalist approach with the M700t, a rugged little aluminum-bodied twist-on light that, at just a shade over 5 inches, fits into any pocket. But the M700t packs plenty of good- ies inside, including a beam that had the least drop-off 12 inches from the hot spot of any compact we tested. Despite the lack of a switch, it also has two power levels — twist off and then quickly back on for the low setting. It comes standard with two CR123 disposables, but Nocturnal offers an optional recharge- able Li-ion battery.
EV: 11.1
Main Beam: 24"

TRYTON DRYLITE

MSRP $149 (includes hard case, and AC and car charger)
trytongear.com
The DryLite eliminates a common vulnerability in dive lights — the access to the battery compartment — with a permanently sealed body that houses an induction- charged battery. Drop the light tail first into its charger for a top- off. The DryLite puts out a bright, but narrow, beam for its size. The magnetic twist switch is easy and secure, and it has a rubber grip. The lens glows steady blue when fully charged, and when the battery drops to 20 percent power, the light blinks once every minute.
EV: 10.3
Main Beam: 11"

IKELITE GAMMA

MSRP $120
ikelite.com
While other compacts had brighter, tighter hot spots, the Gamma has a wider central beam and a broad outer halo that doesn’t drop off much nearly out to its limits. A featherweight, the Gamma tipped our scales — loaded with two CR123 batteries — at about 5 ounces, and it’s only .75 inches in diameter at its narrowest. Though there’s not much texture on the grip, its wasp-waisted design makes it easy to hang onto. The 400-foot-depth rating, aluminum body and precise tail switch all sug- gest it might carry a pricier bottom line, making the Gamma our Best Buy.
EV: 10.5
Main Beam: 14"

Looking for more ScubaLab testing? Check out more of our gear reviews:

SCUBALAB 2014: Dive Bag Review
SCUBALAB 2014: Regulator Review
SCUBALAB 2014: BC Review
SCUBALAB 2014: Dive Lights Review
SCUBALAB 2014: Wetsuit Review
SCUBALAB 2013: Fins Review
SCUBALAB 2013: Mask Review
SCUBALAB 2013: Regulator Review