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Tried a new dive light on a night job and it nearly got me in trouble
I was on a night hull cleaning job in Tampa last week and decided to test a new 2000-lumen light I got online for about $150. The thing was bright as heck on the surface, but once I got down about 20 feet, the beam just turned into a murky blue fog. I couldn't see the growth on the hull at all, just this glowing cloud right in front of my mask. I had to go back up and grab my old, less powerful light to finish the job. The problem was the color temperature, I think. It was way too cool (like daylight white) and it just scatters in the particles. My old light has a warmer, more yellow beam that cuts through better. Learned my lesson about trusting surface brightness specs for actual work depth. Has anyone else had a dive light fail them like that, and what specs do you actually look for?
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oliviabutler6mo ago
Classic case of specs looking good on paper but failing in the water. That murky blue fog sounds like a nightmare, basically paying to blind yourself. Always go for the warmer beam for actual visibility.
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the_elizabeth6mo ago
That murky blue fog @oliviabutler is talking about is so real. I learned the hard way last summer in Florida. Warm beam or bust for sure.
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vera296mo ago
Ever notice how this happens with car headlights too? The super bright blue ones just light up the fog in front of you, just like @the_elizabeth said. It's all about the right tool for the actual conditions, not just the biggest number.
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