Finding your way in total darkness when diving is virtually impossible. A diving torch is essential for exploring caves, crevices and shipwrecks.
Good to know:
Lux, lumen, spot and flood are important characteristics for both hobby divers and underwater photographers when choosing a suitable diving lamp.
The best:
BeyondSurfing has spent over 19 hours researching and presents the best underwater lamps from 2024. You are guaranteed to find the right diving lamp.
The best diving lamp 2024?
Content
- 1 These are the top 5 dive lights in 2024
- 2 Bestsellers: The most popular diving lamps
- 3 Buy a diving lamp:
How to make the right decision
- 3.1 What you need to consider when buying a diving lamp
- 3.2 The right kind of diving lamp
- 3.3 The right diving lamp housing?
- 3.4 The right beam of light from a diving lamp
- 3.5 The correct burn time of a diving lamp
- 3.6 Main lamp vs. backup immersion lamp
- 3.7 The correct lumen value of a diving lamp
- 3.8 The right diving lamp for your application
- 3.9 Well-known brands and manufacturers
- 3.10 Diving lamp test by Consumer Reports and Öko Test
- 4 FAQ: Frequently asked questions and answers
- 5 Conclusion: The most popular diving lamps reviewed
In a hurry? Our favorite diving lamp:
- Very good price-performance ratio
- Spot lamp
- 3000 lumen
- Battery and charger included
- 3 brightness levels
- Waterproof up to 100 m
- For beginners and professionals
- Burning time 1.5-5.5 hours
Diving lamp Checklist
- What are they suitable for? In addition to fins, diving torches are part of any good diving equipment. The underwater lamp helps with orientation in poor visibility. At night or in caves, a diving lamp is essential to avoid getting into a life-threatening situation.
- Which models? Diving lamps can be divided into hand lamps, tank lamps and headlamps.
- What features? A diving lamp should be robust, waterproof and encased in rubber
Also interesting: The most popular underwater cameras 2024.
These are the top 5 dive lights in 2024
1. sofirn diving lamp
Advantages
- Very good price-performance ratio
- Spot lamp
- 3000 lumen
- Battery and charger included
- 3 brightness levels
- Waterproof up to 100 m
- For beginners and professionals
- Burning time 1.5-5.5 hours
Disadvantages
- Must be held in the hand during use.
Summary
This diving lamp from Sofirn impresses with its very good price-performance ratio. It is suitable for beginners and professionals alike. The spotlight is suitable as a main and backup lamp.
With a lumen value of 3000, the diving lamp provides good light even in deep waters. The lamp is waterproof up to a depth of 100 m.
The brightness of the LED lamp can be adjusted to 3 different levels using a rotary switch. Depending on the brightness, the diving lamp burns for between 1.5 and 5.5 hours. Rechargeable batteries and a suitable charger are included in the scope of delivery.
Conclusion
Powerful diving lamp with a good price-performance ratio for beginners and professionals.
Product details
Lumen: 3100 | Waterproof: 100 m | Brightness levels: 3 | Battery and charger: included | Weight: 225 g | Length: 19.2 cm
Customer ratings
The majority of customers are very satisfied with this diving lamp. Customers praise the great price-performance ratio and the performance under water.
Around 4% are neutral about the product, while 10% rate the product as poor and inadequate.
Some customers state that the lamp was defective after a short time or even on delivery. Others were dissatisfied with the lamp because it is easy to switch on accidentally.
FAQ
2. Wurkko’s diving lamp
Advantages
- 2000 lumen LED
- Handy
- Spotlight
- incl. Battery and charger
- Waterproof up to 200 m
- Rubber impact protection
Disadvantages
- Medium price segment
Summary
If you are looking for a handy diving torch, the Wurkkos diving torch is just right for you. The lamp is short and sits comfortably in the hand.
The spotlight is suitable as a backup and main lamp and is equally suitable for beginners and professionals. Reviewed against many other diving lamps, this model is in the mid-price segment.
The lamp is waterproof, shockproof, abrasion-resistant and resistant to seawater corrosion thanks to an aluminum alloy material for aircraft. With a water resistance of up to 150 m, it is well suited for very deep dives. The lamp has a 12-month guarantee and the purchase price will be refunded if returned within the first 90 days.
Conclusion
Versatile, LED diving lamp in the mid-price segment.
Product details
Lumen: 2000 | Waterproof: 150 m | Brightness levels: 4 | Battery and charger: included | Weight: N/A | Length: N/A
Customer ratings
The majority of customers are very satisfied with this diving lamp. Customers praise the fact that the lamp is very easy to operate even when wearing gloves.
Around 6% are neutral about the product, while 11% rate the product as poor and inadequate.
Some customers complain that the luminosity is not very strong. Others report that the lamp suddenly stops working shortly after the warranty expires.
FAQ
3. Mares ESOS 10 RW
Advantages
- Good price-performance ratio
- 1000 lumen LED
- Compact
- Floodlight
- Bag and charging cable included
- 2 light levels and strobe mode
- LED charging indicator
- Well suited as a backup lamp
Disadvantages
- Less suitable as a main lamp
Summary
Are you looking for a backup diving lamp or would you like to take photos underwater? Then the Mares ESOS 10 RW is the right choice.
With 1000 lumens and a wide beam of light, even larger areas in the water can be illuminated. This illuminates the entire image area of photos. The lamp is also very compact.
The case and charging cable are already included in the scope of delivery. The dive light from Mares has two light levels (full and low) and an LED charge indicator that can be used to check the battery charge.
If you are not a photographer, this lamp is best used as a backup lamp. It is less suitable as a main lamp due to its wide light cone.
Conclusion
A compact diving lamp for underwater photographers. If you are looking for a main lamp, choose a different model.
Product details
Lumen: 1000 | Waterproof: N/A | Brightness levels: 2 + strobe | Battery and charger: yes | Weight: N/A | Length: N/A
Customer ratings
Customers are very satisfied with this diving lamp from Mares. It is best suited as a backup lamp due to its wide light cone.
FAQ
4. Kowalski Mini XR Set
Advantages
- 13000 lumen
- 4 brightness levels and strobe/SOS mode
- Adjustable light cone
- Spotlight and floodlight in one
- 2.2-6.5 hours running time
- 505 meters visibility
- Charger and batteries included
Disadvantages
- High price
Summary
With this diving lamp, you are prepared for anything under water. The 13000 lumen lamp can be adjusted to 4 different brightness levels. The lamp is waterproof to at least 150 m and enables a visibility range under water of up to 505 meters.
The best:
The light beam can be adjusted, making this diving lamp both a flood and spotlight. It is ideal as a main lamp and for underwater photography.
The diving lamp can be used with rechargeable batteries. Batteries and a charger are already included in the scope of delivery.
High-quality diving lamp from the upper price segment.
Conclusion
Versatile, high-quality diving torch with strobe and SOS light. Beginners should opt for a cheaper model.
Product details
Lumen: 2300 | Waterproof: min. 150 m | Brightness levels: 4 + strobe and SOS | Battery and charger: included | Weight: N/A | Length: 25.6 cm
FAQ
5. Scubapro Nova 850
Advantages
- 850 lumen
- Bag included
- Waterproof up to 150 m
- Spotlight
- Up to 6 hours burning time
- Glare protection
Disadvantages
- Batteries not included
Summary
This lamp has slightly fewer lumens than the other lamps in this selection, but it boasts a burn time of up to 6 hours. It is waterproof up to 150 m and therefore suitable for deep dives.
The spotlight has a small and bright beam of light. A glare shield ensures that you and other divers are not disturbed by the light.
A bag for the diving lamp is included in the scope of delivery. Batteries or rechargeable batteries must be purchased separately.
Conclusion
Solid diving lamp for professionals and beginners.
Product details
Lumen: 850 | Waterproof: 150 m | Brightness levels: N/A | Battery and charger: not included | Weight: N/A | Length: 23 cm
Customer ratings
FAQ
More articles you might find interesting:
Bestsellers: The most popular diving lamps
(**Last update 2024-09-16)
Buy a diving lamp:
How to make the right decision
Whether you are a beginner or a professional, a diving torch should always be part of your equipment. In the following buying guide, you will learn how diving lamps differ from one another and what is important when buying a diving lamp.
What you need to consider when buying a diving lamp
When looking for the best diving lamp, you should definitely pay attention to the following features and characteristics:
- Kind
- Housing
- Light cone
- Burning time
- Main lamp vs. backup immersion lamp
- Lumen
- Field of application
The right kind of diving lamp
Various types of diving torches are used for diving and snorkeling. These have different advantages and disadvantages. Here you can find out which diving lamps are available and how they differ from one another.
The following three diving lamps are used most frequently:
- Hand lamp
- Tank lamp
- Headlamp
1 The hand lamp (underwater flashlights)
- Easy handling
- Runs on battery or rechargeable battery
- Can also be used out of the water
- Suitable for snorkelers and divers
- Cheaper than tank lamps
- Usually less lumen than other dive lights
In terms of appearance, this diving torch hardly differs from an ordinary flashlight and is correspondingly easy to use. It is powered by batteries or a rechargeable battery and is switched on and off using a push button on the lamp. Some lamps also have different brightness levels.
The best:
Hand lamps are relatively inexpensive and are suitable for hobby divers. Good models are available from as little as 80 $. The investment is doubly worthwhile, as this waterproof diving flashlight is also ideal as an outdoor flashlight.
Hand lamps often have fewer lumens and are therefore not as bright as tank lamps. This lamp is ideal for those who do not venture into deep waters.
2 The fuel lamp
- Freedom of movement
- External battery
- Long burning time
- More lumens than other dive lights
- High price
This type of diving lamp consists of three parts: the battery, a cable and the lamp. The battery is attached to the buoyancy compensator from where the power cable leads to the lamp.
What many people don’t know:
These diving lamps give the diver a high degree of freedom of movement. This is because the tank lamp does not have to be held in the hand, but is pulled over the hand with a bracket. The rechargeable battery is larger than that of other diving lamps, so the lamps have a longer burn time and usually also more lumens.
The price of tank lamps is comparatively high. The cheaper models are priced between 200 $ and 300 $. For hobby divers and beginners who do not want to hold a diving torch in their hands or are planning deep dives, it is worth buying.
3 The headlamp
- Freedom of movement
- Well suited for hobby divers, beginners and snorkelers
- Inexpensive
- Mostly low lumen
- Often only waterproof up to 30/40 meters
Headlamps are not only popular for camping and jogging, they are also available as diving lamps. They give the diver maximum freedom of movement, as the hands are only needed to switch the lamp on and off.
Many models are very affordable and can be purchased for as little as 20 $. They are therefore ideal for hobby divers, beginners and snorkelers who rarely dive into very deep waters. This is because the housing of headlamps is usually only waterproof to a depth of approx. 30/40 meters. They also have fewer lumens than other diving lamps.
The right diving lamp housing?
The right diving lamp housing must fulfill the following characteristics:
- Robust
- Waterproof
- Rubber sheathing
- Weight
The housing of the diving lamp must be robust and waterproof, as the lamp can hit reefs or rocks in the water and possibly be damaged. The immersion lamp must therefore be encased in rubber or another plastic material to protect it from cuts and impacts.
Weight plays a subordinate role in the water, but the underwater lamp should still be as light as possible.
The right beam of light from a diving lamp
The light cone of a diving lamp can be wide or small. There are two types of diving lamps:
1 Flood immersion lamps
- Wide light cone
- Wide field of vision
- Good for underwater photography
A floodlight has a wide beam of light that illuminates a large area under water. However, this is illuminated less brightly than with a spot lamp.
These submersible lamps are particularly suitable for underwater photography as they illuminate the entire image field. These lamps are less suitable for illuminating crevices or similar areas.
2 Spot diving lamps
- Small light cone
- Best suited as a main lamp
- Very bright
- Good for illuminating narrow areas and individual points
With spotlights, the cone of light is small and very bright. This makes it ideal as a main lamp, as it provides the best visibility in the water. A spotlight can be used to illuminate narrow areas and individual points.
The correct burn time of a diving lamp
The burn time of a diving lamp should be at least as long as the time you intend to spend underwater. If the lamp goes out at night or in a cave, the diver quickly loses his orientation. This can lead to panic and be life-threatening.
Main lamp vs. backup immersion lamp
Two are better than one, which is precisely why no diver should jump into the water with just one diving torch. If the main light fails, the dive can quickly turn into a nightmare.
Main lamp
- Spot lamp recommended
- Ensures good visibility in the water
Spotlights are mainly used as the main light, as they provide the best visibility under water. The small and bright light cone is ideal for illuminating individual points and crevices.
Backup dive light
- Spot lamp or flood lamp
- Should be smaller than main lamp
- Vital to life
Whether spotlight or floodlight, it is important that you always have a backup lamp with you. This is because if the main light fails, orientation at night or in a cave is virtually impossible, which can quickly lead to a life-threatening situation.
The backup dive light should be smaller than the main light so that it does not hinder the diver in the water.
The correct lumen value of a diving lamp
- More lumens = higher luminosity in deep waters
- 700 lumens or more recommended
The terms lumen and lux are often used interchangeably in relation to diving lamps and can easily confuse beginners in particular.
What you need to know:
The more lumens the diving lamp has, the greater its luminosity in deep water.
The right diving lamp for your application
Which diving lamps are suitable for which application?
Recreational diver
Recreational divers do not necessarily need a diving torch if they are only in the water during the day. At night, orientation is impossible without a diving lamp, which is why it is essential at this time of day. This means:
- Diving lamp not absolutely necessary during the day
- Essential at night
- Good for exploring crevices or wrecks
- Better color vision
But even in good visibility conditions, the diving lamp makes it possible to explore crevices or shipwrecks where there is no light. A diving lamp also ensures better color visibility, especially in deep waters.
Cave diver
If you like exploring caves and narrow crevices, you can’t do without a diving torch. Without a diving lamp, it is impossible to find your way under water. This means:
- Diving lamp essential
- Makes orientation possible
- Skin and backup lamp absolutely necessary
- Spot lamp recommended
Important: Especially at night and in caves, a main and backup lamp should not be missing from your equipment. The best choice is a spotlight, as this provides the best visibility.
Underwater photographers
Whether you are a professional or amateur underwater photographer, a good diving light is worth its weight in gold. Why? Water absorbs the colors red, yellow and green. Pictures and videos without a diving lamp therefore usually look very pale. This means:
- Immersion lamp for more vibrant colors
- The deeper, the more lumen
- Floodlight recommended
A floodlight is the best way to illuminate the entire image area under water. The deeper you dive, the more lumens the dive light needs.
Well-known brands and manufacturers
The best-known and most popular diving lamp brands & manufacturers include:
Mares, Kowalski, Hartenberger, Scubapro, Tillytec, Volador
Diving lamp test by Consumer Reports and Öko Test
Consumer Reports and Öko Test have not yet carried out any diving lamp tests.
FAQ: Frequently asked questions and answers
Which diving lamp should I use as my main lamp?
How many lumens should a diving lamp have?
What should I look out for in a diving lamp?
Which diving lamp is right for me?
Conclusion: The most popular diving lamps reviewed
If you want to dive at night or in caves, you can’t do without a diving torch. But colors can also be seen better during the day with the underwater lamp. So if you don’t have a diving lamp yet, now is the time.
*Price includes VAT, plus shipping. Customer reviews, prices, delivery times and costs may change in the meantime. By linking to selected online shops and partners, we may receive a small affiliate commission. There are no additional costs for you.
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