Scuba Tech Tips: Dive Light Care – S06E12

22 27



Dive lights are an important, and sometimes very expensive, item of dive gear. Alec offers service tips to keep your dive lights working a long time.

***** Alec Peirce Scuba *****

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Rating: 4.90

22 Comments
  1. Trisha Montero says

    Hi Alec, would like to ask, with a mechanical head rotary switch, can I turn it off underwater? Or will I run the risk of water seeping in? By the way, I have an Orcatorch D560.

  2. LA5150 says

    I use eye shadow applicators to clean the o-ring seat and housing…cheap and effective.

  3. Caleb says

    Really helpful video! Thanks!

  4. Jose Antonio C. Buencamino says

    Great tips! I'm about to go on my first night dive this weekend. Could you tell us more about how you guys did night dives back then? It sounds pretty sophisticated, with the tractor battery and all.

  5. giannis liagian says

    Great tips as usual. I had this problem with a very expensive dive light, with a seperate battery canister. 200 euros for new batteries, because i left it closed for a week after the dive.

  6. Joel Perron says

    Another great vid ! … would be cool (dont know if you did already) to have a vid about which light should I buy .. and how to recognize a good one pros and cons for situations (im personally interested in the ones going with around the hand type of strap)

  7. steve schiff says

    Hi Alec. What about dive lights that have a switch on the bottom? Still ok to rinse those with freshwater?

  8. OneWorld says

    Hi Alec, Thank you so much for this video. I decided to buy me a dive light after watching your video because before this I have no idea how to take care of them. You are the best and I have learn so much from you. Millions Thanks!!!!!

  9. JD says

    Thanks Alec, another great video, love getting notifications for tech tips

  10. Alain Dumesny says

    great tip and sure enough one of my light started corroding… But could you prevent at least the Acid build up by putting dry air in it (say from regulator) and never opening it (until battery are dead) ?
    I have a dive tracker as well, but those are clear plastic tubing (with electronic diagonally centered) and cork material near the cap (for moisture control ? or padding) wondering if they also should be taken apart between use. It's tedious to do that when you dive every other week or so, and may weaken the seal, or require cleaning/silicon each time…

  11. HKG04945 says

    I am considering to get my first BCD, looking at BP&W or back-inflation BCD, any suggestions? I am scared by the complexity of BP&W but heard that they go a much longer way

  12. Trav Pell says

    Can you do an episode on drysuit care for pre and post dive, as well as storage.

  13. Daniel Moore says

    Thanks! I had no idea about rinsing the light and hydrogen build up. Going to wash mine now and find some ziplock bags.

  14. GetandbeReal says

    I was not aware of this. Going to do this from now on… Thanks

  15. Joe Suarez says

    Hey Alec! Love your videos but one question on this one. The red flashlight looks like a MagLite and according to their site they are not waterproof. Have you taken that diving and if so how deep? I have like 10 of those all over the place and I'd like to use it if I could.

  16. Chris Carleton says

    Noooooooooooooo!!!! My fiancee had a light just like the one you showed in the video. We've had it for a year now and we've never taken the batteries out of it or opened it up!! After seeing this video I ran upstairs to see if it was still good…. 🙁 It doesn't turn on and I'm not sure I can get the batteries out. 🙁

    And I feel especially bad because I remember you personally handing her the light last year as a prize during the Scuba 2000 treasure hunt/pumpkin dive. I apologize profusely and promise to never let that happen again. :S Thanks for another great tech tip Alec! Can't wait for the next one.

  17. Andreas I says

    Hello and thanks for another great video! Many modern lights have replaced the switch with a magnet on the exterior, activating an internal switch. I found out that in most cases the magnet is exposed to contact with sea water, leading to rusting and finally corrosion that deems the light unusable. My treatment is to insulate the magnet, usually with a thin layer of hot glue, that prevents contact with water. Of course, you need to dismantle the switch in order to do that.

  18. kadrik0 says

    Great video. I just bought a fusion 530 light and great tips. With devices like these strobes and higher end led lights how often do you replace the o rings? Cleaning and lightly lubricating isn't a biggie for me but I wondered. The great things about these lights is many have double o rings for extra protection (granted we do our part too).

  19. Kimon Froussios says

    How does this apply to torches with integrated rechargeable batteries, that don't open up easily?

  20. OmaKicks says

    Thanks for the experience Alec! Helpful content!

  21. Brad Houghton says

    Alec, you area wealth of information that has helped me greatly in my diving experiences. Thanks for another awesome video!!

  22. Miguel Gerov says

    Alec, there is no tell, how many dive light I have found stored for 6 months or more with the back end blown off due to hydrogen gas build up. BTW, some dive light have like little carbon pellets, inside a retainer spring inside. What are those for? Gas absorption?, neutralizer???

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