Flood vs Spot Dive Lights

When it comes to dive accessories, the ones that provide safety should take precedence in your kit: SMBs, knives, signaling, that sort of thing. But one thing you might want to carry even during the day is a dive light! Let’s say the worst happens, you get separated from the boat and are adrift at sea. If you’re out past dusk, a light could mean the difference between getting spotted or not. On a lighter note, let’s suppose you’re down deep and want to peer under a nearby ledge. Even during the day, it can be tough to see far into rocky outcrops.

There are two different types of dive lights and they serve different purposes: spots and floods. Spot lights are a more concentrated beam, and thus can penetrate further into the water column. If you’re on a murkier dive or are looking for particular animals in hard to reach spots, this could be your go to. On the other hand, flood lights don’t have a concentrated beam and are better served for photo and video purposes. These would be excellent for night dives where you just want the general area around you illuminated (and are not trying to blind the fish!)

What is your go to dive light? Tell us below!