Does anyone have any recommendations for for flashlights to use for night snorkeling. My guess is a rechargeable light that last a few hours between charges.

John, Joe and I use waterproof/underwater flashlights we picked up at Divi's dive shop. They use batteries but are not rechargable....unless we use rechargables, but the flashlight, itself, does not have a recharger adapter. They will last for hours. Carole

Underwater Kinetics Q 40, four AA flashlight is a great choice, small and discreet, if you are very high over the reef an Underwater kinetics 4 C battery flashlight * I think the Q60?)would be brighter. Carib Inn usually has the Q40 in stock. I guess you could use rechargables with either, but I don't know anything about using rechargables at depth.
UK has sent me replacements for the ones that wear out. Now if I could just stop losing them outright...

(Message edited by seb on February 2, 2004)

You may want to rent lights for one or two dives to see how small a light you can use: the less light you add, the less you change the behaviour of the animals. Some you will never see if you use a large light.

I was curious about using flashlights that use rechargeable battery packs since I expect to spend a couple of hours at night snorkeling and probably for more than 10 nights unless we get bored. Would expect if one used alkaline batteries it could mean going through a few dozen before the 2 weeks were finished.

John, the problem with rechargeable battery packs is Bonaire's electrical power is 50 cycle. Electronics tend to get a heart burn and may burn out. Resorts with a dedicated camera shop usually have a convertor power station for rechargeable strobes and they "may" let you use the charging station. You could risk recharging off house current, but you have been warned..

I've indeed burned out two battery chargers because of the 50hz power (as well as 2 transformers for powered speakers). I don't know if "converters" really do anything to help. We just take a container of AA alkalines with us now--all our stuff uses them from camera, strobe, walkman and lights. Then the spent batteries go back home with us. I like the Priceton Tec lights myself. The 4AA (can't remember its name) is great for brightness, simplicity, and value. The 8AA (Surge) is still small but it is incredibly bright. Both will last probably about 3-4 hours on new batts.

Let's please remember to take home any used/dead batteries when we leave Bonaire, too, as they do not have the capabilities/facilities to recycle them. Please pack them into your luggage when you return to "home"....it will be much appreciated by the folks on Bonaire. Thanks! Carole

John, one more thing to think about (and make sure you do) is once you are done with using the light, take it apart, dry the unit, orings, seals, etc. We ruined our first dive light (it wasn't cheap) because we went for a few night dives and never bothered to take it apart and dry everything good and it ended up a rusted mess...it's worth the effort (and saves money) to take care of it like the rest of your equipment.

John, you might find you see more without the light on all of the time, especially if there is a half or better moon out.
Any light for two hours, I think you'd be better with two anyway, switch back and forth once during the dive. As a diver, I always have one flashlight, and if night diving at least two, usually three.
Cynde, I always store our lights apart and cleaned, but on the island I just rinse them really well. My UK40 lives in my BC net pocket and often only gets the same rinse the BC does.

Seb, after trashing the expensive light, we end up taking better care of them now. My small one that I carry in my BC pocket doesn't get the same TLC, only after we're done diving for the day (that's locally, on a long trip it doesn't get dried and cleaned till we get home)

Since I will be snorkeling with my wife what I hope to do is have one of us to use a light while the other has the other off and switch back and forth saving batteries and light. However I suspect this may end up like the TV remote and have a case of the "remote wars". I claim she can't drive the remote, she claims I am too fast. I explained if you switch fast enough you can watch 3 or 4 shows at the same time.

ANother option for recharging batteries, maybe, is many rechargers come with a adapter for the car cigarette lighter. Suppose on could charge batteries during the day when the car is running and/or located in a safe place.

Can anybody tell me if it's cost-effective to rent a small light on Bonaire or should I buy one before I go?