Use of a strobe as an underwater marker for shore diving?

[CODMAN]

Hi all, I was considering using one of these Princeton strobes as an underwater marker for my entry/ exit points on shore dives for an upcoming trip to bonaire. Mainly for night dives, but also during the day if it's visible enough. I was planning on weighting this thing down to a 5-10 foot cord (it floats) and dropping it on a sand patch in a known depth as I head out to the reef. That way if I return at about the same depth I should be able to spot it (especially at night) and head to the exit point from there.

But I have NO experience with flashing strobes of this type and am wondering if this will be bright enough to see from a certain distance? At night I presume so, but how about during the day?

Anybody have any input on this?

Thanks in advance!



AQUA STROBE reviews and discounts, Princeton Tec

[CompuDude]

I haven't used that exact model. As a real strobe (not just a blinking light) I'd think it would be fairly visible from a certain distance, but depending on local vis, ANY light is going to get swallowed up. Bonaire, of course, should be pretty darned clear.

I will note that I have used the Princeton Tec Eco Flare (almost the exact same physical design, but flashing red LED to use as a personal marker instead of true strobe), and all three I've had have flooded within a few dives. I got tired to sending them back to Princeton Tec for their (admittedly no-hassle) free warranty replacement, and I simply don't trust them any more. I don't know if the quality issues with the Eco Flare also plague this model, though, as the dome material is very different.

[Rainer]

I've used that PT about 40 times, down to 120'. In the NE, we'd usually leave a strobe on the ascent line, and that's what I happen to have. Underwater, it's not that bright to be honest, but would probably work topside in the dark.

That said, working on nav skills in OW is probably going to prove more useful than a strobe.

[CompuDude]

The really bright strobes, like the Jotrons, etc., cost a LOT more than the little PT's.

[Rainer]

Exactly, that's why I had a PT. Some guys had the bigger/better ones, and even those seem dim in really bad vis (at which point, running a reel makes sense for the dives we were doing). That said, I've actually been surprised how well the PT held up.

[CODMAN]

Great input guys! Keep it coming! I wouldn't be using this for home waters. Just caribean shore diving, so with 100' vis, I figure it should be fairly visible! I also figured the white strobe action would be more visible underwater than the red. Red gets absorbed pretty darned quick!

Cheers!

[Rainer]

Lights are always worse in bright water than dark (but clear) water.

We actually used it once in Bonaire for what you're describing, when we left it at about 90' as we dove a wall, so that we'd find the "exit" path back up when we were done crisscrossing the wall.

It worked, but while noticeable, it certainly wasn't bright in those already bright waters.

[CompuDude]

Originally Posted by Rainer

Lights are always worse in bright water than dark (but clear) water.

We actually used it once in Bonaire for what you're describing, when we left it at about 90' as we dove a wall, so that we'd find the "exit" path back up when we were done crisscrossing the wall.

It worked, but while noticeable, it certainly wasn't bright in those already bright waters.

During the day, yes, but not at night. The 21w HID that gets swallowed by the immense amount of ambient light during the day practically scorches the earth at night, in clear tropical waters. A relatively small strobe should do far better there (at night) compared to how worthless it would be in our neck of the ocean.

[Rainer]

Yes, when we left it it was during the day. At night it would be like a beacon.

[hooligan]

I have that PT strobe. So far it has worked flawlessly for me. It should be bright enough at night for your intened purpose. However, it is not very noticeable during the day. One thing to be aware of though, the flashing white strobe on the surface at night is considered to be a distress signal in most areas, so you may want to turn it off before surfacing. I would also reccomend you attach eiter a SS split ring or Boltsnap to the bottom as the included velcro doesn't really work well for diving. You might ask ScubaToys to price match someone, because it looks like there are a lot of places selling them for around $25.