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THE GEAR MATCHUP · Handheld dive lights

Ammonite System vs Dive Rite

LED ONE MINI vs BX2 Handheld Light

Controls, charging and beam choice for your next torch.

RED CORNERAmmonite System
LED ONE MINI
LED ONE MINI
86/100Our editorial score
BLUE CORNERDive Rite
BX2 Handheld Light
BX2 Handheld Light
87/100Our editorial score
OUR PICK

Scores are our editorial opinion of these models, based on features, suitability and ownership trade-offs—not hands-on test results. How we chose →

THE VERDICT

We’d pick the BX2 Handheld Light.

We’d start with Dive Rite BX2 Handheld Light. We like BX2 for the straightforward twist control and the option to use Dive Rite’s QRM hand mounting system. Choose Ammonite System LED ONE MINI instead if its strengths are a better match: we like the compact narrow-beam approach when CR123A cells fit your spare-battery plan.

Which one suits you?

OPTION A

Ammonite System LED ONE MINI

LED ONE MINI

We like the compact narrow-beam approach when CR123A cells fit your spare-battery plan. Choose the full-size LED ONE if AA availability matters more to you.

Get to know this model →
OPTION B

Dive Rite BX2 Handheld Light

BX2 Handheld Light

We like BX2 for the straightforward twist control and the option to use Dive Rite’s QRM hand mounting system. Brightness falls after its peak-output period; do not read the total burn time as constant brightness.

Get to know this model →
Open both in the gear comparison tool →

Specifications side by side

The details that matter, side by side. “Check with the brand” means we have not confirmed that detail.

Ammonite System LED ONE MINI vs Dive Rite BX2 Handheld Light — manufacturer specifications
DetailAmmonite System LED ONE MINIDive Rite BX2 Handheld Light
OutputCheck with the brand400 lumens, current modelCheck with the brand
BeamCheck with the brand6°Check with the brand
BatteryTwo CR123A cells3500 mAh rechargeable 18650; micro-USB charging
Rated runtimeCheck with the brandAbout 5.5 hoursCheck with the brand
Depth ratingCheck with the brand200 mCheck with the brand
LEDCheck with the brandCheck with the brandCREE XP-L high intensity
ControlCheck with the brandCheck with the brandTwist activation
Output behaviourCheck with the brandCheck with the brandOver one hour at peak, then gradual reduction (manufacturer)
MountingCheck with the brandCheck with the brandQRM compatible

Showing all 9 specification rows.

What the differences mean when you buy

Beam and usable illumination

Ammonite System LED ONE MINI

Beam
6°
Output
400 lumens, current model

Dive Rite BX2 Handheld Light

Ask the brand about this detail before ordering.

Compare beam angles measured on the same basis. An explicitly underwater angle is not automatically comparable with an unlabeled angle, and total lumens do not measure central intensity on the subject. Adjustable beams change coverage. Watts describe electrical power and cannot be directly ranked against another light’s lumen figure.

Battery and output over time

Ammonite System LED ONE MINI

Battery
Two CR123A cells
Rated runtime
About 5.5 hours

Dive Rite BX2 Handheld Light

Battery
3500 mAh rechargeable 18650; micro-USB charging
Output behaviour
Over one hour at peak, then gradual reduction (manufacturer)

Distinguish constant full output from a period that includes reduced output. Up-to runtime and runtime at a selected power level are different claims. Confirm the supplied battery, approved chemistry, charging arrangement and available spares. A matched endurance winner requires comparable conditions rather than simply selecting the larger printed number.

Handling, mounting and package

Ammonite System LED ONE MINI

Ask the brand about this detail before ordering.

Dive Rite BX2 Handheld Light

Mounting
QRM compatible
Control
Twist activation

Try the controls with gloves and evaluate the complete mounting arrangement. A ready-to-use weight including a handle is not equivalent to a bare light-head measurement. Check lanyards, mounts, chargers and cells in the package, and establish the light’s role within your planned lighting system rather than selecting it on a depth-rating headline.

A closer look at both

Ammonite System

LED ONE MINI

The current LED ONE MINI is a 400-lumen backup torch using two CR123A batteries. Its 6° beam concentrates the light into a small area, and the twist-operated aluminium head sits on a Delrin body. Ammonite quotes about 5.5 hours of operation and a 200 m depth rating.

What we like

We like the compact narrow-beam approach when CR123A cells fit your spare-battery plan.

What would make us think twice

Choose the full-size LED ONE if AA availability matters more to you.

More about the LED ONE MINI →
Dive Rite

BX2 Handheld Light

The BX2 is a twist-on handheld torch with a focused centre beam and surrounding spill. Its knurled body gives you a substantial gripping surface, while compatibility with Dive Rite’s QRM system provides a route to mounting it on a hand strap. The current package includes a rechargeable 18650 cell, cable, lanyard and case.

What we like

We like BX2 for the straightforward twist control and the option to use Dive Rite’s QRM hand mounting system.

What would make us think twice

Brightness falls after its peak-output period; do not read the total burn time as constant brightness.

More about the BX2 Handheld Light →

Four checks before you place an order

  1. Identify the intended lighting role and the beam coverage it requires.
  2. Compare current revision, output mode and runtime basis using the exact manufacturer specification.
  3. Try controls and mounting with your normal gloves and equipment.
  4. Confirm supplied batteries, chargers, approved spare cells and transport guidance for the trip.

Ask for a quote for the complete kit, including the accessories you need. That makes the price comparison much more useful.

Price, accessories and owning the equipment

Include the battery, charger, spare pack and mounting arrangement in the purchase total. A light supplied without cells or a proprietary pack can have different ownership costs from an apparently similar complete kit. Ask about replacement O-rings, charging parts and service support rather than judging value by lumen count alone.

For an upgrade, identify whether the current issue is beam shape, control access, reliable output duration or handling. Follow the manufacturer guidance for battery handling, sealing and charging. A cave or technical model name is not an endorsement for an overhead dive or a substitute for the required lighting plan and training.

How we scored these models & further reading

These are our subjective buying scores out of 100. We weigh the usefulness of the features, the intended diving or carrying job, and the compromises involved in owning the gear. They are not laboratory measurements, safety grades or customer averages. The verdict applies to the two named models, not everything either brand makes.

90–100: one of our first choices for the stated job. 80–89: a strong option with trade-offs. 70–79: a more specific fit. A different fit, camera, valve or dive plan can change which one you should buy.

Questions worth settling

Does the higher lumen number mean the better dive light?

Not by itself. Beam geometry, output duration, controls and the intended role matter. Published figures may use different measurement conditions. This comparison does not create a performance score where there is no matched independent test.

Which is the better buy for this particular comparison?

Ammonite System LED ONE MINI: Choose the full-size LED ONE if AA availability matters more to you. Dive Rite BX2 Handheld Light: Brightness falls after its peak-output period; do not read the total burn time as constant brightness.

Our pick is where we would start. Choose the other model if its fit or features better match your setup—especially where a camera, valve, boot or exposure suit needs an exact match.

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