Compare beam width, batteries and stated runtime. Only verified published overall ratings are ranked; video floods, laser pointers and spearfishing torches are kept separate. A single scored model is not a comparative test winner.
Our choice for a handle-mounted setup with adjustable power and USB-C PD charging.
Before you buy: At 666 g ready to use with its handle, it is a different carrying commitment from the compact lights.
Meet the winner →Our category crown goes to our favourite from the models we’ve compared. It reflects our editorial preference; your fit, setup and budget still come first.
Three focused lists with real product photos, specifications and buying checks. List positions are editorial choices, separate from the verified scores below.
A dive light needs the right beam and dependable power for its role.
See the picks →Battery choice affects what you can replace at the dive site and what you must charge between dives.
See the picks →A concentrated spot is a different tool from a camera flood.
See the picks →1 scored products in our current coverage. Ties share a rank. This is a ranking of published ratings, not a hands-on group test or a complete market comparison.
The Astra 2100 is Cressi’s rechargeable scuba torch with full, half and strobe settings. A magnetic USB connector charges its built-in 5000 mAh battery without opening the housing. The current store description specifies a CREE XHP50 LED and a maximum output of 2100 lumens.
Single rated publisher · Checked 2026-10-03
Read the review sources → Compare gear →A narrower list requiring at least two rated publisher groups. Positions are recalculated within this list; more sources do not guarantee that reviewers agree.
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Alphabetical by brand and model. Each entry links to manufacturer specifications and any review evidence we have found.
The LED ONE is a 400-lumen backup torch built around three AA cells and a narrow 6° beam. Ammonite lists up to seven hours of constant output. The Delrin body and aluminium head use twist activation, keeping the controls simple and the battery choice familiar.
Check before buying: The narrow spot is useful for directed illumination but covers little of a camera’s view. Its output is also modest beside the Stingray MKII. The manufacturer accepts AA batteries or rechargeable cells; check the approved cell specification before buying replacements rather than assuming every AA-shaped lithium cell is suitable.
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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.
Check before buying: CR123A availability deserves attention if you travel away from dive shops. The small body also needs to work with your gloves and chosen attachment method. A widely indexed 2017 first-look article covers a 260-lumen Mini, so its performance observations should not be presented as a test of this updated light.
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The Basic Set pairs a 1300-lumen Stingray Mark II spot torch with one USB-C rechargeable 21700 battery and a USB-A to USB-C cable. The 12 cm body uses Delrin with an aluminium head and 6 mm tempered front glass. At 210 g with its battery, it is a compact handheld option; Ammonite quotes approximately two hours of operation.
Check before buying: The detailed manufacturer page specifies a 16° spot and 30° corona; some retailer descriptions use 12°. Confirm the supplied optics if that difference matters for signalling. Ammonite warns that other batteries labelled 21700 can differ in size and may not fit. Older 1000-lumen, 18650-powered Stingray reviews describe a different generation.
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The Deluxe Set combines the compact 1300-lumen Stingray Mark II torch with two USB-C rechargeable 21700 batteries. Ammonite specifies a hard-anodised aluminium head, Delrin body and 6 mm tempered front glass. The extra cell is the useful distinction for trips where a charged replacement is easier than waiting for a recharge.
Check before buying: Ammonite’s short description states a 12° spot, while its detailed description says 16°; both give a 30° corona. Confirm the supplied optics. Some shops and package photographs still show older batteries under similar names. The gallery photo here shows the torch rather than every supplied accessory. A spare cell does not double uninterrupted underwater runtime.
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The Stingray MKII combines a 12° central beam with a 30° surrounding corona. Ammonite lists up to 1300 lumens and about two hours at full output. Its aluminium and Delrin construction, twist activation and 21700 battery distinguish it from the older Stingray reviewed with an 18650 cell.
Check before buying: The official listing is unclear about whether the rechargeable cell is included, so confirm the package before ordering. The 200 m depth rating is a construction specification, not evidence that one light is a sufficient lighting plan. A 2017 Stingray Basic article covers a different 1000-lumen generation.
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The AL250 is a basic 250-lumen torch powered by two AA batteries. Its 8° beam concentrates modest output into a small spot, and the package includes a lanyard and spare O-rings. Five colour options make it easier to distinguish one diver’s light from another.
Check before buying: The AA cells are not included. The manufacturer’s one-pound figure is explicitly package weight, so it should not appear as the torch’s net weight in a comparison. Its lower output is a meaningful limitation beside modern rechargeable primary lights, even though a narrow beam can still be useful for close inspection.
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The TL5200P is a self-contained technical torch supplied with a battery, charger, lantern handle and soft Goodman glove. Bigblue’s current specification gives a 7° beam and four output levels from 520 to 5200 lumens. The included handles let buyers assess two ways of carrying the light without adding a battery canister.
Check before buying: Current primary data lists a BATCELL18650x4 pack and two hours at maximum output. Retail listings disagree on beam angle and one names a different battery format; confirm the supplied generation rather than mixing their tables. The manufacturer’s 596 g operating weight is distinct from the three-pound package weight. Longest runtime means the lowest setting.
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Full product details →The Astra 2100 is Cressi’s rechargeable scuba torch with full, half and strobe settings. A magnetic USB connector charges its built-in 5000 mAh battery without opening the housing. The current store description specifies a CREE XHP50 LED and a maximum output of 2100 lumens.
Check before buying: Cressi advertises four to eight hours, but that is not a verified flat-output burn curve. Plongée à la Carte gives the exact model 17/20; its article contains conflicting runtime figures and treats package measurements as product dimensions. We use the editorial overall grade with those limitations disclosed, not its Amazon customer stars.
85/100 · 1 rated publisher group(s)
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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.
Check before buying: Dive Rite describes more than an hour at peak output followed by a gradual reduction. That is different from several hours at unchanged brightness. Check the battery supplied with the actual package: older owner accounts describe different charging arrangements. Try the twist control with your usual gloves before deciding how to stow it.
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Phaser is Halcyon’s self-contained primary light with a rotating high/low/off ring, rear battery indicator and mechanical travel lock. The listed 29 Wh battery supports USB-C charging and reverse charging of compatible devices. Output is specified as 50,000 lux at one metre, a focused-beam intensity figure rather than total lumens.
Check before buying: The catalogued Halcyon page gives calculated runtimes of roughly six hours on low and more than two on high, with a typical weight of 0.82 kg. Charging another device consumes the same battery reserve used for illumination. Check the manual and supplied USB-C arrangement, and do not transfer Flare EXP Plus test results just because its intensity claim is similar.
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The hw Backup is a small twist-operated torch using one replaceable 18650 cell. Its 8° beam and 4000 K LED favour a focused view over broad scene lighting. The manufacturer lists at least 350 lumens of measured output, separating that figure from the LED’s higher nominal chip output.
Check before buying: The supplied 3500 mAh cell is listed separately from the optional charger. Stated runtime is two hours at constant brightness followed by six hours at reduced output; that tail is not six more hours at full power. Unterwasserwelt’s reviewer liked handling and communication in poor visibility but found cosmetic wear appeared quickly. Its text gives conflicting weights, so the current manufacturer’s 200 g figure is used.
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The hw40 is a self-contained primary torch with a narrow 5° beam, four power settings and an adjustable Goodman handle. Its 50.3 Wh battery charges through USB-C Power Delivery after opening the housing. The manufacturer lists 75,000 lux at one metre in air; this is beam intensity, not 75,000 lumens of total output.
Check before buying: At the highest 40 W setting, the stated runtime is about 70 minutes, compared with 150 minutes at 20 W. Plan around the selected setting and reserve, not the longest low-power figure. Charging requires clean, dry handling of the opened light, and the USB-C port accepts power but cannot charge other devices. Forum discussion raises handling questions without establishing failure rates.
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The NR-1800 is an earlier-generation handheld light with a rechargeable 21700 cell and USB-C charging at the battery. Kraken’s current specification lists 1800 lumens, a 6° beam and 90 minutes at full power. A push button provides brightness selection and a battery-status indicator.
Check before buying: Some retailer descriptions still quote a 15° beam. Our specification follows the current manufacturer listing, but confirm the actual version if buying older stock. The 249 g land weight and 70 g underwater weight mean that it is not neutrally buoyant, despite loose wording elsewhere in the product description.
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The NR-1800L pairs an 1800-lumen white torch with a separately controlled 5 mW green laser. Kraken lists a narrow 6° white beam, a 5000 mAh 21700 battery and 80 minutes at full output. It weighs 260 g on land and 85 g underwater.
Check before buying: The laser adds a pointing function, not wider illumination or a camera-focus mode. Keep it away from eyes and wildlife. Manufacturer pages have conflicting older beam descriptions; the current product table specifies 6°. The listed runtime should not be stretched into a promise of several full-power dives.
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The NR-1800Z changes beam width by twisting the head, from a 10° spot to a 45° spread. Its 1800-lumen output and stated 90-minute full-power runtime sit in a 290 g handheld package. The battery indicator is integrated into the push button.
Check before buying: The wider setting is still narrower than a dedicated video flood. Bluewater Photo’s retailer guide notes unevenness at the tightest zoom setting, which is worth checking before buying for camera work. That guide also contains colour-temperature and red-mode claims inconsistent with the current manufacturer page; those claims are not adopted here.
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The current NR-2000 is a compact 2000-lumen handheld torch with a 6° spot beam and a button-mounted battery indicator. Kraken lists 70 minutes at full power and a 230 g land weight. Full, half and quarter brightness settings let you reduce the output for nearby subjects.
Check before buying: Kraken has used NR-2000 for two different products. The present 42 × 153 mm light succeeds NR-1800; the larger discontinued NR-2000 preceded NR-2500. DIVEIN’s older review lists different dimensions and weight, so its observations cannot be assumed to describe the current product or its battery compatibility.
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The NR-2500 is Kraken’s larger handheld spot torch, with 2500 lumens and a 6° central beam. Its listed 85-minute full-power runtime and Goodman-handle compatibility make it worth comparing when a small pocket light feels too limiting. The body measures 54 × 176 mm and weighs 400 g on land.
Check before buying: Kraken claims constant output through that runtime; we have not independently verified the discharge curve. Its prose says six power levels, but the actual list gives four: 100%, 75%, 50% and 25%. Use that explicit list and check whether your package includes the separate handle.
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The NR-LEP01 combines a narrow 3° laser-excited-phosphor spot with a 100° LED flood. Kraken specifies the spot as 8 W and the flood as 2500 lumens. These figures describe different quantities: 8 W cannot be treated as a lumen rating or a direct comparison with the flood.
Check before buying: The table lists 120 minutes at full spot and 60 minutes at full flood. Red mode appears in the description but is omitted from the mode table, so confirm the supplied version. The concentrated beam is a different tool from a broad video flood and should not be directed at eyes.
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The Mini 1200 is a handheld spot light with 1200 lumens and a 6° underwater beam. Three brightness levels make it easier to reduce output for close work, and separate flash and SOS functions provide signalling options. An optional YS adapter allows mounting beyond the supplied lanyard arrangement.
Check before buying: The 6° figure describes the beam underwater, which matters when comparing it with lights quoted in air. Check whether the listing is the bare light or the battery-and-charger kit. ScubaLab’s first look praises the grip and compact format but is not a long-term test or a scored comparison.
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The Mini 1600 increases SeaLife’s compact torch output to 1600 lumens and narrows the underwater beam to 4.5°. It retains three brightness settings, flash and SOS modes, plus an optional instant-on configuration. The concentrated beam favours a small area of interest over broad camera coverage.
Check before buying: Confirm whether your chosen package includes the battery and charger. ScubaLab’s first look covers both the 1200 and 1600 and comments favourably on their handling, but supplies no overall numeric grades. Its impressions do not prove that the 1600 is a better fit for every diver.
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