Backup Lights
When entering an overhead environment, you are trained and expected to carry at least two backup lights. Backup lights are used only if your primary light fails. Backup lights must be reliable, unobtrusive, and conveniently located. Bolt snap type clips should be attached to the bottom of the light’s handle so that the light can easily be clipped inside a pocket of clipped to the lower portion (below your arms) of your harness shoulder straps. If they’re clipped to your shoulder straps, they must be held in place with rubber bands that go around the harness webbing. This keeps the lights from dangling from your harness. Backup lights generally use C or AA sized batteries. The bulb should be rated for the size of batteries being used; don’t buy a light that over-volts the bulb. It’s important to make sure the backup lights you’re using have enough burn time to last the entire dive (beginning to end), so check and change the batteries often. The last thing you want is a dim or failing backup light when your primary light has already failed. Finally, backup lights must be well made and rugged to withstand the demands of technical diving. Don’t go cheap.
Cost: $30 to $80