Glow Sticks – Best Lighting Tools for Scuba Divers
Scuba diving during night-time is thrilling and adventurous, but it is linked with certain safety concerns. Therefore, it needs effective light sources to avoid any kind of mishaps. Scuba divers, both professional and recreational, often prefer glow sticks for their lighting needs, identifying co-divers and signaling dangers in the deep waters. This is because glow sticks have some specific features which make them the best lighting tools for scuba diving. Read on further to know about these specific features of glow sticks.
Glow sticks are light-weight and water-proof
Glow sticks are light in weight and hence, they can be easily carried by scuba divers. They can be simply held in hands or attached to the diver’s tank. These light-weight colorful glow sticks help the divers concentrate more on diving and exploring; which is not possible carrying heavy lighting equipment. Moreover, they are also water-proof and can even tolerate high pressures underwater, making them perfect light sources for scuba diving.
Provide bright illumination for longer time
Glow sticks offer brighter illumination even in water. Though the amount of chemicals and their quality determines the brightness of light, the standard glow sticks (with good quality chemicals) work well for diving at night. Good quality ones glow for as long as twelve hours.
Different colors of glow sticks can be used by scuba divers, but most preferred ones are green and yellow as they are the brightest colors among others. Apart from the chemical light sticks, special high intensity LED glow sticks with rechargeable batteries serve well for lighting under water.
Act as great marking tools
Light sticks can be used to mark different locations under water. While diving in dim light or in dark, scuba divers use them to mark trails in underwater subterranean locations. This enables them to trace out the right path without getting misled by the vastness of the water body. They also illuminate areas under water like caves and crevices in dark and show you interesting marine life and their awesome environment.
Allow communication and coordination among divers
Communication underwater, particularly in the dark, is very difficult. However, it is made easy for the divers with colorful glow sticks as they promote better communication and coordination. A group of divers underwater can carry unique colored light sticks to identify each other inside the deep-sea. In situations like scuba diving training, the dive master and the followers can use two different colored glow sticks. This way the students can identify and follow the master’s instructions underwater.
Divers can also make different signals in various situations such as suggesting to follow a particular direction, signaling a danger, etc., with the help of these glow sticks.
In addition, glow sticks provide lighting for on-deck emergency situations also. On the whole, glow sticks are the inexpensive, strong, tough, durable and colorful products that make night diving fun and safe.