Used to blackwater dive with just a flashlight and a prayer, now I won't go down without a canister light and backup

Back in the 90s off the Gulf coast, I'd drop in at night with nothing but a $20 dive light and hope nothing huge swam by. Now I run dual 21-watt LEDs after a close call with a bull shark five years ago off Panama City Beach. Any of you old-timers changed your lighting setups after a scary moment?

2 comments

2 Comments

craig.tessa25d ago

Bull shark thing was probably a fluke honestly. Lights don't stop them from bumping you if they want to.

kais6725d ago

My cousin got bumped by a bull shark night fishing off a pier in Florida around 2018. He had a bright LED headlamp on and it still swam right into his leg like it didn't even see him. I mean those things are basically blind in murky water anyway so lights probably don't matter much when they're just cruising around. They rely more on vibrations and smell than eyesight once the sun goes down. If they want to bump you to see what you are they're gonna do it no matter what gear you're wearing. Maybe it's just me but id rather rely on keeping my distance than any kind of light setup.