Each hunter knows for sure - the better the equipment, the better the result of the hunt. Plunging into the water, which is often cloudy, the hunter should have a lantern with him, the light of which can penetrate the water column. There are many factors that make it difficult to hunt under water, such as algae and night time. However, not everyone, especially a beginner, a hunter can afford to buy expensive equipment. But you can make a flashlight with your own hands.
What are underwater lights?
First, consider what kind of flashlights can be for spearfishing. They are divided into several types: rechargeable, on batteries that do not recharge (plus — they work longer than rechargeable batteries, minus — the light will dim as they discharge), xenon, LED and halogen. Possessing an underwater flashlight for spearfishing should be the following qualities - it should be waterproof (which is the most important factor), have a strong case and structure (there is increased pressure under water, so the case must be either metal, or made of impact-resistant plastic), and of course , be ergonomic (it is very important in conditions of poor visibility to rely completely on the sensations - for this, the lamp should be conveniently placed in the palm of your hand).
DIY flashlight
How can I make an underwater flashlight with my own hands? In principle, this is not so difficult, even more - it is interesting and exciting. It's about a simple flashlight, powered by a built-in battery. The peculiarity of our model will be that it will be able to swim independently, without support, with the holder up. In this case, the light of the lantern will be directed downward, which will allow you to clearly see everything that is happening around the hunter. So, first we decide what we need for work. For homemade work you need: an uninterrupted battery (dimensions - 90x65x150 play an important role), a coupling for pipes 150 mm long and 110 mm in diameter, a plastic plug, an adapter (from 110 to 50 mm), a halogen spotlight with a diameter of 50 mm, a wooden door handle, polystyrene, silicone sealant.
Start tinkering
The first step is to slightly improve the clutch - the battery is almost the same in size with it, you need to carefully place it there. A spotlight must be inserted into the adapter tube. So that the underwater lamp for spearfishing does not sink, it is necessary to glue a foam circle on the plug - it is important to strictly maintain a thickness of 2.5 cm. The prepared parts of the lamp must be glued together so that the water does not get inside, it is worth using silicone sealant, smearing the gaps with it from the inside. The handle, which must necessarily be wooden so that the home-made underwater flashlight keeps well afloat, is attached using electrical tape (mounting options can be different). From the case you need to bring out the wires that replace the switching system by a simple circuit.
What are the advantages of this model
Underwater lights made in this way have many advantages. The main one is light weight, which prevents hands from getting tired after prolonged use. The second obvious prosperity is the low cost of all purchased parts. The horizontal position of the handle also plays a positive role - the lantern, as it were, looks a little down, directing the light at an angle to the bottom, it is almost impossible to notice it from the shore. Again, the lack of a switching system, which can fail at any, most undesirable moment. All parts are easily replaceable, and you can find them in any technical store. The service life of such an underwater flashlight is quite long - if you protect it from accidental bumps and falls, such a flashlight will serve faithfully for quite a long time.
LED light
Underwater lights are not only on batteries, as mentioned above. The LED model is good in that it consumes a fairly small amount of energy, and also has a high brightness. To make such a flashlight is also not very difficult. To work, you will need a matrix consisting of eighteen super-bright LEDs, a controller, 4 Ni-Mh batteries, an EK-Light 18 module. A body is made of a sheet of stainless steel, and the front part and nuts, which will then be used to fix the glass, are made of a blank. Plexiglas, eight millimeters thick, is first seated on the sealant, and then additionally tightened with nuts. The LED matrix can also be made independently - a layout is drawn on paper, then transferred to an aluminum plate. Holes are drilled in the designated places (250 LEDs are needed - 10 groups of 25 each). The reed switch and the power pole replace the power button, a battery is used for power, the charge of which is enough for seven hours. Underwater flashlight for hunting is ready.
What else do you need to know?
So, we know how to make an underwater flashlight. What else do you need to know about them? Rechargeable flashlights must be completely discharged before being charged again. An undercharged underwater flashlight for hunting, if improperly recharged, will lose energy intensity. The exception is lithium batteries, but they are very expensive. If you are going far from civilization, you should stock up on an adapter through which you can connect a flashlight to the car’s cigarette lighter. The LED lamp will serve the longest - it does not emit as much heat as halogen or xenon. Cadmium and nickel batteries are considered excellent in their characteristics - they are distinguished by a long cycle of charging and discharging.
What qualities are still important for underwater lights
In addition to all of the above, underwater lights should have several more mandatory qualities. They must have a reliable mount that will not fail if a serious battle with the caught fish takes place under water. A crab mount is best suited - repeatedly tested not only in spearfishing, but also in other types of hobbies.
The type of light emitters should be of high quality, and the power of the light flux, selected individually for each hunter, should be quite productive. The cold light of the LEDs will give more brightness, and a warm shade will help to better see the contours of objects. Great attention should be paid to optics - blurry glass will not give the desired result. So, when creating an underwater flashlight, it is worthwhile to take every step with full responsibility - a small oversight or inaccuracy can affect the entire operation of the flashlight as a whole. Once again, you can focus on the cost - a lamp purchased in a store will cost at least seven thousand. While a do-it-yourself flashlight will require at least seven times less cost. It is difficult to argue that with high-quality equipment spearfishing will be only a joy, and your favorite pastime will bring no big victory in underwater battles.