The Best Underwater Flashlights for Spearfishing

Spearfishing in the dark with an underwater flashlight is a unique experience.

You’ll see many different sea creatures roaming the night, and if you want to have any hope of catching a feed, you need a good dive light. One that’s bright, comfortable, and easy to use – and I wanted to give you my insights on the best flashlights for spearfishing.

Because I’ve been doing more and more night dives recently, and while I live in a part of Australia where spearfishing with a light is a no go – not all states are this restrictive, and plenty of other countries allow it. From what I’ve seen (and tested myself), the best underwater flashlight for spearfishing is the ORCATORCH D550.

It’s brilliant, lights up everything you need to see, and makes diving at night a rather fun experience – that’s well worth trying at least once in your life. Click here to get your hands on this awesome dive light.

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The Best Underwater Flashlights for Spearfishing: Reviewed for 2022

You need a good dive light to see when you’re spearfishing at night.

Without it, you’ll be swimming blindly in the inky black water. Even on clear nights, with a brilliant moon, you just don’t get enough natural light to go spearfishing once the sunsets. Of course, spearfishing at night isn’t for everyone, but it does make for an exciting adventure.

So long as you can see.

Getting your hands on an excellent underwater flashlight solves the problem. You can light up the area you’re swimming in, pointing the light to see whatever you’re looking for.

Whether that’s a cave full of lobsters, a target fish, or a squid that’ll likely come in close to check out the light source. You need a dive light.

I personally tried all of these, and if you’re jumping in the water after dark, the best underwater flashlight for spearfishing is this one.

ORCATORCH D550 Dive Light

Editor’s Choice: Best Underwater Flashlight

You want a reliable flashlight when you’re in the water after dark.

A dive light that’ll last your entire spearfishing session, and with this model from Orca Torch, you can’t go wrong. At full power, it boasts an impressive 2 hours and 5 minute burn time (till the batteries die), and it lasts a heck of a lot longer on a low setting.

It’s small enough to fit in your hand (or strap to its back) while delivering a massive 1000 lumens. More than bright enough to light up the reef at night.

What I love is the hand strap. So you can have your light with you and have complete control over its direction but still be hands-free. It straps securely in place.

There are also three different light settings.

So you can alternate from low-power (saving the battery) to full power when you need it.

Oh, and the removable, rechargeable battery is a big win.

This is the light you need for an all-purpose underwater flashlight for spearfishing.

Why the ORCATORCH D550 is the best flashlight for spearfishing:

• Rated to withstand pressure down to 150 meters
• Offers a 2 hour 5 min burn time at max power while spearfishing
• Built from aircraft-grade aluminum for real strength and durability
• Magnetic switch easy to use even with thick 7mm gloves
• Comes with a rechargeable (and removable) lithium battery
• Fixed 70 degree light, with a focused 8 degree center beam

Underwater Kinetics C8 eLED (L2) Dive Light

Runner Up: Best Underwater Flashlight

Another good choice for a spearfishing flashlight is this dive light from Underwater Kinetics.

Putting out a whopping 900 lumens (1200 if you get the rechargeable battery version), this particular flashlight’s run time is excellent.

5 hrs 48 minutes of burn time on high, and over 20 hours on the lower 400 lumens setting. That’s impressive.

It does make it a bigger flashlight to cater to the larger battery, and this one is a pistol grip that you will need to hand onto during your dive.

I installed a wrist lanyard, so if I do need to drop the torch, it doesn’t fall far.

If you’re doing long underwater dives, this is the flashlight for you.

Genwiss Scuba Diving Flashlight

Cheapest Option: Best Underwater Flashlight

If you want a budget-friendly dive light, this one from Genwiss is an excellent option.

Rated to an 80-meter depth, the high-quality aluminium casing feels solid in your hands while being a reliable piece of spearfishing gear.

The super bright LED offers 2000 lumens, and the rechargeable battery means you’re not killing the earth exchanging these out. I timed it in the water, and on a full charge, this dive light gives a burn time of a little over 2 hours, which is plenty.

Get this one if you want a cheap dive light (that’s still pretty good quality).

ORCATORCH D710 Scuba Diving Light

Top of the Line: Best Underwater Flashlight

If you want an underwater light that’ll outperform everyone else you’re spearfishing with, the D710 from ORCATORCH is incredible.

You get a concentrated 6-degree beam that, at 3000 lumens, lights up everything underwater far better than any other dive light we tested.

You can operate the easy button switch wearing gloves, and you get three different modes depending on the level of light you want. On the highest setting, a 1 hour and 40 minute burn time increases to over 7 hours on the lowest setting.

I love the battery meter built into the torch, so you know how much charge is left, and with a 150-meter depth rating, you’ll be hard-pressed to find a better quality light.

You won’t find a better spotlight for your night dives.

Mares Aluminum Eos Torch

Backup Option: Best Underwater Flashlight

Now, spearfishing at night can be dangerous, and passing boats must know you’re down there. So that’s where this dive light comes in.

Giving you a 360 field of light, it’s rated to 100 meters. So you can dive with it too, but I have this attached to my float line. So anyone looking can see you in the water.

Plus, the rechargeable battery gives 20 hours of light. More than enough to get you through a dive (and keep working afterwards should anything go wrong).

With 450 lumens of brightness, I prefer a little more focus for my main light, but you’ll struggle to find a better backup option.

Thoughts on the other underwater flashlights we tested

Of course, it wouldn’t be a good article if I just gave you the best dive lights.

So in this next section, I’ll cover my thoughts on everything else that I tested for this review, so you can get my honest feedback on the other underwater lights you might consider.

To help you buy the right dive light.

Garberiel 2 Pack Scuba Diving Flashlight

Shortlist: Best Underwater Flashlight

This particular model was one of the first I came across, and it’s an alright light.

Rated to 80 feet (only 24 meters deep), you need to be careful how deep you’re diving – but honestly, you’re likely not going to be pushing too deep in the night anyway.

The burn time is worth considering. It was only a little over an hour on the light I tested.

Because you get two, you could swap these out, so you get a dive time that’s on par with more premium lights, but it’s also another piece of gear to carry. It’s also hard to twist these on and off (compared to easy switches on other dive lights).

Light and Motion SOLA Dive 1200 S/F

Shortlist: Best Underwater Flashlight

Another extremely bright option is the SOLA Dive from Light and Motion.

You get a 60-degree beam in the floodlight setting, which can easily switch to spot depending on the range of light you want. Whether that’s correctly identifying where you are in the water or searching out any good target fish hiding in the dark.

It comes with a strap to keep your hands free and is surprisingly small for the light you get.

Plus, the floodlight setting is terrific if you want to light up a big area.

XS Scuba LT360 1000 Lumens Wide Angle Dive Light

Shortlist: Best Underwater Flashlight

While I love the look of this particular dive light, it didn’t work great.

The on/off switch was too loose. On the first day, it switched on in my gear bag and drained half the battery before we even got in the water.

On the second day, I tested and got a 2 hour burn time, which is decent, and it’s rated for four and a half hours if you operate at the lower 500-lumen setting.

It’s got an OK level of brightness in the water and comes with a rechargeable battery, but I didn’t like that I couldn’t trust the switch on this one.

Willcrew DF60 6000 Lumen Dive Lights

Shortlist: Best Underwater Flashlight

This is a relatively compact underwater flashlight, and you can feel the quality.

Rated to 150 meters in depth, the 6000 lumens is incredibly bright. Giving an impressive 2 hour burn time on the brightest setting, which increases if you’re using one of the lower lumen settings.

What I didn’t like with this dive light was the inability to focus the beam, and with the 120-degree range, it didn’t feel like I could adequately spotlight my target fish.

BlueFire Professional 2000LM CREE XHP-50

Shortlist: Best Underwater Flashlight

Delivering 2000 lumens down to 150 meters, the BlueFire professional is a solid dive light that will serve you well on your spearfishing adventures.

Able to switch between high, low and SOS modes at the push of a button, you’ll enjoy about 2 hours of burn time on the highest setting – so you’ve got plenty of time in the water.

The downside is the fixed beam. It’s a wide-angle setup that means you get more area lit up but less of a spotlight effect on your target fish. It’s also a bit heavier than other dive lights, giving similar brightness levels, but it is priced right.

Scuba Diving Lights, PFSN DF-3000 Professional Underwater Flashlight

Shortlist: Best Underwater Flashlight

Another cost-effective option is the PFSN dive light.

Rated to 150 meters, this underwater flashlight gives 1000 lumens, with a narrow focus that gives you a range of about 291 meters. That’s incredible.

I liked the single-button operation and the slide that allows you to adjust the brightness settings with one hand. It’s pretty ingenious.

But where this light lacked was the build, it feels a little cheap, and if you don’t take the time to properly lubricate the O-rings and check your seals before your dives, it can easily flood. Again, not bad for a cheap flight, but there are better choices.

How we determined the best dive lights for spearfishing

So with my wife travelling recently for work, it gave me the perfect opportunity to shoot off on many night dives. And see how these torches performed in the water.

Of course, I couldn’t spearfish while doing it (a complete shame as I found a massive hole packed full of lobsters that was devastatingly empty when I returned the following day).

Nevertheless, I hope this article helps you buy the best underwater flashlights for spearfishing, as you might be somewhere where it’s alright to dive with a light.

And if you have any questions, please send them over. Or, if there are any other underwater flashlights you’d like me to take a look at, let me know, and I’ll run them through the works.

But when it comes to buying a dive light, here’s what I was looking for:

• What’s the burn time (how long until the battery dies)?
• How deep can I take it (what’s the max depth)?
• Just how bright is the torch (how many lumens)?
• Are the switches and settings easy and intuitive to use?
• What kind of focus (narrow or wide) is the main beam?
• How comfortable is the torch in your hands, the weight and feel of it?

And after putting all these underwater flashlights to the test, the one I liked best was the ORCATORCH D550.

Despite not being the most powerful dive light, for the price, it’s the best value for money that you’ll get – and well good enough to get out and spearfish at night.

Plus, it’s small and compact to carry on you (or strap it to the back of your hand), and you’ll barely notice that it’s there. So get it, and see for yourself how good it is.

Is spearfishing with an underwater flashlight ethical?

Before diving neck-deep into a somewhat controversial topic – let me explain both sides.

Because this does divide the spearfishing community.

Some of us believe that spearfishing with a dive light isn’t right. They compare it to an actual “shooting fish in a barrel” situation because you sneak up on fish unawares. The fish are sleeping, tucked away in their homes. And you can land shots that do feel unfair because the fish likely will never even notice you’re there – until it’s too late.

On the flip side, many who spearfish at night face a different challenge. You’ve got limited visibility and have to play what’s more like a game of hide-and-seek. You’ll also see different target species, with crayfish, crabs and squid roaming at night, making for some fascinating spearfishing sessions after work (once the sun sets).

I believe that you should do what sits right for you.

I don’t spearfish for sport. Everything I take home is for my family to eat, and I’ll never take more than I need. That does mean I leave some truly remarkable fish in the water where (I believe) they belong, so we’re also leaving productive oceans for the next generation to come. You can do that during the day or at night.

Do I use a flashlight to go spearfishing

EDIT: I’ve added this section as I had a couple of readers ask me (they wanted to know more than what I explained above, so here goes…

Yes, I’ve been spearfishing at night on a couple of occasions.

Where I usually dive, using a flashlight to spearfish is prohibited by law. So I was keen to try it when I’ve been travelling to other destinations that are a bit more lenient.

Normally, I’m not able to use a flashlight, so I don’t.

My experience going spearfishing at night

One of the last trips I remember spearfishing at night was a road trip south.

We were camping on the beach near the Mornington Peninsula, and the conditions were perfect for a night dive. It was calm, with almost zero wind and a sliver of moon. So it felt pitch black in the water, yet our lights lit up everything in front of us like the day.

I still remember the chill of the water. Down that far south in Australia, you will need a thick wetsuit; most people will dive with 5mm or even 7mm thickness.

Sliding into the glassy water, it was a little bit freaky – I’ll admit.

Down south, it’s sharkier waters than what I’m used to, and you don’t get a whole field of vision at night. You only see what your torch is lighting up. So maybe it was just me, but I wondered what else was lurking back there, just out of sight?

The key to it is taking things slow. But, unfortunately, my wife didn’t like it, so she got out of the water.

And at night, it is true. Spearing the fish is easier, but they’re much harder to find. You’ve got to investigate all the caves, cracks and other formations to find them. In the day, you just didn’t have these challenges, and it was a lot harder (in my opinion) to find the fish.

Swimming around, I came across a couple of crays, bagged three decent flounder, and a flathead. More than enough to cook up a brilliant feast on the camp barbeques.

To this day, I still enjoy night dives, though mostly I am simply snorkelling.

It’s calming, especially after a long day in the office. I can slip into the water and spend a little time on the reef to clear my head.

The challenges you’ll face spearfishing at night

For anyone interested to try a night dive, there are a few things you need to know first.

Where should you go spearfishing at night?

If you’re just getting started, stick to the areas you’ve spearfished in the daytime.

Because you’ll already know your way around the reef, you’ll hopefully have an idea of the different underwater structures you want to explore.

Deep water is more challenging at night because if you don’t have good enough visibility of the bottom, you’ll burn far too much energy diving down to explore the wrong spots. So I generally aim for shallower reefs, 10 to 20 feet deep.

Sticking to the areas you know also keeps you safe. You’ll already know the conditions, where any currents may be, and any particular hazards to watch out for that you may not realize are there during the night.

Understand the fish will act different

Because it is nighttime, and like we tuck ourselves into bed once it gets dark, most fish you’ll have seen in the daytime will be sleeping.

But many others will be out.

Lobsters, crabs and crayfish are nocturnal and will be climbing around the reef, while you may even notice other targets, like squid, octopus, or cuttlefish, are more active.

You will need to adjust how you spearfish, which at night means searching out targets instead of waiting for them to swim into view. It is tough to find where the fish are sleeping, but it’s generally an easy shot once you do.

And that’s why many people believe night spearfishing is unethical. I’ve seen fish so out of it, you could scratch their chins with your finger, and they don’t even register that you’re there. The challenge you face is finding them in the first place.

Only ever dive in calm conditions

While I’ve pushed the limits on many occasions, at night, you really should wait for it to be calm and clear to go spearfishing. If it’s not, stay home.

You’re already at a disadvantage because of the dark, so don’t add more risk by swimming out into rough water with poor visibility. The last thing you want is to get disoriented in the water at night, where everything is pitch black.

I enjoy my night dives because it’s guaranteed you’ll see marine life you’ve never come across before, like snails, urchins, and other creatures that come out after dark. And you’ll enjoy it a heck of a lot more if the conditions are right. It’s amazing how much the underwater environment changes once the sunsets.

Be ready to get disoriented

You must prepare for this because it will happen.

Especially if you’re diving in a remote area that’s not lit up like a car park or an urban developed beachfront, going too deep or venturing too far can get you lost.

And before you know it, you’re stuck in a current that’s slowly taking you deeper. Unless you’ve got a good landmark on the shore, it’s tough to notice.

Where I dive at night, the beaches are pitch black. There are no houses or lights on the shore, but we are allowed campfires. So what I do is get a fire going before I get in, so I’ve got a solid anchor point I can swim back to that’s clearly visible from the water.

Underwater you’ll also face disorientation. You’ve got far less visibility and only a tiny circle of light from your torch to see. It does feel different, and you must remember to regularly check in with your landmark onshore and your dive buddy.

You don’t want to get lost in the ocean at night

Don’t rely on a single underwater flashlight

It sounds logical, but you’d be surprised how many people I’ve gone out with at night who only have one underwater flashlight.

That’s crazy to me.

Anything could go wrong, from a battery giving out faster than you planned to water seeping in through a bad seal, and your flashlight is now dead in the water. But, of course, that’s not a problem for a flashlight to give out during the day. But at night, it’s a whole other experience.

I always keep a backup on my floatline. It doubles as a beacon to alert any boaters I’m diving below. You must be visible in the water, and my wife does like it when she can sit onshore and still see exactly where I am in the water.

This is the one I’m using now as my strobe beacon from Mares, and it’s fantastic.

Remember to bring a dive buddy

This is common sense for spearfishing, but it counts for double at night.

In the darkness, many things can happen. For example, you could get washed over the rocks, your floatline snagged in the reef, or your light may give out, so you’re completely blind.

You need a dive buddy. Someone who can watch your back and ensure the two of you make it home. Whenever you’re in the ocean, you need to realize that it is dangerous. And you want someone out there who can keep an eye on you.

Any other gear for spearfishing at night?

Perhaps the only thing you may want to buy is a hands-free flashlight glove, like this one from ORCATORCH.

It’ll fit a dive light with a diameter between 0.94 inches (24mm) and 1.10 inches (28mm), allowing you to be hands-free in the water while spearfishing at night.

This particular one will also fit over your gloves (I know, I tried), and it’s a must-have if you’ve bought an underwater flashlight that doesn’t have a strap like this.

Buying Guide to the best underwater flashlight for spearfishing

Before you spend your money on what can be an expensive piece of spearfishing gear, there are a few things to consider when buying your first dive light.

Here’s what you need to know.

Is it legal to spearfish with a flashlight?

First and foremost are your local laws.

No matter what you think personally about using a dive light for spearfishing, make sure that you’re not breaking any laws in your area if you choose to do so.

Like here in Australia. Where I grew up in NSW, It’s a no-go to spearfish with a light.

Depending on where you live, you may also face similar restrictions, which also means during the day. So do yourself a favour, and check what’s what.

It could be as simple as asking down at your local fishing or dive shop, so you know what’s allowed (and what’s not) before you get caught.

The last thing you want is to waste money on a fine.

Just how much brightness do you need?

I admit that I’m still a tad weird about getting in the water at night, and I am still getting used to it. So I like incredibly bright flashlights, and I can point them as far as I can see.

Others prefer lights with less brightness so they don’t spook the fish they are trying to hunt. But, ultimately, it’s up to you.

But what you want to know is how many lumens a dive light is.

The word lumens has a long definition, but it just means how much light a flashlight generates. You’ll see flashlights ranging from 200 to 6,000 (or more) on some bigger lights.

Now, you may think the brighter, the better. But swimming around surrounded by the brightness of the sun is likely to scare away most fish and other sea creatures you come across, right? So that’s why many divers prefer a lower setting and operate their lights at 600 or 800 lumens. Working under the max also increases the burn time of your light.

I’m not too fond of it dark, so I’d prefer to scare fish away and see more (than the alternative).

Of course, cheap manufacturers (offering more affordable produces) like to advertise significantly higher lumen ratings than what their underwater flashlight delivers.

In this situation, it all comes down to quality.

If you’re buying your dive light from a good manufacturer, it’s much more likely you can trust their advertising, and you’ll probably have a lot less problems with it (this can be said of much of your spearfishing gear – you get what you pay for).

Does the beam adjust (or suit what you need)?

Find a flashlight with a beam that suits the kind of spearfishing you’ll do.

Some of the best allows you to change the beam underwater, but what I find works best is having two different flashlights, each for a specific use.

A dive light with a wide (say like 70 degree) field of vision is perfect to see what’s around you as you’re spearfishing in a particular spot. It spreads the light over a greater area, so you can get a good feel for where the fish might be hiding.

A dive light with a narrow (say like 6 degree) field of vision is like a spotlight. You are concentrating all of the light onto a single spot to identify a target fish correctly. These are great for harvesting and hunting underwater, but you may miss what’s off in the shadows.

In poor visibility, a narrow light works best. It’s a little like your car’s headlights in the fog. You want something that’ll pierce through the silt instead of lighting it up under floodlights.

And this is also where lumens come into play.

Because even if a light is, say, 2000 lumens, if this spreads over a large area (like a 70-degree flood angle), it’ll “appear” far darker than an 800 lumen light concentrated in a 6-degree spotlight.

The larger the area is that your flashlight lights up, the darker it will appear.

How long will the batteries last?

You’ll hear us talk about burn time when we speak about underwater lights.

In short, the burn time is how long it takes for the batteries in your flashlight to run out.

Of course, flashlights operating at a higher lumen will drain their batteries faster. That’s just simple physics. But you don’t want to run out of light mid-dive.

Most good dive lights will run about a two hour burn time. Giving you plenty of time in the water. Along with a bit of a buffer if you decide to spend longer on a dive than initially planned. Sometimes it happens, and you don’t want to go in if the conditions are perfect.

Make sure you’ve got enough light to last your dive.

Are the batteries rechargeable or replaceable?

Another concern is the type of batteries you’re using.

Generally, rechargeable batteries will last longer (and give more light) than their single-use counterparts, and what your flashlight needs will depend.

Some dive lights have an in-built battery, others are removable, but they generally come with rechargeable options. For me, I prefer those I can recharge.

I get in the water far too often to have to replace these every single time, and being able to plug them in and ensure they’re at 100% charge before a dive is easy.

Can you adjust the brightness levels?

Many of the best underwater flashlights are adjustable instead of a simple on/off switch.

That means you can choose the level of light you want for the conditions where you’re spearfishing. Perhaps it’s a little murky, and you need it brighter. Or maybe you want to dial this down to avoid spooking your target fish.

Being able to adjust your brightness settings is essential.

Plus, using it at a lower level will increase your burn time, so you can spend longer in the water before you need to worry about your battery giving out.

If you can, find a flashlight that has adjustable brightness settings.

How deep is the flashlight rated to?

Again, with many cheap flashlights on the market, their depth rating is an important buying factor. Because where these cheaper models fail is the seal.

You want a flashlight that won’t break if you’re deep.

I still remember pushing an old Olympus Pro a little too far past its 10-meter max depth chasing a shot of a manta ray in the Maldives. And then watching in horror as the pressure burst the seals and flooded the camera. Ruining it on one dive.

Get an underwater flashlight that allows you to spearfish at the depth you will be diving.

Otherwise, it’s just a waste of money.

How to clean and care for an underwater flashlight

Finally comes the taking care of it part.

Once you’re in from a spearfishing session, you need to clean out any salt, sand, or other contaminants that’ll damage your flashlight over time. Even high-quality aluminium lights will deteriorate under continued saltwater exposure, so clean them well.

Rinse it thoroughly with fresh water, and leave it in a cool place to dry, out of the direct sun.

While cleaning my dive light, I also like to work the buttons and switches.

To ensure there’s nothing trapped inside and all the salt water is washed free.

Once it’s all dry, I’ll store the lights and only charge them before a dive so the battery doesn’t degrade (sometimes, holding a full charge in storage can ruin your battery).

Wrapping up the best underwater flashlights for spearfishing

You won’t need a dive light if you’re spearfishing during the day.

But it can come in handy if you’re searching out crays or other catch under the rocks and, of course, if it’s legal to spearfish with a light where you live.

Plus, going spearfishing at night is a unique experience.

I hope this has cleared up all the questions you had about buying the best underwater flashlight for spearfishing, but if you have more – please reach out.

I would love to share my thoughts, especially if you’re stuck making a decision.

But in my mind, the ORCATORCH D550 is a solid dive light that’ll light up everything you need to see when you’re spearfishing at night. So click the link below and get yours now.

Happy spearin!