Bigblue Dive Lights — The Brighter Idea Since 2007
Bigblue entered the dive light market in 2007 at the DEMA show in Orlando with a range that combined genuine performance and real-world value in a way the market hadn't seen before. The lights stood out — for their output, their build quality, and their price — and the brand built quickly on that foundation. Nearly two decades later, Bigblue has grown into one of the most comprehensive dive lighting brands in the world, covering every application from a compact 250-lumen backup light to a 65,000-lumen professional canister system.
What defines the Bigblue approach is a refusal to make trade-offs between performance and accessibility. Cave divers and technical instructors use Bigblue lights because the output, burn times, and T6061 aluminum construction genuinely hold up to professional use. Recreational night divers use Bigblue lights because they're well-priced for what they deliver. Underwater photographers and videographers use Bigblue because the lighting technology — Auto Flash Off, FluoroDive, Red LED mode, wide-beam video lights — was developed specifically for their needs. The same brand serves all three groups because it built the right products for each, not one product that sort of works for all.
At DiveCatalog.com, we carry the full Bigblue lineup as an authorized dealer: recreational dive lights, video and photo lights, camera trays and arms, hands-free mounting systems, batteries and chargers, and the complete accessories ecosystem. Browse the subcategories below or explore the full Bigblue catalog here.
The Bigblue Product Range
Recreational Dive Lights — See More Underwater
Bigblue's recreational light range covers every function a diver needs: primary lights for night diving, compact backup lights, multi-color Easy Clip marker lights for buddy visibility, specialty lights (red, UV, focusable beam), and combo packs that bundle primary, backup, and marker in a single purchase. The AL1300NP is Bigblue's most popular primary recreational light — a wide-beam, reliable, well-specified light for reef and wreck diving. The AL450 Tail series provides an ideal compact backup that clips to any D-ring. Combo packs bundle everything needed for a first night diving kit at a meaningful saving over buying individually.
→ Browse Recreational Lights
Video & Photo Lights — Serious Illumination for Serious Shooters
Bigblue's video and photo light range is purpose-built for underwater imaging. The key technologies: Auto Flash Off (AFO) automatically cuts the video light when a strobe fires, eliminating backscatter in the strobe path — critical for photographers who use continuous video lights alongside strobes. Red LED mode (built into many models via a button sequence) illuminates subjects in a wavelength that doesn't disturb shy or light-sensitive marine creatures — invaluable for wildlife photography setup shots. FluoroDive technology converts compatible Bigblue lights into fluorescence diving lights that reveal fluorescent proteins in corals completely invisible to normal white light.
The AL series covers accessible 1,200–1,800 lumen video lights for recreational photographers. The VTL series delivers 3,500–8,000 lumen professional output in self-contained form. The canister CB/VL series reaches 6,500–65,000 lumens for commercial production and scientific work where maximum sustained output is required.
→ Browse Video & Photo Lights
Camera Trays, Arms & Light Adapters — Build Your Rig
Bigblue's camera hardware uses the industry-standard 1-inch ball-and-socket mounting interface, making their trays, arms, clamps, and adapters compatible with lighting and accessories from most major underwater photography brands. Camera trays provide the mounting foundation; straight arms (5" and 8") and float arms connect tray to light; Triple Joint Clips allow angle adjustment and locking; ball mounts and ¼"-20 thread adapters bridge between systems. FluoroDive kits for specific light models are also available in this collection.
→ Browse Camera Trays & Adapters
Gloves, Hoods & Handles — Free Your Hands
Bigblue's Goodman Glove system mounts a dive light on the back of the hand, keeping both hands free for navigation, photography, and equipment management. Originally developed for cave diving where hands-free operation is essential, the Goodman Glove is now widely used by night divers, photographers, and technical divers of all types. Three versions available: the full Neoprene Goodman Glove for cold water, the Mini Goodman Glove for warm water and smaller hands, and the Glove with Easy Release for photographers who need to quickly detach and reposition the light. The Neoprene Hood mounts a light on the forehead for head-tracking illumination.
→ Browse Gloves, Hoods & Handles
Bigblue Technologies Explained
T6061 Aluminum Construction
All Bigblue light bodies are machined from T6061-grade aluminum — the same alloy used in aerospace applications, valued for its corrosion resistance, strength-to-weight ratio, and machinability. T6061 can be machined to tight tolerances, which matters for watertight O-ring seals at depth. Most Bigblue lights are rated to 100 meters.
Auto Flash Off (AFO)
AFO automatically cuts video light output for the instant a camera strobe fires, then restores it immediately. This prevents the video light from illuminating backscatter particles in the strobe's path — a common problem when continuous lights and strobes fire simultaneously. Available on select AL models including the AL1100RAFO-II series.
FluoroDive Technology
Bigblue's FluoroDive kits (sold separately) convert compatible video lights into fluorescence photography lights. Corals and many other marine organisms contain fluorescent proteins invisible under normal white light. The FDK's excitation filter plus a barrier filter for the camera lens reveal these proteins in brilliant color — a form of underwater photography that requires specialized lighting and reveals a hidden dimension of the reef. FluoroDive kits are model-specific — confirm compatibility with your light before ordering.
Red LED Mode
Many Bigblue lights include a built-in red LED mode. Red light is invisible or near-invisible to many marine creatures, allowing you to illuminate subjects for photography setup without disturbing their behavior. Accessible via a specific button sequence on compatible models.
Multiple Power Modes
Most Bigblue lights cycle through high, medium, and low output via a single button. This extends burn times when full output isn't needed, reduces disruption to night-adapted marine life when high output isn't necessary, and provides flexibility across different shooting and diving situations.
1-Inch Ball-and-Socket System
Bigblue's camera arms, trays, and mounts use the industry-standard 1-inch ball-and-socket interface — the same system used by most major underwater photography accessory manufacturers. This ensures Bigblue components integrate seamlessly with arms, clamps, and accessories from other brands, and vice versa.
Choosing the Right Bigblue Light
| Use Case |
Recommended Category |
Key Consideration |
| First night dive / recreational night diving |
Combo Pack (primary + backup + marker) |
Everything needed in one purchase; covers all recommended safety equipment |
| General recreational diving |
AL1300 series |
Wide beam; reliable; appropriate output for reef and wreck |
| Backup light |
AL450 Tail series |
Compact; clips to D-ring; independent from primary |
| Underwater photography (with strobe) |
AL1100RAFO-II or AL1200 with AFO |
Auto Flash Off eliminates backscatter from strobe interaction |
| Underwater videography |
VTL series or AL1300WP |
Wide beam; sustained output; good burn time |
| Fluorescence photography |
Compatible light + FluoroDive Kit |
FDK converts existing Bigblue light — confirm compatibility first |
| Wildlife photography (low disturbance) |
Any light with Red LED mode |
Red mode illuminates subjects without disturbing behavior |
| Professional / commercial video |
Canister CB/VL series |
Maximum sustained lumen output; separate battery canister for extended sessions |
| Hands-free diving |
Goodman Glove or Neoprene Hood |
Mounts light to hand or head; both hands free for navigation and photography |
Why Buy Bigblue from DiveCatalog.com?
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Authorized Bigblue dealer — genuine products, full manufacturer warranty on every light
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Complete Bigblue lineup — recreational lights, video/photo lights, camera hardware, and accessories
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Expert advice — our team can help you choose the right light for your diving and photography setup
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Fast shipping — in-stock items ship within one business day
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Financing available — for professional and canister light systems
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Rewards program — earn points on every purchase
Frequently Asked Questions — Bigblue
When did Bigblue start making dive lights?
Bigblue entered the dive light market in 2007, debuting at the DEMA show in Orlando. They've released new models and expanded the lineup every year since, growing from a focused recreational light range into a comprehensive system covering recreational, technical, photo, and video applications.
What makes Bigblue lights different from other brands?
Bigblue's position is performance at accessible prices, combined with specific technology for underwater photographers and technical divers. Auto Flash Off, FluoroDive kits, Red LED mode, and canister lights up to 65,000 lumens are features most brands at similar price points don't offer. T6061 aluminum construction is the same material standard used in professional lighting equipment costing several times more.
Are Bigblue lights suitable for cave diving?
Yes — Bigblue's technical lights (particularly the TL3800P narrow-beam technical light and the canister series) are used by cave diving instructors and explorers. The narrow-beam technical lights provide the focused, high-intensity output needed for extended overhead penetrations. Bigblue is a sponsor of the NSS-CDS (National Speleological Society Cave Diving Section).
What is the Goodman Glove and who needs it?
A Goodman Glove mounts a dive light on the back of the hand, leaving both hands free. Originally developed for cave diving where hands-free operation is essential for navigation, it's now used widely by night divers (who want to signal and handle equipment while maintaining illumination), underwater photographers (who need both hands on the camera), and technical divers (who manage gas valves, regulators, and equipment with both hands). Both neoprene and faux-leather Easy Release versions are available.
What is FluoroDive and do I need special equipment?
FluoroDive uses a specific excitation filter on the light head and a barrier filter on the camera lens to reveal fluorescent proteins in corals and other marine organisms — proteins that are completely invisible under normal white light. You need a compatible Bigblue light, the FluoroDive kit for that specific light model, and a camera with a lens that accepts the barrier filter. Contact us to confirm compatibility with your specific setup.
Do Bigblue lights work at recreational diving depths?
Yes — most Bigblue standard lights are rated to 100 meters, well beyond the recreational limit of 40 meters. This 10-bar rating provides significant safety margin and reflects the quality of the O-ring seal system in T6061 machined bodies.
What is the difference between WP (Wide Power) and NP (Narrow Power) variants?
WP lights have a wider beam angle — typically 90–120° — suited to illuminating a broad scene for general diving and video. NP lights have a narrower beam — typically 10–15° — concentrating output into a spot for looking into crevices, illuminating subjects at distance, or assisting camera autofocus during photography. Both produce the same lumen output; the difference is entirely in beam geometry.
From a compact backup that clips to your BCD to a 65,000-lumen professional canister, Bigblue has the right light for your diving. Browse the full collection above, or navigate to the subcategory that matches your use case. Reach out if you'd like help choosing the right light for your specific diving and photography needs.
