Bigblue Recreational Dive Lights — See More. Miss Less.
A good dive light changes what you see underwater. Colors that are absorbed by the water column at depth — reds, oranges, yellows — come back the moment you illuminate them. The dull grey of a reef wall at 20 meters becomes the purple and orange and red it actually is. Crevices reveal the life hiding inside them. Night diving opens an entirely different ocean. Bigblue's recreational dive light range exists to give every diver access to this experience — from backup lights that clip to a BCD pocket to primary handheld lights capable of illuminating a full reef wall.
Bigblue has been building dive lights since 2007, when they debuted at the DEMA show in Orlando with a range that combined performance and value in a way the market hadn't seen before. Since then, they've expanded to cover every use case in recreational and technical diving — and the recreational range remains the core of what they do. Every light in the collection uses the latest LED technology, T6061 aluminum construction, and Bigblue's consistent design philosophy: more output for the money, longer burn times for the dive, and reliability for the conditions.
At DiveCatalog.com, we carry the full Bigblue recreational light range as an authorized dealer — primary handheld lights, compact backup lights, specialty lights (red, UV, multi-color), marker lights, and combo packs that bundle everything a night diver needs.
Types of Recreational Dive Lights
Primary Lights — Your Main Illumination
A primary dive light is the main light you hold or mount during a dive. For recreational diving, primary lights typically range from 500 to 3,000+ lumens, with burn times of 2–6 hours. Wide beam angles (90–120°) illuminate the scene in front of you rather than a focused spot. Key features to look for: a simple, one-handed operation switching system; a reliable O-ring seal at appropriate depth ratings; a secure mounting or holding system; and a battery indicator so you know how much light life remains. Bigblue's AL1300 series is their most popular primary recreational light — versatile, durable, and well-specified for the range of conditions recreational divers encounter.
Backup Lights — Never Dive Without One
Dive training standards from PADI, NAUI, SSI, and others recommend that night divers and cave divers carry at least one backup light in addition to their primary. A backup light should be compact enough to clip or pocket without adding meaningful bulk to your kit, produce enough output to navigate safely if your primary fails, and have independent batteries from your primary. Bigblue's AL450 Tail series and compact AL series lights fill this role — small, lightweight, and producing 450 lumens of usable output from a body that clips easily to any D-ring or BCD pocket.
Marker and Signal Lights
Marker lights serve a different purpose from illumination lights — they make you visible to your buddy, to the boat, and to other divers. The Bigblue Easy Clip system provides a compact, lightweight colored LED marker light that clips directly to your BCD without requiring additional mounting hardware. Available in multiple colors, rainbow mode, and flashing options. Essential for night diving where staying in visual contact with your buddy is a primary safety concern.
Specialty Lights
Beyond standard white LED lights, Bigblue offers several specialty configurations. Red lights (like the AL250 Red) emit in a wavelength that is less visible to many marine creatures, allowing you to observe behavior without disturbing subjects. UV/blue lights reveal fluorescence in coral and other organisms that is invisible to normal light. Multi-color lights combine white, red, blue, and other modes in a single body. These are particularly valuable for night divers interested in marine biology and underwater photography.
Combo Packs
Bigblue's combo packs bundle a primary light, backup light, and marker light together at a significant saving over buying separately. The AL1300NP + AL250 Red + Easy Clip combo is a popular night diving setup that covers all three functions in a single purchase. Combo packs are an excellent starting point for divers completing their first night diving course or setting up their first dedicated dive light kit.
Bigblue Dive Light Features Explained
Multiple Power Modes: Most Bigblue lights cycle through high/medium/low output via a single button. This lets you preserve battery when full output isn't needed, extend burn time for longer dives, and reduce output when diving with buddies whose eyes are adjusted to lower light levels.
Battery Level Indicator: A battery level indicator (LED ring or display) tells you how much battery remains without surfacing to check. Bigblue includes this on their primary lights as standard — a meaningful safety feature for night and cave diving where you need to know when to turn back.
Tail Switch vs. Side Switch: Bigblue lights use both tail and side switch designs depending on model. Tail switches (at the rear of the light body) allow one-handed operation when the light is held in a standard grip. Side switches suit specific mounting configurations. Check the product listing for the switch position on the model you're considering.
Focusable Beam: Some Bigblue lights have a focusable beam — a rotating head that adjusts the beam angle from spot to flood. This is particularly useful in lights like the CF450, where you can narrow the beam to peer into a crevice and then widen it to illuminate the reef. Not all lights have this feature; it's noted in the product specifications.
Goodman Glove Compatibility: Several Bigblue lights include a Goodman glove mount or are compatible with Bigblue's glove mount system — a hands-free mounting method that attaches the light to the back of the hand, keeping both hands free for navigation, buoyancy control, and photography.
Who Are Bigblue Recreational Lights For?
| Diver Type |
Recommended Light |
Key Reason |
| Night diving beginners |
Combo pack (primary + backup + marker) |
Everything needed in one purchase; covers all recommended safety equipment |
| Recreational reef and wreck divers |
AL1300NP or AL1300WP |
Wide-beam illumination; good burn time; reliable for regular use |
| Divers wanting a backup light |
AL450 Tail series |
Compact; 450 lumens; easy to clip; independent from primary |
| Marine biology and coral observation |
Red light or UV/FluoroDive-compatible |
Red light doesn't disturb creatures; UV reveals fluorescence |
| Night dive safety |
Easy Clip marker light |
Buddy visibility; multiple colors and flash modes; no mounting hardware needed |
| Divers wanting hands-free illumination |
Any light with Goodman Glove compatibility |
Back-of-hand mount keeps both hands free for buoyancy and navigation |
Why Buy Bigblue Recreational Lights from DiveCatalog.com?
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Authorized Bigblue dealer — genuine products, full manufacturer warranty
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Complete range available — primary lights, backups, markers, specialty, and combo packs
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Expert advice — our team can help you choose the right light for your diving
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Fast shipping — in-stock items ship within one business day
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Rewards program — earn points on every purchase
Frequently Asked Questions — Bigblue Recreational Dive Lights
How many lumens do I need for recreational night diving?
For general recreational night diving on reefs and wrecks, 500–1,500 lumens from a wide-beam light is typically more than sufficient. The quality and beam pattern matter as much as raw lumen output — a well-designed 800-lumen wide-beam light illuminates more usable area than a poorly designed 1,500-lumen narrow-beam light. If you're interested in photography or exploring darker environments like overhangs, more output is better.
Do I really need a backup light?
Yes. Most dive training agencies recommend that all night divers carry at minimum a primary light and a backup. If your primary fails underwater at night, a backup light allows a safe, controlled ascent and return to the surface. A backup light should be independent from your primary (separate batteries, separate circuit) so a primary failure doesn't affect the backup. Compact Bigblue AL450 series lights clip easily to any BCD D-ring and weigh almost nothing.
What is the Easy Clip marker light?
The Easy Clip is Bigblue's compact LED marker light with a clip-on mounting system that attaches directly to any BCD webbing, zipper, or D-ring without additional hardware. It produces multiple colors (including a rainbow cycling mode) in solid and flashing options. Used to stay visible to your buddy and the dive boat during night dives. Small enough to carry on every dive regardless of conditions.
What is the difference between the AL1300WP and AL1300NP?
The WP denotes Wide Power — a wider beam angle suited to general illumination and videography. The NP denotes Narrow Power — a narrower beam that concentrates output into a tighter spot, useful for looking into crevices, illuminating subjects at distance, and photography where a more defined light is preferred. Both are the same lumen output; the difference is entirely in beam geometry.
Are Bigblue lights rechargeable?
Some Bigblue lights use rechargeable internal batteries; others use replaceable standard batteries (AA, C, or 21700 format). Rechargeable lights are more convenient for regular diving but require planning around charging. Replaceable-battery lights are more flexible for travel to remote locations where charging may not be practical. Check the individual product listing for battery type — it's specified for every model.
How deep can Bigblue recreational lights go?
Most Bigblue recreational dive lights are rated to 100 meters — well beyond the recreational diving limit of 40 meters. This depth rating means the light's seals are tested and validated at 10 bar of pressure, providing a significant safety margin for recreational use.
The ocean looks different in the dark. Browse the full Bigblue recreational light collection above and reach out if you'd like a recommendation for your specific diving needs.
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