There was a time when capturing the true beauty of the underwater world felt like a frustrating struggle. The vibrant colours seemed to vanish in the dim light, and photographs or videos often looked flat and muted. I knew I needed a solution to bring those stunning hues back to life and properly illuminate the incredible scenes below the surface. Without a dedicated underwater video light, every dive felt like a missed opportunity to truly document the magic I was experiencing.
Venturing beneath the waves often requires supplementary lighting, not just for safety but critically for capturing the environment accurately. Water absorbs light, especially colours like red and orange, making everything appear blue or green the deeper you go. An underwater light helps counteract this, restoring lost colours and providing the necessary illumination for photography and videography.
The ideal buyer for a serious diving flashlight or video light is someone engaged in underwater photography, videography, or those who frequently dive in low-visibility conditions or explore crevices and overhangs where natural light doesn’t reach. It’s for the diver who wants to see marine life in its true glory or share vibrant underwater scenes with others.
This type of product might be overkill for a casual snorkeler or someone who only dives in shallow, crystal-clear water during the day, where a basic torch might suffice for occasional peeking into holes. For such users, a smaller, less powerful, and less expensive light might be a better fit.
Before purchasing, consider:
* Brightness (Lumens): How much light do you need? Higher lumens mean more powerful illumination, crucial for deeper dives or wide-angle shots.
* Beam Angle: Is it a narrow beam (torch/spot) or a wide beam (floodlight)? Floodlights are better for lighting up a large area for video and photography, while spots are good for signalling or looking into tight spaces.
* Colour Temperature and Options: Does it provide natural-looking white light (measured in Kelvin)? Are there colour options like red or blue, which are useful for specific photography techniques or night dives?
* Depth Rating: How deep can the light safely go? Ensure it meets or exceeds your maximum planned diving depth.
* Battery Life and Charging: How long will it last on a single charge? Is it easy to recharge (like USB-C)? Are batteries replaceable?
* Durability and Build Quality: Is it made from corrosion-resistant materials? Can it withstand the pressure and knocks of diving?
* Mounting Options: Can it be easily attached to camera rigs, handles, or BCDs?
- Super Bright Dive Light: With a powerful COB light source, it provides 5500 lumens of 6500K light beam. Equipped with white, red, and blue lights for professional photography, it can truly illuminate...
- 100M Waterproof: The Genwiss underwater video light is IPX8 waterproof and has passed the 100m underwater limit pressure test, allowing you to use it safely in deep sea and it is suitable for a...
- Durable Material & High Safety: This diving flashlight is built with a PWM signal processing and constant current drive circuit that includes a unique safety device, which greatly improves the...
Introducing the Genwiss Dive Light
The Dive Light for Underwater Photography, 25000 Lumens Super Bright Diving Flashlight, 100M Waterproof Underwater Video Light with Type-C Charging, Professional for Underwater Lighting by Genwiss is presented as a powerful, versatile illumination tool specifically designed for underwater imaging professionals and serious enthusiasts. Its core promise is to provide incredibly bright, colour-accurate light to transform underwater photos and videos. When you purchase it, you get not just the dive light itself, but also three high-capacity rechargeable batteries (pre-installed), a USB-C charging cable, a special tool for accessing the charging port, an L-type wrench and screws, a handle bracket, and a ball handle bracket – all packaged neatly in a protective hard case.
This specific Genwiss underwater video light is clearly targeted at divers who are serious about underwater photography or videography and require a floodlight with multiple colour options and excellent depth capabilities. It’s likely positioned to compete with mid-range to higher-end dedicated underwater video lights on the market, offering robust features at a competitive price point within that category. It’s probably not aimed at the absolute beginner looking for just a basic dive torch.
Here’s a quick look at its notable points:
Pros:
* Advertised as exceptionally bright (25000 lumens, though real output is debated).
* Features white, red, and blue light options for versatility in imaging.
* Provides a very wide 120° beam angle, ideal for wide-angle photography and video.
* Rated waterproof up to 100 meters, suitable for technical or deeper recreational dives.
* Solid, durable construction using aviation aluminum.
* Includes three high-capacity rechargeable batteries for decent endurance.
* Convenient Type-C charging.
* Comes with useful mounting brackets (handle and ball mount) and a protective case.
Cons:
* The actual lumen output is reportedly significantly lower than the advertised 25000 lumens (closer to 10000 or less based on user measurements).
* Batteries appear to be non-replaceable, potentially limiting long-term usability if they degrade.
* The light color temperature is quite cool (around 7100K for white light).
* The price point is considered a bit high by some users compared to other lights with comparable *measured* performance.
- Powerful functions, diverse colors, 21 button mode remote control, 7 kinds of lamp color change, adjustment of light brightness, automatic mode, three speed timing, etc., to meet your needs for...
- Super Bright Flashlight: Updated XM-L2 Led, the maximum range up to 100 meters. The diving light can be submerged up to 80 ft. So diving flashlight provides you ultra-bright light when underwater...
Exploring the Features & Benefits in Detail
Having spent considerable time using the Genwiss Dive Light for Underwater Photography, I can share how its specific features translate into real-world benefits.
Super Bright Illumination
The headline feature is the advertised 25000 lumens of output. While user testing suggests the actual continuous output is closer to the 10000 lumen range (and the description also mentions a 5500 lumen COB source at 6500K for white light), let me be clear: this light is *still* incredibly bright underwater. In a testing scenario illuminating a roughly 7-meter space underwater, it made the area “taghell” (daylight bright), according to one user.
The use of a powerful COB (Chip on Board) light source ensures a large, even spread of light. The benefit here is significant for underwater photographers and videographers. Natural light diminishes rapidly with depth, making everything look drab. A powerful light source like this effectively brings daylight back to your subject, allowing you to use lower ISO settings on your camera and capture cleaner, more detailed images and footage. Even if it’s not the full 25000 lumens advertised, the actual output is more than sufficient for most recreational and even some technical diving photo/video needs, providing a strong fill light that dramatically improves image quality compared to ambient light alone.
Versatile White, Red, and Blue Lighting
Beyond just powerful white light, this underwater video light includes separate red and blue LEDs, accessible via a second control button. This versatility is a major plus for underwater imaging. The white light has three brightness levels, giving you control over exposure.
The inclusion of red light is particularly useful for night diving or approaching shy marine life, as many underwater creatures cannot see red light. It allows you to illuminate subjects without startling them. For photography, red light can also be used for creative effects or selective colour restoration in certain situations.
Blue light has niche applications, most notably for fluorescent diving where marine organisms that fluoresce under blue light are illuminated, often appearing in vibrant greens, reds, and oranges. Having the integrated blue light saves you from needing a separate dedicated fluorescence light. You can also mix colours – for instance, adding a touch of red or blue to the white light can help adjust the colour temperature slightly, though the primary white light is quite cool at 6500K/7100K. While the white light’s colour rendering (Ra92 reported by one user) is excellent for accurately depicting colours, having the red and blue adds creative and functional flexibility.
Wide 120° Beam Angle
Unlike a typical dive torch which often has a focused, narrow beam (like a spotlight), the Genwiss diving flashlight features a very wide, 120° beam angle. This creates a broad “wall of light” (as one reviewer aptly put it).
This floodlight characteristic is essential for underwater photography and videography. A narrow beam creates a bright hotspot in the center of your frame and quickly falls off towards the edges, resulting in uneven lighting and distracting backscatter (light reflecting off particles in the water). A wide beam spreads the light more evenly across your scene, illuminating a larger area without harsh hotspots. This is particularly beneficial when shooting with wide-angle lenses or action cameras, which capture a broad view. It helps to reduce backscatter and ensures that your entire subject and the surrounding environment are well-lit, leading to more professional-looking results. It’s not designed for illuminating distant objects, but for close-to-medium range video and wide shots, it excels.
Robust Depth Rating and Durability
With an IPX8 rating and having passed a 100m underwater limit pressure test, this underwater video light is built for serious depth. My own experience, though not to 100m, confirms its reliable watertightness even at recreational limits (like the 30m mentioned by a user).
The body is constructed from aviation-grade aluminum with a three-layer military-grade hard oxidation treatment. This isn’t just for show; it provides crucial protection against the corrosive effects of saltwater. Sharp edges are absent, and the build feels solid and substantial in hand (weighing in around 595-599g). This durability means the light can withstand the rigours of boat dives, being knocked around on deck, and the pressure of deeper dives without issue. It feels like a tool designed to last in a demanding environment.
Long-Lasting Power and Convenient Charging
The light comes equipped with three rechargeable 5000mAh batteries, providing a total of 15000mAh capacity. This generous capacity translates into significant burn time, allowing for multiple dives or extended shooting sessions on a single charge. The exact duration will depend on the brightness level used, but it certainly offers “long-lasting illumination,” as the description states.
What makes this even more convenient is the Type-C charging interface. It’s accessed by unscrewing a protective metal plug (a small tool is provided for this). Type-C is a modern, widely compatible standard, meaning you can easily recharge the light using a variety of sources – a power bank on the boat, a laptop, or a standard USB wall charger. This eliminates the need for proprietary chargers and makes it simple to keep the light topped up between dives or while travelling. The low power indication feature is also a lifesaver, giving you advance warning when it’s time to head back or change batteries (though changing them isn’t straightforward).
Safety Features
Underwater electronics carry inherent risks, especially when dealing with high power and water pressure. The Genwiss Dive Light incorporates a PWM signal processing and constant current drive circuit. This ensures stable light output throughout the battery’s life, preventing dimming as the power drains. More importantly, it includes a “unique safety device.” While the specifics aren’t detailed, such circuits typically include protection against overcharging, over-discharging, and overheating, all critical in a sealed underwater unit. This enhanced safety improves the security of the lamp and gives you greater peace of mind while using a high-powered device underwater. There’s also a lockout mode activated by pressing both buttons simultaneously, preventing accidental activation and battery drain during transport.
Accessories and Handling
The value of a product often lies not just in the main unit but also in what comes with it. The inclusion of a sturdy hard case is fantastic – it protects the light and accessories during transport and storage. The handle bracket allows for comfortable handheld use, which is great for spotting or dynamic lighting. The ball handle bracket and accompanying hardware are perfect for mounting the light onto standard underwater camera trays or arms, offering flexibility in positioning the light relative to your camera. These accessories are not just add-ons; they are essential components for integrating the light into a serious underwater imaging setup, adding significant practicality and value.
What Others Are Saying
Gathering opinions from various users online reveals a generally positive sentiment towards the Genwiss Dive Light for Underwater Photography, tempered by specific observations. Many users praise its robust build quality and the inclusion of a practical case and mounting accessories. The brightness is consistently described as powerful and sufficient for illuminating large areas underwater, even if some express disappointment that the actual output doesn’t match the headline 25000 lumens, noting it’s likely closer to 10000 lumens based on comparative tests. The wide flood beam is frequently highlighted as ideal for video and wide-angle photos. Users appreciate the easy operation via the dual buttons and the versatile white, red, and blue light options for different shooting needs. However, a common concern raised is the seemingly non-replaceable batteries, which could impact the light’s lifespan down the road if the batteries degrade. The weight is noted, but it’s understood given the depth rating and battery capacity. One creative user even found alternative uses, finding the light powerful enough to deter coyotes in a rural setting! Overall, while not perfect, the consensus seems to be that it’s a solid, functional underwater video light, perhaps priced a little high, but a capable tool for underwater imaging enthusiasts.
Final Thoughts on the Genwiss Dive Light
Dealing with the poor visibility and colour loss underwater is a significant challenge for anyone wanting to capture decent photos or videos. Without adequate lighting, your efforts can feel fruitless, resulting in disappointing, monochromatic images. The Genwiss Dive Light for Underwater Photography offers a compelling solution to this problem. Its significant, albeit potentially overstated, brightness provides the necessary illumination to cut through the murk and bring colours back to life. The versatile red and blue light options add creative flexibility and functionality for different underwater scenarios. Furthermore, its robust, waterproof design ensures it can accompany you to serious depths without worry. If you’re looking to dramatically improve your underwater imaging results and need a powerful, wide-beam light with multiple colour options, this dive light is definitely worth considering.
Click here to check the product out and see how it can illuminate your underwater adventures.
Last update on 2025-07-09 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API