Would you like cave diving as much if the caves were well lit?

[Red Hat Jef]

Diving this post-dema week in NFL has been a real experience - lots of divers in the popular caves. Turn a corner and find another set of cave divers with huge lights coming right at you. Had to find some side passages to get the "real cave" experience - dark and quiet (and not silty!)

This made me think - would cave diving be as good if the cave were well lit, so we wouldn't need lights at all?

[Dark Eternal]

I dive the caves to SEE what is there. More light equates to better sight seeing. I certainly don't mind the dark, it adds to the experience, but I also don't think that I would like it less if I could see things better. In fact, in trying out lights, I tend to feel the brighter the better - get to see more.

[MRTdiver]

This made me think - would cave diving be as good if the cave were well lit, so we wouldn't need lights at all?

So who wants to change the lyrics to The Cave Diver song? That's my theme song. How would that sound with other lyrics??

... get the "real cave" experience - dark and quiet

Yes!

[Rich]

I like being in the dark, I'm "shadowing" people a lot of the time anyways.... sometimes I'll just follow divers/teams around for fun and they don't even know I'm there, which is always entertaining....
My exception to the rule is big cave, Indian, Eagle's Nest, Diepolder, etc then I always want more light! Each to their own though....

Safe diving,

Rich

P.S. But it's always kinda fun to tell people that you're cave diving at night 'cause that's when they turn the lights off, "it's like creepy, ya know".....

[stairman]

I dont mind mine or my buddies light but am not enthused with big lights coming my way especially in my eyes.

[FW]

Those that voted "yes" should just stick with Vortex

[Kelly Jessop]

I dont mind mine or my buddies light but am not enthused with big lights coming my way especially in my eyes.

I agree,a lot of cave diving etiquette has taken a back seat,and diverting or shielding a light for another on-coming team is rarely,if ever done anymore. I prefer low power lights,my eyes adjust well,and the back scatter from light cannons really interferes with my periphery,so when someone is coming toward me with their death star pointed at me,there goes my night vision.

[Kelly Jessop]

Those that voted "yes" should just stick with Vortex

or Blue Grotto, or Bonne Terre

[MORGAN]

I like the dark - it's part of what makes a cave a cave. Tracy and I are diving with DR 10 watt HID's and have never felt the need for more. Too much light is just, well, too much!

[FW]

or Blue Grotto, or Bonne Terre

I wouldn't know, I have never been to a lighted underwater cave, including Vortex.