Main Menu
Join Undercurrent on Facebook

The Private, Exclusive Guide for Serious Divers Since 1975 | |
For Divers since 1975
The Private, Exclusive Guide for Serious Divers Since 1975
"Best of the Web: scuba tips no other
source dares to publish" -- Forbes
X
July 1997 Vol. 23, No. 7   RSS Feed for Undercurrent Issues
What's this?

It’s a Pca for my BC

from the July, 1997 issue of Undercurrent   Subscribe Now

As a traveling diver I've been carrying around a couple of Mini C's for several years -- dependable, not a lot of weight, don't take up much space, and their beam is adequate for most night diving. A few months ago, I switched on Ikelite's new PCa. I've tested it in the pool a couple time, and its size (fits easily in a small BC packet) and wide, super-bright beam have won it a place in my gear bag on my next trip.

So I was not surprised when the managing editor of Britain's Diver magazine named the PCa as his choice for best all-around performer. But I was puzzled by comments in the April issue of Rodale's Scuba Diving, which supposedly tested the PCa and three other small lights. The magazine grumbled about the clip mechanism for opening the case, saying that only divers with three hands would find it easy. I have only two hands, but I found battery access very easy. Rodale's also stated that the light was "nearly as bright as the Princeton Tech Mini Q40." Ikelite, holding that the light is brighter than its competitors', has strongly protested this finding, hypothesizing that they must have put the batteries in backwards. Despite these shortcomings, Rodale's still named the PCa as its Editor's Pick.

I like the PCa's feel in the palm of my hand, its fit my BC pocket, and its beam. If it proves as dependable as my beat-up, taped-up Mini C's, then it's my pick too. I'll let you know.

J. Q.

I want to get all the stories! Tell me how I can become an Undercurrent Online Member and get online access to all the articles of Undercurrent as well as thousands of first hand reports on dive operations world-wide


Find in  

| Home | Online Members Area | My Account | Login | Join |
| Travel Index | Dive Resort & Liveaboard Reviews | Featured Reports | Recent Issues | Back Issues |
| Dive Gear Index | Health/Safety Index | Environment & Misc. Index | Seasonal Planner | Blogs | Free Articles | Book Picks | News |
| Special Offers | RSS | FAQ | About Us | Contact Us | Links |

Copyright © 1996-2024 Undercurrent (www.undercurrent.org)
3020 Bridgeway, Ste 102, Sausalito, Ca 94965
All rights reserved.

cd