ORCATORCH D511 - Diving Squad Report:
Diving Squad Rating:
9.7 / 10!!
The Orcatorch D511 has been designed with simplicity, reliability and robustness in mind.
It’s an easy to use, straightforward dive torch with no frills attached that you’ll seriously struggle to break.
Coming in a durable carry case and including several neat accessories, this is an extremely powerful torch; likely to out-dazzle those of your dive buddies.
But these are just some of the reasons it’s the Diving Squad night dive torch of choice! Read on to discover the rest as well as where we think there’s room for improvement.
KEY SPECS:
- CREE LED, max 2200 lumens
- Concentrated 8 degree spot beam
- Waterproof to 492ft / 150m
- Extra tough aluminium construction
- Corrosion-resistant finish
- Reverse polarity protection
- Overheat protection
- Includes 2 * 26650 batteries
- 3 hour life
- Battery charger with mains plug and cigarette adaptor
- Includes hard-case zip bag
- Wrist lanyard
CONTENT:
1. Unboxing & Accessories:
You receive the Orcatorch D511 in a zipper hard case that’s instantly recognisable from the black and orange colours for which Orcatorch branding is known.
This is a sturdy and durable case offering some shock protection and sporting a handle. I like that the orange highlights make it stand out; you won’t confuse it with other gear cases. I take my Orcatorch D511 in it everywhere.
In addition to the torch, you get 2 * 26650 batteries, a charger for said batteries, adaptor tube for 3 * C batteries, wrist lanyard, 3 replacement O-rings, warranty card and user manual.
I’ll go into more detail on the accessories a little later, but first let’s take a look at the prize item: the Orcatorch D511!
2. First Impressions & Design:
Taking this dive light out of the box, it has a nice weight in your hand, yet is smaller than what you’d expect for something that runs on 26650 batteries (which are partly what makes it so powerful).
It is operated by a rotary head switch which you turn all the way to switch it on and off; this is not only more simple but also more reliable than mechanical and magnetic switches, meaning it’s less likely to fault up.
Waterproof to an impressive depth of 492ft / 150m, it is one of the few torches on the market that is also suitable for tech diving thanks to such a high pressure resistance rating.
The whole torch is highly durable, with the head and body being constructed from aircraft grade, high strength aluminium and the lens being made from two sides coated toughened glass; you can drop this thing from a height of 1.5 meters and it won’t even scratch.
The head and body are also finished with the latest diamond grade hard-anodized seawater corrosion resistance finish.
Despite how simple the Orcatorch D511 is to operate, it’s been constructed in an intelligent way; featuring reverse polarity protection, meaning that if you put the batteries in the wrong way, it won’t come on and so won’t break.
There’s also an over-heat protection feature that means it will switch off when the LED becomes too hot, which only happens when it’s used on land, as it’s designed for diving damnit!
There is an orange rubberised grip on the end tip makes it easy to hold even from the very end and it is here that you can attach the included lanyard grip.
I love that the battery charger, in addition to having a 244V plug, also features a cigarette adaptor 12v plug allowing you to charge it from you car or van – this thing really has been designed for the on the go diver.
Speaking of batteries, for maximum performance, it’s best to run the Orcatorch D511 on the 2 included 26650 batteries, with which it lasts for 3 hours!
It also includes an adaptor tube that let’s you run it on 3 * C batteries (but the performance won’t be as good, so stick to the batteries it comes with).
3. In Use:
When turned on, the Orcatorch D511 produces a concentrated 8 degree spot beam from it’s CREE LED with a 2200 lumen brightness rating.
Most torches designed for recreational night dives have a brightness of 600 – 1500 lumens, meaning your Orcatorch D511 is going to be brighter than most of your dive buddies’.
That said, it’s nowhere near as bright as dive lights used for professional videography which can be 5000 lumens bright or more. (This is a good thing! You don’t want a dive torch that’s brighter than it needs to be as it can dazzle other divers or marine life).
So, it’s brighter than the average dive torch but not overpoweringly so.
I would love to see the option to adjust brightness; this would mean you could shine it closer to marine life without disturbing it.
As it is, with it’s one brightness setting, the Orcatorch D511 does feel a little bright to have too close to marine life. Maybe I’m just being oversensitive.
For me, I mainly like to use this torch as an ultra reliable, extremely durable piece for exploring tight spaces such as wrecks and caves and focusing in very dark waters.
4. Diving Squad Verdict:
In terms of reliability, durability and ease of use the Orcatorch D511 is unbeatable. It’s a little more expensive than some other dive torches but offers undeniably superior quality.
This is a great choice for beginners, with it’s straightforward controls and lack of complex settings as well as the overheating prevention feature and incorrect battery instalment protection.
It’s a really powerful torch that is perfect for tight spaces or dark waters. I really love the hard-case and cigarette adaptor option for the battery charger – both accessories are great for the on-the-go-diver but rarely seen with other dive lights.
I’d love to see any future models incorporating brightness settings, even if it were simply a low and bright mode; but for now I’m very happy with my Orcatorch D511 – it’s always the first dive light I reach for when gearing up for a night dive.
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